Vermont LCSW Continuing Education Requirements
Vermont clinical social workers must complete 20 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW license, including 1.5 hours of ethics and 15 hours of formal education.
20
total hours / 2 years
1.5
ethics hours
15
formal education hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Vermont LCSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 20 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by January 31 of even years. |
| Ethics | 1.5 hours required each cycle. |
| Formal Education | 15 hours required each cycle. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Provisional renewal | The board allows a provisional/conditional renewal for up to 3 months before full compliance is required. Per 3 V.S.A. § 129(k), the Director may grant up to 90 days after renewal for a licensee to complete deficient CE under a corrective plan. The license is renewed on time but conditioned on completion within 90 days. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 20 hours can come from.
- informal or self directed educationmax 5 hrs
Full board policy details
- At least 15 of the 20 required hours must be formal education. Formal is a regulatory activity category, not a delivery format; synchronous virtual CE must be accepted as live in-person under 26 V.S.A. § 3208(d).
- No more than 5 hours per renewal cycle may be informal or self-directed educational activity. The structured cap reads the activity category rather than generic self-study delivery.
- Provider eligibility: Vermont does not maintain a state-approved provider list. Per §6.8, the Director accepts CE offered by accredited colleges and universities; courses sponsored by national or state social work organizations or boards (e.g., NASW, CSWE, ASWB); CE sponsored or approved by relevant professional organizations (medicine, law, etc.); and in-service training approved by such organizations. Programs approved by NASW, CSWE, or ASWB are deemed approved CE.
- Instructor and repeat-course rules: first-time presentations, training, or courses qualify as formal education at 1.5 times actual instructional time. The rule does not impose a blanket repeat-course ban on attendees.
- License status — inactive/retired: CE is tied to active renewal, so licensees on inactive status do not accrue CE during the inactive period. Vermont does not define a separate "retired" category for social workers; non-renewing retirees have no CE obligation.
- Reactivation from inactive/lapsed status: 26 V.S.A. § 3208(e) permits the Director to prescribe additional reinstatement standards after five years. No universal two-year CE catch-up requirement was verified.
- Conditional registration: Under 3 V.S.A. § 129(k), the Director may grant up to 90 days after renewal for a licensee to complete deficient CE under a corrective plan. The license is renewed on time but conditioned on completion within 90 days; no further extension or renewal of the conditional period is allowed.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Vermont LCSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Vermont LCSW CE free →Vermont LCSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Vermont LCSW licensees need?
Vermont requires 20 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW license. Biennial cycle: CE due by January 31 of even years.
How many ethics hours are required for Vermont LCSW licensees?
Of the total, 1.5 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Vermont LCSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by January 31 of even years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Vermont LCSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Vermont requires 15 hours of formal education.
Is the first renewal different for new Vermont 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
- Vermont board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.3
Reviewed against the Vermont 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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