Updated for 2026

New Mexico LCSW, LISW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements

New Mexico clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LISW / LMSW / LBSW license, including 3 hours of professional ethics and 6 hours of cultural awareness.

30hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 30
6cultural awareness
3professional ethics

The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

What the board saysNew Mexico board rule
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT: 30 hours1 of continuing education will be required biennially1. Six of the 30 hours2 must be in the subject area of cultural awareness2. Three of the 30 hours3 shall be in the subject area of professional ethics3. … The social worker may choose up to seven hours per renewal which is self-directed4. The social worker may select education programs, reading and audio or video-taped materials which are in the domain of social work.
What it means
  1. 30 hours every two years
  2. 6 hours of cultural awareness
  3. 3 hours of professional ethics
  4. No more than 7 self-directed hours per renewal
16.63.12 NMACLast verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.2How we verify
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Requirements

New Mexico LCSW, LISW, LMSW & LBSW requirements

Total

30 hoursYou need 30 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

Topic minimums, counted within the 30

The remaining 21 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Cultural Awareness
6
You need 6 hours each cycle.
Professional Ethics
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Home study / self-study
max 7 hrs

Up to 7 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Recordkeeping
Keep CE documentation for 4 years after each renewal.
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 New Mexico LPC or LMFT license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the New Mexico LPC and New Mexico LMFT requirements.

Full board policy details
  • No more than seven hours in a renewal period may be self-directed. Preparation and presentation time described in section 16.63.12.14 is included in this discretionary pool.
  • The Board does not maintain a provider list. The licensee must determine where to obtain qualifying CE and retain provider contact information.
  • All hours must be earned in the current July 1-through-June 30 two-year renewal period; carryover is prohibited.
  • The replacement rule does not establish a general duplicate-course ban.
  • Return from inactive or retired status requires no less than ten CE hours for each year in that status plus any unmet hours from when the status began.

New Mexico LCSW, LISW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do New Mexico LCSW / LISW / LMSW / LBSW licensees need?

New Mexico requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LISW / LMSW / LBSW license. The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

How many ethics hours are required for New Mexico LCSW / LISW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?

Of the total, 3 hours must be in professional ethics.

How often do New Mexico LCSW / LISW / LMSW / LBSW licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

Are there subject-specific CE requirements for New Mexico LCSW / LISW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?

Yes. In addition to ethics, New Mexico requires 6 hours of cultural awareness.

Can New Mexico LCSW / LISW / LMSW / LBSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?

Up to 7 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.

Sources and verification

State source
New Mexico board rule
Profession source
ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.2

We reviewed this page against the New Mexico 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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New Mexico 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.New Mexico mental health workforce data →13,693 active providers, or 644.2 per 100,000 residents, ranked 9 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other New Mexico CE requirement pages

New Mexico LPCNew Mexico LMFTNew Mexico PsychologistNew Mexico Addiction CounselorNew Mexico PMHNP

LCSW CE requirements in other states