Rhode Island LCSW & LICSW Continuing Education Requirements
Rhode Island clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LICSW license, including 3 hours of ethics and 3 hours of cross cultural practice.
30
total hours / 2 years
3
cross cultural practice hours
3
ethics hours
8
home study / self-study hours cap
22
live hours minimum
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
Rhode Island LCSW & LICSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Cross Cultural Practice | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 8 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Format limits | At least 22 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. |
| Provisional renewal | The board allows a provisional/conditional renewal for up to 24 months before full compliance is required. The Board may grant a discretionary extension of time to complete CE requirements for hardship or other extenuating circumstances. No formal conditional/provisional license exists; extensions are case-by-case. |
Full board policy details
- At least 22 of the 30 required CE hours must be contact hours (programs with direct interaction such as live lectures, workshops, or live teleconferences). Up to 8 hours may be earned through non-contact (self-study) formats such as recorded online courses or correspondence.
- Approved providers include NASW and its local chapters, other state social-work boards, the ASWB, other recognized social-work organizations (e.g., clinical social work societies), and CSWE-accredited MSW programs. CE will only be accepted from these approved/recognized sources.
- Supervision of social work students may be claimed for CE credit, but a maximum of 6 hours of supervision credit may be claimed during a single renewal period.
- Course repeat restrictions: The Rhode Island regulations do not contain a blanket prohibition on repeating the same course within a renewal cycle, and there are no specific instructor-repeat restrictions. The only explicit cap relates to student supervision credit (6 hours per cycle).
- License status rules: The Rhode Island regulations do not address CE exemptions for inactive or retired licensees, nor do they specify CE requirements for reactivation. Licensees in non-active statuses should contact the Board of Social Work Examiners for guidance, as no regulatory exemption is provided.
- First renewal exemption: Social workers initially licensed after the May 1 renewal date are exempt from CE requirements until the next renewal cycle (April 30 of the next odd-numbered year). The full 30-hour requirement applies beginning with the second renewal.
- Hardship extension: An extension of time to complete CE requirements may be granted at the discretion of the Board for reasons of hardship or other extenuating circumstances. No maximum duration is specified in regulation.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Rhode Island LCSW / LICSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Rhode Island LCSW / LICSW CE free →Rhode Island LCSW & LICSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Rhode Island LCSW / LICSW licensees need?
Rhode Island requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LICSW license. Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
How many ethics hours are required for Rhode Island LCSW / LICSW licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Rhode Island LCSW / LICSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Rhode Island LCSW / LICSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Rhode Island requires 3 hours of cross cultural practice.
Can Rhode Island LCSW / LICSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 8 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. At least 22 hours must be earned live.
Is the first renewal different for new Rhode Island LCSW / LICSW 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
- Rhode Island board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the Rhode Island 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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