South Carolina LISW-CP, LMSW, LISW-AP & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements
South Carolina clinical social workers must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LISW-CP / LMSW / LISW-AP / LBSW license.
40
total hours / 2 years
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
South Carolina LISW-CP, LMSW, LISW-AP & LBSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by December 31 of even years. |
| Approved providers | CE must be earned from a board-approved provider. |
Full board policy details
- South Carolina does not impose any minimum live-hour or maximum self-study/home-study limit. Any format (live, online, self-study) is acceptable so long as the course is approved by the Board.
- Course repeat restriction: Except in unusual circumstances, credits will not be given for repeating an instructional course within the same renewal period (SC Code Regs. 110-1(C)(4)).
- Instructor/teaching credit: A licensee who teaches an approved CE course may not receive credit for teaching the same course more than once per renewal period (SC Code Regs. 110-1(C)(3)).
- Inactive/Retired status: South Carolina law and regulation do not explicitly address inactive or retired status for social workers. Licensees who do not renew are not subject to active CE obligations, since CE is a prerequisite to biennial renewal.
- Reactivation/Reinstatement: If a license has lapsed for more than one year, the Board may impose further educational requirements for reinstatement (SC Code §40-63-250(F)). Specific reactivation CE hour counts are determined by the Board on a case-by-case basis.
- No conditional or provisional renewal is available. Completion of the 40-hour CE requirement (including the 1-hour suicide assessment hour for cycles ending after 2025) is a prerequisite to biennial renewal; failure to complete CE by the December 31 deadline results in a lapsed license subject to reinstatement provisions.
- First renewal: The full 40-hour CE requirement applies to all renewals, including a licensee's first renewal. No prorating or first-cycle exemption is provided in statute or regulation.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your South Carolina LISW-CP / LMSW / LISW-AP / LBSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track South Carolina LISW-CP / LMSW / LISW-AP / LBSW CE free →South Carolina LISW-CP, LMSW, LISW-AP & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do South Carolina LISW-CP / LMSW / LISW-AP / LBSW licensees need?
South Carolina requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LISW-CP / LMSW / LISW-AP / LBSW license. Biennial cycle: CE due by December 31 of even years.
How often do South Carolina LISW-CP / LMSW / LISW-AP / LBSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by December 31 of even years.
Sources & verification
- State source
- South Carolina board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- July 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the South Carolina board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is for guidance only, not legal or board advice. Always confirm requirements with your licensing board before renewing. See something wrong? Report it →
Track your South Carolina LISW-CP / LMSW / LISW-AP / LBSW CE without the spreadsheet.
Log your hours, watch every category pace toward your biennial renewal, and keep your certificates in one record. Free to start, no credit card required.
Create your free recordSouth Carolinaguides & data
What to keep for a CE audit
What boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, what the notice looks like, and a printable checklist.
South Carolina mental health workforce data
15,770 active providers, or 283.1 per 100,000 residents, ranked 44 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.