Updated for 2026

Vermont LICSW Continuing Education Requirements

Vermont clinical social workers must complete 20 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LICSW license, including 1.5 hours of ethics, 15 hours of formal education, and 1 hour of systematic oppression.

20hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 20
15formal education
1.5ethics
1systematic oppression

Next deadline: January 31, 2028The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by January 31 of even years.

What the board saysVermont board rule
L.I.C.S.W.: Each licensed independent clinical social worker is required to document and complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education1 taken during the concluding licensing period … At least one and one half (1.5) hours of the total required hours shall be in ethics of social work practice2, including such issues as boundaries, confidentiality, and dual relationships. 6.5 Formal Educational Activities (a) For L.I.C.S.W.’s: At least 15 hours shall consist of formal in person education3 … No more than five hours of continuing education may be in informal or self-directed educational activities4.
What it means
  1. 20 hours each 2-year licensing period
  2. 1.5 hours of social work ethics
  3. 15 hours of formal education
  4. No more than 5 hours of informal or self-directed activities
Administrative Rules for Social Workers 6.2–6.6Last verified October 2026Ruleset 2026.7How we verify
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Requirements

Vermont LICSW requirements

Total

20 hoursYou need 20 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by January 31 of even years.

Topic minimums, counted within the 20

The remaining 2.5 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Formal Education
15
You need 15 hours each cycle.
Ethics
1.5
You need 1.5 hours each cycle.
Systematic Oppression
1
You need 1 hour each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Informal or self directed education
max 5 hrs

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by January 31 of even years.
New licensees
The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them 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.
Your hours

Check where you stand

Enter the hours you have completed this cycle to see what is left before January 31, 2028.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LCSW CE hours calculator

Also hold a Vermont LPC or LMFT license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the Vermont LPC and Vermont LMFT requirements.

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: lectures, teaching, or other activities performed for financial remuneration are not eligible for CE credit, and peer supervision is not eligible (Rule 6.7). The rules give no multiplier or extra credit for presenting. 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.

Vermont LICSW CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Vermont LICSW licensees need?

Vermont requires 20 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LICSW license. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by January 31 of even years.

How many ethics hours are required for Vermont LICSW licensees?

Of the total, 1.5 hours must be in ethics.

How often do Vermont LICSW licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by January 31 of even years.

Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Vermont LICSW licensees?

Yes. In addition to ethics, Vermont requires 15 hours of formal education, 1 hour of systematic oppression.

Is the first renewal different for new Vermont LICSW licensees?

The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.

Sources and verification

State source
Vermont board rule
Profession source
ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified
October 2026
Ruleset version
2026.7

We reviewed this page against the Vermont board source, and we refresh it 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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Vermont guides & data

What to keep for a CE audit →Learn what boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, and what the notice looks like, then use the printable checklist.Vermont mental health workforce data →4,623 active providers, or 717.1 per 100,000 residents, ranked 5 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Vermont CE requirement pages

Vermont LPCVermont LMFTVermont PsychologistVermont Addiction CounselorVermont PMHNP

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