Texas LCSW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements
Texas clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license, including 6 hours of ethics, 3 hours of cultural diversity / competency, and 1 hour of human trafficking.
30
total hours / 2 years
6
ethics hours
3
cultural diversity / competency hours
1
human trafficking hours
Biennial · renewal date depends on the licensee's birth month.
Texas LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month. |
| Ethics | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Cultural Diversity / Competency | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Human Trafficking | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 1 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Carryover | Up to 10 unused hours can carry into the next cycle. |
| Approved providers | Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by international professional association, national professional association, state professional association, local professional association, accredited university, public school district, education service center, governmental agency, nonprofit religious or charitable organization, hospital or hospital system, and board approved supervisor. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 30 hours can come from.
- home study / self-studymax 1 hrs
- first time presentationmax 5 hrs
- publicationmax 5 hrs
- academic courseworkmax 5 hrs
- field supervisionmax 10 hrs
- carryovermax 10 hrs
Full board policy details
- Self-study is capped at 1 hour per renewal cycle. Organized third-party audio, video, digital, or print CE offerings are not treated as self-study for purposes of this cap.
- Instructor/teaching credit: A licensee may claim credit for presenting at CE programs for up to 5 hours per renewal cycle.
- Publication credit is capped at 5 hours per renewal cycle.
- Teaching or attending a qualifying college or university course is capped at 5 hours per renewal cycle.
- Providing field instruction or supervision to a social-work practicum student is capped at 10 hours per renewal cycle.
- Carry-forward: Up to 10 excess CE hours may be carried into the next renewal period if not needed for the current renewal.
- Provider mix: At least 50% of CE hours must come from listed provider types under 22 TAC § 781.501; the remaining 50% may come from any provider chosen by the licensee. BHEC does not pre-approve CE providers or individual courses.
- CE Broker is the official CE tracking platform and is required for all BHEC licensees starting January 1, 2026.
- Inactive status: A license on inactive status does not require CE while inactive, but the licensee may not practice.
- Retired/emeritus status: Grandfathered emeritus licensees as of September 1, 2020 do not owe renewal fees or CE, but must still renew biennially through the online system and may not return to paid employment or active status under that status.
- Reactivation from inactive: Requires proof of CE completion for renewal, payment of the reactivation or renewal fee, and, if inactive for four years or more, passage of the jurisprudence exam unless another active license in the same profession is held.
- Active-duty military licensees may request a waiver of CE requirements and renewal fees for the renewal period by submitting a written request before the renewal date with official verification.
- Human-trafficking training is required each renewal cycle as a condition of renewal and may be claimed for 1 CE hour.
- Multiple instances or occurrences of the same continuing-education activity may not be claimed during the same renewal period.
- CE on state or federal laws, including agency rules, may qualify as ethics content toward the 6-hour ethics requirement.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Texas LCSW / LMSW / LBSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Texas LCSW / LMSW / LBSW CE free →Texas LCSW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Texas LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees need?
Texas requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license. Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
How many ethics hours are required for Texas LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?
Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Texas LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Texas LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Texas requires 3 hours of cultural diversity / competency, 1 hour of human trafficking.
Can Texas LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 1 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Texas board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- July 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Texas 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 →
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