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 · Biennial cycle: CE due by December 31.
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. |
| 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 all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) 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.
How often do South Carolina LISW-CP / LMSW / LISW-AP / LBSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by December 31.
Sources & verification
- State source
- South Carolina board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the South Carolina 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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