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California BBS Continuing Education for LCSWs

Basic Requirements

LCSWs are required to complete 18 hours their first renewal period including 7 hours of HIV/AIDs and 6 hours of Law and Ethics.  Each subsequent renewal period LCSWs must complete 36 hours including 6 hours of Law & Ethics.   

First Renewal Period

Total Hours Required = 18 

    HIV/AIDs = 7 hours 

    Law and Ethics = 6 hours

    Other = 5 hours 

All Subsequent Renewal Periods

Total Hours Required = 36 hours

     Law and Ethics = 6 hours 

     Other = 30 hours

 

Alternative Ways to Earn CEs

 

Courses Taught

You may claim credit for teaching a course. If the course meets all other CE requirements, you will receive the same amount of hours as a course attendee would receive. However, you can only claim credit for teaching a course one time during a single renewal period.

1 Semester Unit = 15 CE hours | 1 Quarter Unit = 10 CE hours

 

Supervision

Supervisors of Associate Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist Trainees/ Interns or Professional Clinical Counselor Interns may apply their supervisor course training hours to their CE requirement as long as the training has been taken from an acceptable CE provider.

BBS Enforcement Case Review

If you serve as an expert consultant for the Board’s Expert Witness Program, you may be awarded up to six (6) hours of Law and Ethics CE course credit. See the BBS website to apply.

BBS Subject Matter Expert (SME)

If you serve as a SME for exam development, you may be awarded up to six (6) hours of Law and Ethics CE course credit. See the BBS website to apply.

Participate in a Professional Law and Ethics Review Committee

If you participate in a professional organization’s law and ethics review committee, you may be awarded up to six (6) hours of Law and Ethics CE course credit.

Attend a Board Enforcement Case Review Training

A licensee who attends a Board enforcement case review training may be awarded up to six (6) hours of CE in the renewal cycle during which the case review training was attended. The hours earned may only be used to satisfy the Law and Ethics CE requirement.

Dual Licensure

If you have a LPCC or LMFT license in addition to your LCSW license, you may apply CE hours to both licenses if the course meets all CE requirements and the subject matter relates to both scopes of practice. 

Audits and Record Keeping

The BBS may audit your records to verify compliance. If audited you will be notified in writing and required to submit documentation of courses (or alternative CE methods) completed.  You must retain records of CE completion for two years.  

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