Updated for 2026

Massachusetts LCSW Continuing Education Requirements

Massachusetts clinical social workers must complete 20 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW license, including 2 hours of anti racism and 1 hour of anti discrimination.

20hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 20
2anti racism
1anti discrimination

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

What the board saysMassachusetts board rule
Licensees must complete Continuing Education Units (CEUs) each license cycle. The license cycle runs biennially from the licensee’s birthday1. … LCSW = 20 Credits2
What it means
  1. A two-year cycle that runs from your birthday
  2. 20 hours each cycle for an LCSW
Continuing Education Information for Social WorkersLast verified July 2026Ruleset 2026.2How we verify
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Requirements

Massachusetts LCSW requirements

Total

20 hoursYou need 20 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 20

The remaining 17 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Anti Racism
2
You need 2 hours each cycle.
Anti Discrimination
1
You need 1 hour each cycle.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and your license renews at the end of your birth month.
New licensees
Licensed in the first quarter of the biennium: 15 CE hours (75% of the standard LCSW total).
Approved providers
CE must be earned from a board-approved provider.
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 Massachusetts LPC or LMFT license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the Massachusetts LPC and Massachusetts LMFT requirements.

Massachusetts LCSW required trainings and mandates

Beyond the 20-hour CE total, Massachusetts requires specific trainings. Some are due once around initial licensure, and others run on their own recurring schedule.

One-time requirements

  • One-time training in domestic and sexual violence required by M.G.L. c.112, §264 and 258 CMR 31.03(4) as a condition of licensure or renewal. The 2 CE credits awarded for completing this training count toward the cycle CE total. Not required if already completed (e.g. submitted with the licensure application). (2 hours, one time).

Recurring mandates outside the 2-year cycle

  • Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c.119, §51A(k)) requires all professionally licensed mandated reporters, including licensed social workers, to complete training to recognize and report suspected child abuse or neglect. This training is legally required but does not count toward the CE hour requirement.
Full board policy details
  • Up to 50% of total CE hours may come from "individual continuing education activities" (e.g. publishing an article, giving a lecture or presentation, or similar activities individually approved by the Board) under 258 CMR 31.04. This is not an online or self-study delivery cap; approved online programs may supply all required hours.
  • At least 75% of CE hours must come from programs offered by recognized entities under 258 CMR 31.04(2) (e.g. ASWB ACE, CSWE-accredited schools, NASW chapters, official state boards). No more than 25% of CE hours may come from programs approved by APA, NBCC, NHA, ANCC, or ACCME.
  • Standard CE courses must be at least 50 minutes in length. Massachusetts regulations do not impose a specific cap on online vs. in-person hours; interactive online courses approved by a recognized provider are treated like live courses.
  • First-cycle proration (258 CMR 31.03(3)): the CE requirement for the initial license period is prorated by quarter, 75% if licensed in Q1 of the biennium, 50% in Q2, 25% in Q3, and 0% in Q4. For LCSWs this means 15, 10, 5, or 0 hours respectively in lieu of the full 20.
  • Course repeat restrictions: the regulations do not expressly forbid repeating the same CE course within a cycle, nor do they bar an instructor from claiming credit for teaching the same course more than once. Each instance of teaching is treated as an individual continuing education activity under 258 CMR 31.04(4)(b) and counts toward the 50% individual-activities cap. All credit remains subject to Board approval and audit.
  • License status rules: there is no CE exemption for retired or inactive social workers. Licensees who go inactive, retired, or unemployed must still complete the full CE requirement to renew or reactivate. An expired license under one year may be renewed by submitting the renewal form, CE evidence, the renewal fee, and the late fee; if expired more than one year, re-licensure is required. No additional CE hours beyond the normal cycle requirement are imposed on reactivation.
  • Extensions: there is no conditional or provisional renewal pending CE completion. The Board may grant an extension of time to complete CE only upon a showing of hardship, requested before the renewal deadline. Absent a granted extension, a renewal submitted without the required CE will not be processed.

Massachusetts LCSW CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Massachusetts LCSW licensees need?

Massachusetts requires 20 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW license. The renewal cycle is biennial, and your license renews at the end of your birth month.

How often do Massachusetts LCSW licensees renew?

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

Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Massachusetts LCSW licensees?

Yes. Massachusetts requires 2 hours of anti racism, 1 hour of anti discrimination.

Is the first renewal different for new Massachusetts LCSW licensees?

Licensed in the first quarter of the biennium: 15 CE hours (75% of the standard LCSW total).

Sources and verification

State source
Massachusetts board rule
Profession source
ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified
July 2026
Ruleset version
2026.2

We reviewed this page against the Massachusetts 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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Massachusetts 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.Massachusetts mental health workforce data →67,140 active providers, or 938.5 per 100,000 residents, ranked 3 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Massachusetts CE requirement pages

Massachusetts LPCMassachusetts LMFTMassachusetts PsychologistMassachusetts Addiction CounselorMassachusetts PMHNP

LCSW CE requirements in other states