Indiana LCSW & LSW Continuing Education Requirements
Indiana clinical social workers must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LSW license, including 2 hours of ethics professional conduct and boundaries.
40
total hours / 2 years
2
ethics professional conduct and boundaries hours
50%
home study / self-study cap
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Indiana LCSW & LSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by March 31 of even years. |
| Ethics Professional Conduct and Boundaries | 2 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | At most 50% of hours may be home study / self-study. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Approved providers | Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by national professional association, state professional association, accredited university, and governmental agency and recognized associations in social work, counseling, mft, and psychology. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 4 years after the end of each cycle. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
Total hours
40 hours every 2 years.
Renewal
Biennial cycle: CE due by March 31 of even years.
Ethics Professional Conduct and Boundaries
2 hours required each cycle.
Format limits
At most 50% of hours may be home study / self-study.
New licensees
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Approved providers
Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by national professional association, state professional association, accredited university, and governmental agency and recognized associations in social work, counseling, mft, and psychology.
Recordkeeping
Keep CE documentation for 4 years after the end of each cycle.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Full board policy details
- Pre-approved provider organizations: courses offered or approved by recognized national social-work and behavioral-health associations — including the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and the American Counseling Association (ACA) — are deemed board-approved and count as Category I CE without separate prior review by the Indiana board. Indiana recognizes these national associations (and their state chapters, e.g. NASW-Indiana) as approved Category I sponsors. The is_board_approved_ provider flag should be treated as satisfied for courses from these named organizations.
- ASWB ACE acceptance: continuing education delivered by providers approved under the ASWB Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program is acceptable for Indiana LSW/LCSW renewal and is treated as equivalent to Indiana board-approved Category I CE. ASWB ACE-approved providers satisfy the must_be_approved_provider / is_board_approved_provider requirement; no separate Indiana board approval of the provider is required.
- Indiana divides CE into Category I (formal courses from board-approved providers) and Category II (self-directed activities such as journal reading and in-services). At least 50% of CE (20 of 40 hours) must come from Category I, and no more than 50% (20 of 40 hours) may come from Category II self-directed activities.
- The 2-hour ethics, professional conduct, and boundary issues requirement must be earned within Category I formal CE coursework each renewal cycle.
- Course repeat restrictions: Indiana rules do not expressly bar attending the same course twice, but credit is awarded only once per unique activity. For instructors, faculty teaching a course earn CE credit only the first time they teach the course within the same semester (839 IAC 1-6-1(d)(8)). For Category II, an instructor or presenter earns credit only for the initial presentation of a seminar or workshop (839 IAC 1-6-1(d)(4)).
- License status rules - inactive: Indiana does not define a separate inactive license status for social workers, so no formal CE exemption exists for inactive licensees. A license that is not renewed simply expires and is governed by reinstatement rules.
- License status rules - retired: Licensees holding retired status are not required to maintain CE while retired. To return to active practice, the Board requires CE as part of reinstatement, tiered by time retired: 0-3 years requires 20 hours (with 2 in ethics); 3-6 years requires 40 hours (with 2 in ethics); 6-10 years requires 60 hours (with 2 in ethics); more than 10 years as determined by the Board.
- License status rules - reinstatement after expiration: A license expired more than 3 years requires 40 hours of CE for reinstatement, in addition to other Board requirements.
- First renewal proration: A licensee with less than 12 months of licensure at first renewal is exempt from CE. A licensee with 12 to less than 24 months of licensure at first renewal must complete half of the usual CE (20 hours, with at least half from Category I and 2 hours of ethics). After the first renewal, the full 40-hour biennial requirement applies.
- Conditional registration: Indiana does not provide a conditional or provisional renewal option for CE deficiency. Licensees must complete the required CE to renew, or allow the license to lapse and meet reinstatement requirements.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Indiana LCSW / LSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Indiana LCSW / LSW CE free →Indiana LCSW & LSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Indiana LCSW / LSW licensees need?
Indiana requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LSW license. Biennial cycle: CE due by March 31 of even years.
How many ethics hours are required for Indiana LCSW / LSW licensees?
Of the total, 2 hours must be in ethics professional conduct and boundaries.
How often do Indiana LCSW / LSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by March 31 of even years.
Can Indiana LCSW / LSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
At most 50% of hours may be home study / self-study.
Is the first renewal different for new Indiana LCSW / LSW licensees?
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Indiana board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Indiana board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is informational only and not legal or board advice. Always verify requirements with your licensing board before you renew. See something wrong? Report it →
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