Updated for 2026 · Board-sourced

Minnesota LCSW Continuing Education Requirements

What a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) must complete to renew in Minnesota: 40 hours every 2 years, including 2 in social work ethics.

LCSW

Marcus Reyes, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker · Minnesota

cycle

2025 – 2027

earned

25.0 hrs

needed

15.0 hrs

deadline

Jun 29, 2027

Total25 / 40 hrs
Social Work Ethics2 / 2 hrs
Clinical Content12 / 12 hrs
Cultural Responsiveness0 / 4 hrs
Illustrative pacing for a fictional licensee. Required hours are Minnesota’s actual board rule.

pace toward deadline

63%

Minnesota LCSW CE requirements at a glance

40

total hours / 2 years

Biennial

renewal cadence

2

hours of social work ethics

2

other subject minimums

Total hours
40 hours every 2 years.
Renewal
Biennial cycle — renews at the end of your birth month.
Social Work Ethics
2 hours required each cycle.
Clinical Content
12 hours required each cycle.
Cultural Responsiveness
4 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.

This is the curated summary. Audit windows, recordkeeping, fees, and edge-case rules (reactivation, supervision-only) live in the full ruleset — we track all of it for you →

Minnesota LCSW CE: frequently asked

How many CE hours do Minnesota LCSWs need?

Minnesota requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years (a biennial cycle) to renew an LCSW license.

How many ethics hours are required for Minnesota LCSWs?

Of the total, 2 hours must be in social work ethics.

How often do Minnesota LCSWs renew?

Biennial cycle — renews at the end of your birth month.

Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Minnesota LCSWs?

Yes. In addition to ethics, Minnesota requires 12 hours of clinical content, 4 hours of cultural responsiveness.

Can Minnesota LCSWs 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 Minnesota LCSWs?

First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.

Sources & verification

Last verified
May 8, 2026
Ruleset version
2026.1

This page is informational, not legal advice — always confirm with your board. See something wrong? Report it →

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