Ohio LISW, LISW-S & LSW Continuing Education Requirements
Ohio clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LISW / LISW-S / LSW license, including 3 hours of ethics.
30
total hours / 2 years
3
ethics hours
Biennial · renewal date depends on the licensee's issue date.
Ohio LISW, LISW-S & LSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary. |
| Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Approved providers | CE must be earned from a board-approved provider. |
Full board policy details
- No self-study or distance-learning cap applies. OAC 4757-9-04(F) permits social workers to earn the full 30-hour renewal requirement through distance learning, with no minimum number of live or in-person hours.
- Live, interactive videoconference courses are NOT classified as distance learning under Ohio's definitions and count as live CE hours, treated the same as in-person courses.
- Course repeat restrictions: A licensee who teaches a CE program receives credit only for the FIRST presentation of that program (1.5 credit hours per hour taught, up to 10 hours per renewal cycle per OAC 4757-9-04(C)). Subsequent presentations of the same course in the same renewal period yield no additional credit. Generally, credit is earned once per completed program.
- Inactive status: Licensees on inactive status are exempt from CE requirements while inactive (OAC 4757-7-01(B), per ORC 4757.321). Inactive licensees do not need CE to maintain inactive status.
- Retired status: Ohio does not define a separate "retired" license category; only "inactive" status is available. No separate retired-CE rules apply.
- Reactivation from inactive: Within the two years prior to applying for restoration to active status (OAC 4757-7-03), the applicant must complete: (a) at least 30 CE hours including 6 hours of ethics if inactive 5 years or less; (b) at least 45 CE hours including 6 hours of ethics if inactive more than 5 but not more than 10 years; (c) at least 45 CE hours plus a professional development plan (mentorship, training, etc.) if inactive more than 10 years. Reactivation hours cannot be double-counted toward the next renewal cycle.
- No conditional or provisional renewal: If CE requirements are not met by the renewal date, the license expires (OAC 4757-7-01(C)) and must be formally restored only after completing the required CE. There is no provisional active status or grace extension for completing missing CE.
- Banking: Until July 2026, licensees may bank up to 12 extra CE hours from one cycle to the next as a carryover allowance. Effective July 2026, banking ceases.
- Social work assistant certificate holders are subject to a reduced 15-hour-per-cycle CE requirement under ORC 4757.33(B), not the 30-hour requirement applicable to LSW/LISW/LISW-S.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Ohio LISW / LISW-S / LSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Ohio LISW / LISW-S / LSW CE free →Ohio LISW, LISW-S & LSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Ohio LISW / LISW-S / LSW licensees need?
Ohio requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LISW / LISW-S / LSW license. Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary.
How many ethics hours are required for Ohio LISW / LISW-S / LSW licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Ohio LISW / LISW-S / LSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Ohio board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the Ohio 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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