Oregon LCSW Continuing Education Requirements
Oregon clinical social workers must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW license, including 6 hours of ethics and 6 hours of cultural competency.
40
total hours / 2 years
6
ethics hours
6
cultural competency hours
10
carryover cap
Biennial · renewal date depends on the licensee's birth month.
Oregon LCSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month. |
| Ethics | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Cultural Competency | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Carryover | Up to 10 unused hours can carry into the next 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. |
| Approved providers | CE must be earned from a board-approved provider. |
Full board policy details
- Oregon does not impose a numeric or percentage cap on self-study or online CE hours. Continuing education may be attended in person, online, or via webcast, and self-study (books, journal articles) is permitted provided the activity meets board criteria.
- No minimum number of live or in-person hours is required. Live-interactive online courses are treated as equivalent to live attendance.
- All CE must be provided or approved by a credentialing body recognized and approved by the Board, or be individually approved by the Board under OAR 877-025-0006(2).
- Carryover: Active LCSWs may carry up to 10 excess CE hours forward to the next reporting period. Semi-retired and other license types do not qualify for carryover.
- Course repeat restrictions: OAR 877-025 contains no explicit prohibition on claiming credit for repeating or teaching the same course within a cycle. In practice, the Board expects genuine learning, and identical content is generally credited only once per cycle. Instructors may earn credit for distinct presentations, subject to Board audit policy.
- Inactive/Retired status: Licensees on inactive or retired status are exempt from CE and are not required to submit a biennial CE report (OAR 877-025-0011(1)(b)).
- Reactivation: Under OAR 877-020-0055, the Board may require CE in specified topics as a condition of reactivation. Generally, no additional CE is imposed if the inactive period was less than two years; for periods over two years, the Board determines required training on a case-by-case basis.
- First renewal exemption: The initial certification period is excluded from CE reporting under OAR 877-025-0011(1)(a). The full 40-hour CE requirement applies beginning with the second renewal.
- Semi-Retired LCSW status (not modeled here): Requires 20 CE hours per cycle, including 6 ethics and 6 cultural competency hours. Semi-retired licensees do not qualify for the 10-hour carryover.
- Hardship waivers/extensions: Under OAR 877-025-0011(2), the Board may grant waivers or extensions for documented hardship. Oregon does not otherwise provide a conditional or provisional renewal pathway for completing CE after the renewal deadline.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Oregon LCSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Oregon LCSW CE free →Oregon LCSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Oregon LCSW licensees need?
Oregon requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW license. Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
How many ethics hours are required for Oregon LCSW licensees?
Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Oregon LCSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Oregon LCSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Oregon requires 6 hours of cultural competency.
Is the first renewal different for new Oregon LCSW 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
- Oregon board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the Oregon 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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