New York LCSW & LMSW Continuing Education Requirements
New York clinical social workers must complete 36 continuing education hours every 3 years to renew their LCSW / LMSW license.
36
total hours / 3 years
12
home study / self-study hours cap
Triennial · renewal date depends on the licensee's birth month.
New York LCSW & LMSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 36 hours every 3 years. |
| Renewal | Triennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month. |
| Format limits | Up to 12 hours may be completed through 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 | CE must be earned from a board-approved provider. |
| Other mandates | NYSED-required mandated reporter child-abuse training update for licensed professionals, due by November 17, 2026. This obligation sits outside the ordinary 36-hour LCSW CE framework and does not count toward CE totals. |
| Provisional renewal | The board allows a provisional/conditional renewal for up to 12 months before full compliance is required. NYSED may grant a conditional registration for up to one year when a licensee is short on CE. It cannot be renewed or extended. The licensee must make up the deficiency and complete the regular CE requirement during the conditional period. |
Full board policy details
- Self-study is capped at 12 hours per 36-month registration period. Live online courses with real-time interaction are not treated as self-study for purposes of this cap.
- Instructor/teaching credit: A licensee may receive credit for preparing and teaching a qualifying course only for the first time the course is taught.
- Continuing education earned in one registration period cannot be transferred or carried forward to a later registration period.
- First registration period exemption: The triennial registration period in which the licensee is first licensed in New York is exempt from the CE requirement. If a later registration period is shorter than 36 months, the CE requirement is prorated at 1 hour per month.
- Inactive/not-practicing status: Licensees who are not practicing or using the restricted title in New York may allow registration to lapse or elect inactive status and are exempt from the CE requirement while not registered to practice.
- Reactivation/return to practice: Return to practice after a lapse generally requires completion of CE owed from the last registration period plus 1 hour for each month of lapsed registration, up to a maximum of 36 hours, with additional timing rules depending on whether the licensee lawfully practiced continuously in another jurisdiction.
- Recordkeeping: Licensees must retain CE records for at least 6 years. Renewal is normally by attestation, but NYSED conducts random audits and may require certificates or other supporting records.
- Online renewal is available in the final 5 months of the registration period and for less than 4 months after expiration. After that, a Delayed Registration Application is required. A late filing fee of $10 per month may apply after the beginning of the registration period.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your New York LCSW / LMSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track New York LCSW / LMSW CE free →New York LCSW & LMSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do New York LCSW / LMSW licensees need?
New York requires 36 continuing education hours every 3 years to renew a LCSW / LMSW license. Triennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
How often do New York LCSW / LMSW licensees renew?
Triennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
Can New York LCSW / LMSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 12 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Is the first renewal different for new New York LCSW / LMSW 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
- New York board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the New York 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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