Continuing Education Requirements for Licensed Social Workers:

Regular Licensees:

All regular licensed social workers (LSW, LGSW, LCSW, LICSW) must earn fifty (50) hours of WV Board of Social Work Examiners (WVBSWE) approved continuing social work education hours in each two-year licensing period. Twenty (20) of these hours may be earned under the self-study category of "Individual Professional Activities" provider number 490000. The remaining thirty (30) hours must be earned from attending training programs offered by approved or certified providers recognized by the WVBSWE.

Regular Licensees with Special Emeritus Status:

Regular licensees with Emeritus status are not required to pursue continuing social work education.

Provisional Permit Holders:

Provisional Permit holders are not required to earn continuing social work education until they receive their full regular license. The Provisional Permit is only issued for six months to allow the candidate time to take the state social work exam.

Temporary Licensees:

Temporary licensees must earn a total of eighty (80) hours in each of the two-year licensing periods. They must obtain at least eight (8) of the total hours in Social Work Ethics from a Board certified/approved provider. This level of provisional license also allows the licensee to use twenty (20) of the eighty (80) total hours under the category of "Individual Professional Activities" in a variety of self-directed social work activities.

All Licensees:

Review the Professional Manual for additional information.

All licensees required to earn continuing education credits must report each continuing education program completed. See Reporting Continuing Education Credits for more information.

Licensees should always review the lists of Individually Approved Programs and Certified Providers to ensure continuing education programs are eligible for CE credits in the State of WV.