Virginia LCSW Continuing Education Requirements
Virginia clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW license, including 6 hours of ethics standards law and 20 hours of category I.
30
total hours / 2 years
6
ethics standards law hours
20
category I hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Virginia LCSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years. |
| Ethics Standards Law | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Category ICategory I (Formally Organized Learning) — at least 20 of the 30 hours must come from qualifying academic courses, CSWE-accredited programs, agency workshops or seminars, or courses offered by the organizations listed in 18VAC140-20-105. Category I is not synonymous with live delivery. | 20 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 5 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 3 years after each renewal. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
| Other mandates | Virginia Code § 63.2-1509 designates licensed social workers as mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and requires any mandated reporter without prior training to complete a state-approved training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. This training is a statutory obligation and does NOT count toward the 30-hour CE total. Typically completed once upon qualifying as a mandated reporter. |
| Other mandates | Virginia Code § 63.2-1606 designates licensed health providers (including social workers) as mandated reporters of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults. No specific training hours or recurrence are imposed by statute, and this duty is separate from CE. |
| Provisional renewal | The board allows a provisional/conditional renewal for up to 12 months before full compliance is required. The Board may grant an extension of up to one year to complete CE requirements for good cause. Only one extension period is provided for; after that, the extension expires. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 30 hours can come from.
- category IImax 10 hrs
- home study / self-studymax 5 hrs
- pro bono servicemax 2 hrs
- academic courseworkmax 15 hrs per activity
- ASWB item writingmax 2 hrs
- book or course preparationmax 10 hrs
- article or inservicemax 5 hrs
- CE program deliverymax 2 hrs per activity
- field instructionmax 2 hrs
- professional association servicemax 2 hrs
- formal staffingmax 5 hrs
Keeping the proof in order: what to keep for a CE audit, with every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.
Virginia LCSWrequired trainings & mandates
Beyond the 30-hour CE total, Virginia requires specific trainings — some once around initial licensure, some on their own recurring schedule.
Recurring mandates outside the 2 years cycle
- Virginia Code § 63.2-1509 designates licensed social workers as mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and requires any mandated reporter without prior training to complete a state-approved training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. This training is a statutory obligation and does NOT count toward the 30-hour CE total. Typically completed once upon qualifying as a mandated reporter.
- Virginia Code § 63.2-1606 designates licensed health providers (including social workers) as mandated reporters of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults. No specific training hours or recurrence are imposed by statute, and this duty is separate from CE.
Full board policy details
- Category I (Formally Organized Learning) — at least 20 of the 30 hours must come from qualifying academic courses, CSWE-accredited programs, agency workshops or seminars, or courses offered by the organizations listed in 18VAC140-20-105. Category I is not synonymous with live delivery.
- Category II (individual professional activities) — capped at 10 hours total. Within Category II, individual study (audio/video/reading) is further capped at 5 of the 30 hours.
- Live interactive online courses (real-time webinars/seminars by an approved sponsor) are generally treated as Category I structured learning, not as self-study/home-study.
- Course repeat restrictions: The regulations do not explicitly prohibit a licensee from retaking the same course for credit within a single renewal period, but duplicate content is generally not creditable. For instructors, teaching a CE program is creditable up to 2 hours maximum, and the program will be accepted only one time — an instructor may not claim credit again by teaching the identical program a second time within the cycle.
- License status — inactive: A licensee may place the license on inactive status by paying half the renewal fee. While inactive, the licensee may not practice and is not required to complete CE. To reactivate, the licensee must document the applicable competency hours for each year inactive, not to exceed four years. Because the quantity varies with inactive duration, it remains a manual status rule rather than a fixed 30-hour conditional requirement.
- License status — retired: Virginia's social work regulations do not define a separate "retired" status. Licensees are either active or inactive; a fully lapsed license must be reinstated under §140-20-110, which similarly requires CE hours equal to the number of years lapsed.
- Reactivation from inactive: Submit fees and documentation of applicable competency hours equal to the years inactive (capped at four years). After reactivation, normal 30-hour-per-cycle CE rules resume.
- First renewal exemption: Per 18VAC140-20-105(B), newly licensed individuals are not required to document CE on the first renewal date following initial licensure. The full 30-hour requirement applies beginning with the second renewal (and only at even-year renewals).
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Virginia LCSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Virginia LCSW CE free →Virginia LCSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Virginia LCSW licensees need?
Virginia requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW license. Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years.
How many ethics hours are required for Virginia LCSW licensees?
Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics standards law.
How often do Virginia LCSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Virginia LCSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Virginia requires 20 hours of category I.
Can Virginia LCSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 5 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Is the first renewal different for new Virginia 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
- Virginia board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Virginia 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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