West Virginia LCSW, LICSW, LGSW & LSW Continuing Education Requirements
West Virginia clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW license, including 1 hour of ethics, 20 hours of category I, and 2 hours of veterans' mental health.
30
total hours / 2 years
1
ethics hours
2
veterans' mental health hours
20
category I hours
Biennial · renewal date depends on the licensee's issue date.
West Virginia LCSW, LICSW, LGSW & LSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary. |
| Ethics | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| Category I | 20 hours required each cycle. |
| Veterans' Mental Health | 2 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | At least 10 hours of category I must be earned live. |
| Carryover | Unused hours can carry into the next cycle. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
| Late renewal | A late renewal allows a late fee. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 30 hours can come from.
- category I via livemin 10 hrs
- category IImax 10 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.
Full board policy details
- Of the 30 required hours, at least 20 must come from Category I (Board-approved or otherwise authorized) providers, including programs endorsed by ASWB, NASW, another state social work board, or a CSWE-accredited school. Up to 10 hours may be earned from Category II independent study activities.
- Of the 20 Category I hours, at least 10 must be synchronous (live in-person or live interactive online). No more than 10 of the Category I hours may be asynchronous online. Live webinars count toward the synchronous minimum, not the asynchronous cap. This is enforced by `category_i_synchronous_minimum`, a category-scoped format_minimum: a credit satisfies it only when it is tagged category_i AND recorded as live or in_person.
- Self-study / Category II activities (independent reading, research, writing, preparing presentations) are capped at 10 of the 30 hours. On-the-job training does not count toward the CE requirement.
- Course repeat restrictions: The WV rule (25 CSR 25-5-3) is silent on repeating courses within a cycle. Credit is only granted for activities that meet Board specifications, and credit is intended to reflect new learning, so licensees should not submit duplicate course content within the same renewal period. Instructors may receive Category II credit for preparing a presentation, but the rule does not provide for repeated credit for teaching the same content multiple times.
- License status — inactive / emeritus: Licensees on inactive or emeritus (retired) status are exempt from CE while in that status (25 CSR 25-5-3). A licensee changing to inactive or emeritus status must submit all accrued CE at the time of the status change. Temporary permit holders do not renew and have no CE requirement.
- Reactivation from inactive/emeritus: The regulations do not specify a separate make-up CE quantity for returning to active status beyond satisfying the standard 30-hour renewal-cycle requirement. Licensees reactivating should confirm current expectations with the Board.
- First renewal: WV does not provide a prorated or reduced CE requirement for the first renewal. The full 30 hours apply to every two-year cycle, including the initial license term (WV Code §30-30-19(a)).
- Delinquency: A license that is not renewed with CE complete by the expiration date becomes delinquent the following day. The Board does not offer a conditional permit to complete CE post-expiration; the licensee must stop practicing and may reinstate within 36 months by completing all required CE and paying late fees.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your West Virginia LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track West Virginia LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW CE free →West Virginia LCSW, LICSW, LGSW & LSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do West Virginia LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW licensees need?
West Virginia requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW license. Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary.
How many ethics hours are required for West Virginia LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW licensees?
Of the total, 1 hour must be in ethics.
How often do West Virginia LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for West Virginia LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, West Virginia requires 20 hours of category I, 2 hours of veterans' mental health.
Can West Virginia LCSW / LICSW / LGSW / LSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
At least 10 hours of category I must be earned live.
Sources & verification
- State source
- West Virginia board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.3
Reviewed against the West 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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Create your free recordWest Virginiaguides & data
What to keep for a CE audit
What boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, what the notice looks like, and a printable checklist.
West Virginia mental health workforce data
5,546 active providers, or 314 per 100,000 residents, ranked 40 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.