Washington LCSW & LASW Continuing Education Requirements
Washington clinical social workers must complete 32 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LASW license, including 6 hours of ethics and law and 2 hours of professional roles and boundaries.
32
total hours / 2 years
6
ethics and law hours
2
professional roles and boundaries hours
Biennial · renewal date depends on the licensee's birth month.
Washington LCSW & LASW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 32 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month. |
| Ethics and Law | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Professional Roles and Boundaries | 2 hours required each cycle. |
| Other mandates | 2 hours of health equity required every 4 years. |
| Other mandates | 6 hours of suicide prevention required every 6 years. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 32 hours can come from.
- employer sponsored trainingmax 26 hrs
- other learning experiencemax 6 hrs
Washington LCSW & LASWrequired trainings & mandates
Beyond the 32-hour CE total, Washington requires specific trainings — some once around initial licensure, some on their own recurring schedule.
Recurring mandates outside the 2 years cycle
- 2 hours of health equity required every 4 years.
- 6 hours of suicide prevention required every 6 years.
Full board policy details
- No cap on distance learning. Per WAC 246-809-610(3)(b) and DOH guidance, all 32 hours may be completed via distance learning — synchronous (live interactive online) or asynchronous (self-paced with a comprehension test). There is no minimum live or in-person requirement.
- Synchronous online (live interactive webinars) qualify as distance learning without a comprehension test; asynchronous home-study courses require a test of comprehension upon completion (WAC 246-809-610(3)(b)).
- Provider approval: The Washington Department of Health does not approve CE providers. Acceptable CE must come from an "industry-recognized organization" or accredited institution as described in WAC 246-809-620 (e.g. universities, NASW, ASWB, CSWE-accredited programs, professional associations). The licensee is responsible for ensuring each course meets these criteria.
- WAC 246-12-240 allows the same course to count only once in a reporting cycle. A licensee who presents or teaches a specific topic may likewise claim the preparation/presentation credit only once per reporting period (WAC 246-809-640).
- Employer-sponsored training is capped at 26 hours per reporting period. Other learning experiences, including panel/board/council service, community service, research, peer consultation, and publication, are collectively capped at 6 hours (WAC 246-809-610).
- License status — inactive/expired: A license that is not renewed on the practitioner's birthday lapses and the holder may not practice. CE obligations do not accrue while the credential is inactive. To resume practice the licensee must reactivate the credential and meet current CE requirements.
- License status — retired active: Licensed social workers on retired-active status must complete 18 hours of CE every 2 years, of which at least 6 hours must be in professional ethics and law (DOH retired-active guidance; WAC 246-809-730). This rule file models the standard active LCSW/LASW requirement (32 hours); retired-active licensees follow the reduced requirement separately.
- Reactivation after expiration is governed by WAC 246-12-040. The required declaration depends on how long the credential has been expired and may include current CE requirements or the requirements for the two most recent years. Those administrative lookbacks remain a manual review.
- Conditional registration: Washington does not provide a conditional or provisional renewal status for licensees who have not completed CE by the renewal deadline. Licensees must complete CE before renewing or the license will expire and require reinstatement.
- The Department assigns the two-year CE reporting due date while the credential itself renews annually on the practitioner's birthday. The current profession rule does not state a separate prorated first-cycle hour schedule; licensees should follow the reporting date shown by the Department rather than treating every short initial credential term as a complete two-year reporting period.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Washington LCSW / LASW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Washington LCSW / LASW CE free →Washington LCSW & LASW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Washington LCSW / LASW licensees need?
Washington requires 32 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LASW license. Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
How many ethics hours are required for Washington LCSW / LASW licensees?
Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics and law.
How often do Washington LCSW / LASW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Washington LCSW / LASW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Washington requires 2 hours of professional roles and boundaries.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Washington board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Washington 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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