Nebraska CMSW & CSW Continuing Education Requirements
Nebraska clinical social workers must complete 32 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their CMSW / CSW license, including 4 hours of professional ethics.
32
total hours / 2 years
4
professional ethics hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Nebraska CMSW & CSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 32 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by September 1 of even years. |
| Professional Ethics | 4 hours required each cycle. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
Full board policy details
- Nebraska imposes no fixed cap or minimum on live versus home-study hours. Home-study, video, or other self-study hours are credited as determined by the course provider; there is no percentage limit and no minimum number of live attendance hours. All acceptable formats count fully.
- Interactive, instructor-led webinars count as live workshop credit; 60 minutes equals 1 CE hour. Truly asynchronous, non-interactive courses are treated as self-study but are not capped.
- Course repeat restrictions: Instructor credit is limited to the initial presentation of a CE program or course during a renewal period. The regulations do not prohibit an attendee or learner from retaking the same course for credit, so learner repeats are generally allowed. Courses on non-acceptable topics, such as general business or association business meetings, cannot be counted as CE.
- License status rules: A credential placed on inactive status carries no CE obligation while inactive; the holder is not practicing. Nebraska permits an inactive credential indefinitely under Neb. Rev. Stat. section 38-142. There is no separate retired category; a practitioner no longer practicing simply does not renew or goes inactive, with no ongoing CE.
- Reactivation and reinstatement: To reactivate, the applicant must apply for reinstatement and meet the requirements of 172 NAC 10 under 172 NAC 94-014. In practice this means completing the normal 32 hours of CE for the lapsed renewal cycle plus making up any deficiency from the expired period before returning to active status. No fixed additional catch-up hours beyond the standard requirement are specified.
- Multi-credential holders: If a practitioner holds multiple credentials under Chapter 94, only the highest-level license's CE applies; the same CE hours satisfy all credentials and no separate hours are required for each additional certificate.
- Provider approval: Nebraska does not review or approve CE offerings and maintains no statutory provider-list requirement. Hours may come from any appropriate source relevant to mental health, behavioral health, or social work practice. The state informally endorses ASWB and other national accreditations but does not mandate them.
- Conditional or provisional registration: Nebraska offers no conditional registration or grace period for incomplete CE. If a licensee fails to complete required CE by the deadline, the license simply expires on schedule and reinstatement is required to resume practice.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Nebraska CMSW / CSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Nebraska CMSW / CSW CE free →Nebraska CMSW & CSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Nebraska CMSW / CSW licensees need?
Nebraska requires 32 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a CMSW / CSW license. Biennial cycle: CE due by September 1 of even years.
How many ethics hours are required for Nebraska CMSW / CSW licensees?
Of the total, 4 hours must be in professional ethics.
How often do Nebraska CMSW / CSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by September 1 of even years.
Is the first renewal different for new Nebraska CMSW / CSW 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
- Nebraska board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.3
Reviewed against the Nebraska board source and refreshed 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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