Updated for 2026

Idaho LCSW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements

Idaho clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license, including 2 hours of professional ethics.

30hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 30
2professional ethics

The renewal cycle is biennial, and your license renews at the end of your birth month.

What the board saysIdaho board rule
Every 24 months prior to renewal1 licensees must complete thirty(30) contact hours1 of continuing education that includes 2 hours of ethics2. For example, if you renew your license on 7/31/24, you must have completed 30 hours of CE which includes two hours of ethics between 7/31/22 and 7/31/24. There is no carryover for excess CE hours.
What it means
  1. 30 hours in the 24 months before renewal
  2. 2 hours of ethics
DOPL Social Work CE and Audit InformationLast verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.3How we verify
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Requirements

Idaho LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements

Total

30 hoursYou need 30 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and your license renews at the end of your birth month.

Topic minimums, counted within the 30

The remaining 28 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Professional Ethics
2
You need 2 hours each cycle.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and your license renews at the end of your birth month.
Recordkeeping
Keep CE documentation for 4 years after each course's completion date.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.

To keep your proof in order, see what to keep for a CE audit, which covers every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.

Your hours

Check where you stand

Enter the hours you have completed this cycle to see what is left before your renewal.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LCSW CE hours calculator

Also hold a Idaho LPC or LMFT license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the Idaho LPC and Idaho LMFT requirements.

Full board policy details
  • Idaho does not impose a cap on self-study or home-study hours, nor a minimum number of in-person hours. Online courses germane to the practice of social work are explicitly allowed, and the Board does not pre-approve courses for credit.
  • CE hours may be obtained for preparing and providing continuing education to other professionals. Idaho rules do not specify a numeric cap on instructor credit or restrict claiming credit for teaching the same course more than once in a renewal period.
  • Repeat courses are not explicitly prohibited by rule. The Board's publications do not mention a ban on taking the same class twice, though obviously duplicative content would generally not be accepted.
  • Excess CE hours do not carry forward to the next renewal cycle.
  • Inactive status: A licensee on inactive status is not required to accumulate CE during inactivity. To return to active status, the licensee must meet the current 30-hour CE requirement and submit the fee difference (IDAPA 24.14.01.100.06). If inactive for five or more years, additional competence requirements (e.g., exam, supervised practice) may apply.
  • Retired status: Idaho rules do not establish a formal retired license category for social workers; no CE waiver for retired status is defined.
  • Conditional registration: Idaho social-work rules do not provide a conditional or provisional renewal pathway for licensees who have not completed CE. All CE must be completed prior to renewal.
  • First renewal: No special first-renewal exception, proration, or waiver exists. The full 30-hour, 24-month CE requirement applies to every renewal including the first.

Idaho LCSW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Idaho LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees need?

Idaho requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license. The renewal cycle is biennial, and your license renews at the end of your birth month.

How many ethics hours are required for Idaho LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?

Of the total, 2 hours must be in professional ethics.

How often do Idaho LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and your license renews at the end of your birth month.

Sources and verification

State source
Idaho board rule
Profession source
ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.3

We reviewed this page against the Idaho board source, and we refresh it from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is for guidance only, not legal or board advice. Always confirm requirements with your licensing board before renewing. See something wrong? Report it

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Idaho guides & data

What to keep for a CE audit →Learn what boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, and what the notice looks like, then use the printable checklist.Idaho mental health workforce data →8,145 active providers, or 401.3 per 100,000 residents, ranked 30 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Idaho CE requirement pages

Idaho LPCIdaho LMFTIdaho PsychologistIdaho PMHNP

LCSW CE requirements in other states