Oklahoma LCSW, LMSW & LSW Continuing Education Requirements
Oklahoma clinical social workers must complete 16 continuing education hours per year to renew their LCSW / LMSW / LSW license, including 3 hours of ethics.
16
total hours / year
3
ethics hours
8
live hours minimum
Annual renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Oklahoma LCSW, LMSW & LSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 16 hours per year. |
| Renewal | Annual cycle: CE due by December 31. |
| Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | At least 8 hours must be earned live. |
| 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. |
Full board policy details
- A minimum of 8 hours per renewal cycle must be Category I (live or formally structured) continuing education. Category I includes in-person training as well as live interactive teleconference or live video conference training. The remaining hours up to the 16-hour total may be Category II or Category III (self-study).
- No general percentage cap applies to self-study (Category III) hours beyond the 8-hour Category I minimum.
- First renewal: Continuing education is waived in the calendar year in which the licensee passed their licensure exam. Beginning with the following renewal year, the full 16-hour requirement applies.
- Dual specialties: Licensees holding more than one social work license specialty title must complete an additional 6 hours of Category I CE for each additional license held (for example, 22 hours total when holding two specialty licenses).
- Course repeat restrictions: The Oklahoma Administrative Code does not contain an explicit prohibition on repeating the same course within a renewal cycle. However, for instructor/teaching credit, only the initial preparation of a course is eligible for Category III credit; teaching the same course again does not earn additional CE credit.
- License status rules: The CE rules do not address inactive or retired status, and no automatic CE exemption was verified for licensees in those statuses. Licensees who do not renew accrue no CE obligation while not renewing. Licensees who submit a late renewal between January 1 and March 31 following expiration must still submit verification of the prior calendar year's 16 CE hours. There is no conditional or provisional renewal mechanism in the OAC for licensees who are deficient in CE at renewal.
- Provider approval: All CE must be approved by the Board or by a recognized accreditor (such as ASWB or NASW) and must meet standards acceptable to the profession. Courses that are not preapproved must be submitted to the Board for prior approval to receive credit.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Oklahoma LCSW / LMSW / LSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Oklahoma LCSW / LMSW / LSW CE free →Oklahoma LCSW, LMSW & LSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Oklahoma LCSW / LMSW / LSW licensees need?
Oklahoma requires 16 continuing education hours per year to renew a LCSW / LMSW / LSW license. Annual cycle: CE due by December 31.
How many ethics hours are required for Oklahoma LCSW / LMSW / LSW licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Oklahoma LCSW / LMSW / LSW licensees renew?
Annual cycle: CE due by December 31.
Can Oklahoma LCSW / LMSW / LSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
At least 8 hours must be earned live.
Is the first renewal different for new Oklahoma LCSW / LMSW / LSW 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
- Oklahoma board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the Oklahoma 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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