If you're a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York, you must meet specific Continuing Education Unit (CEU) requirements to maintain your license. New York State implemented mandatory continuing education for social workers in 2015, and it applies to both LMSWs and LCSWs. Below is a clear breakdown of the CEU hours required, the renewal timeline, how much can be done online versus in-person, and examples of qualifying activities.

CEU Hours and Licensing Cycle in New York

How many hours are required?

New York requires social workers to complete 36 hours of approved continuing education during each licensing cycle. This requirement is the same for both LMSWs and LCSWs:

LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker): 36 hours of continuing education every three years.
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker): 36 hours of continuing education every three years.

These 36 hours must be obtained through NYSED-approved providers (providers that the New York State Education Department's Social Work Board has approved for CE credit). In practical terms, 36 hours in three years works out to about 12 hours per year (roughly one hour per month of licensure) to stay on track.

License renewal timeline

New York social work licenses operate on a triennial renewal cycle, meaning your license is renewed every 3 years (36 months). You need to complete your CEU hours within each three-year registration period and by the time your license is due for renewal.

For example, if your renewal is due in December 2025, you must complete all required CEUs between January 2023 and December 2025 (the span of that 3-year period) so that you can attest to having 36 hours when you renew. CEUs are not optional – you will have to certify that you've completed them in order to renew your license.

Important note

New York does not allow carryover of extra CE hours to the next cycle – each 3-year period stands on its own. So if you earn more than 36 hours in one period, the additional hours cannot be applied to the next renewal.

Additionally, when you renew, you simply attest (declare) that you completed the required CE, but you should retain documentation (certificates, transcripts, etc.) for at least 6 years in case you are audited by the state.

Content requirements

As of recently, New York introduced a specific topic requirement within the 36 hours. Starting April 1, 2023, all LMSWs and LCSWs must include at least 3 hours of coursework on maintaining appropriate professional boundaries as part of their 36-hour requirement. Be sure to take a course on professional boundaries (ethical practice and boundaries in social work) during each three-year cycle to meet this mandate.

Online vs. In-Person CEUs: What's Allowed?

New York permits you to complete some of your continuing education through online or self-paced courses, but there are limits on how many hours can be done via self-study.

Live Instruction

(In-Person or Live Online): At least 24 of the 36 hours must involve "live" instruction – this includes traditional in-person workshops, seminars, or courses as well as live online webinars where you can interact with the instructor in real time. There is no maximum for live hours; in fact, you could do all 36 hours in live settings if you prefer.

Self-Study

(Online or Independent Study): No more than 12 hours of your CEUs per 3-year cycle can be completed through self-study formats. New York defines self-study as structured educational activities conducted independently, without real-time interaction with an instructor, often delivered via audio, video, written, or online materials.

In summary, you can complete up to 12 hours online in self-paced courses, and the remaining 24+ hours should be earned via live instruction. Many social workers mix the two formats – for example, you might take a few online courses on your own schedule (to reach the 12-hour self-study limit) and do the rest through live webinars or in-person trainings.

Example: Online CEU Course Catalog

Online courses offer flexibility for busy professionals, and New York's rules allow a significant portion of your CEUs to be done online (within the 12-hour self-study limit). It's important to use an approved online provider for these hours.

At Training and eTracking Solutions, we offer a CEU course catalog specifically for New York social workers, which includes a variety of NYSED-approved online courses for LMSWs and LCSWs. You can choose topics relevant to your practice and complete them at your own pace. Courses taken through our approved online programs will count toward your self-study hours for the licensing period.

By utilizing our online catalog, you could feasibly meet up to one-third of your CE requirements through convenient web-based training. Just remember that you'll still need to complete the rest of your hours via live interactive courses.

Explore Our CEU Courses

Examples of Qualifying In-Person CEU Activities

What kinds of activities count toward the non-online (live) portion of your continuing education? New York's CEU requirements are flexible in terms of content, as long as the activities are offered by an approved provider and are structured for professional education. Here are some concrete examples of in-person or live CEU activities that would count toward your hours:

Attending an Approved Workshop or Seminar

Participating in a live, in-person training workshop is a classic way to earn CEUs. For example, you might attend a full-day seminar on trauma-informed practice or a half-day training on cultural competency, provided by an organization or school that is approved by NYSED. These face-to-face workshops count fully toward your live CE requirement.

Attending Professional Conferences

Going to a social work conference or symposium can yield multiple CEUs. Conferences often have various educational sessions, panels, or break-out classes that are approved for continuing education credit. For instance, attending the New York State Social Work Association's annual conference or an NASW-NYS chapter conference can allow you to earn hours by attending keynote presentations and breakout sessions.

Teaching or Presenting (Educator Credit)

Engaging in the education of others can also count as continuing education for you. New York allows CE credit for teaching a course or making a professional presentation, under certain conditions. For example, if you teach a workshop or serve as a panelist at a professional seminar that is approved for social work CE credit, you can earn CE hours for that activity.

Other offline activities that might count include enrolling in an approved continuing education course at a local university or training institute, or participating in approved agency-based trainings. The key is that the activity should be a formal, structured learning experience related to social work practice, and the provider offering it must be officially approved to grant CEUs.

Conclusion

Maintaining your New York social work license (LMSW or LCSW) means staying on top of these continuing education requirements. In summary, you'll need to complete 36 hours of CE every 3 years, with a mix of live and (limited) self-study coursework, and ensure you meet any content mandates such as the boundaries training.

By planning ahead, you can spread out the hours (about 12 per year) and take advantage of both in-person workshops and online courses to fit your schedule. Remember to choose approved providers for all your CE activities – for example, you might attend live seminars for hands-on learning and use our platform at Training and eTracking Solutions for convenient online modules.

Keep documentation of your courses, and renew your license on time with the confidence that you've met the requirements. Staying compliant not only secures your license, but also helps you remain knowledgeable and up-to-date in your social work practice – a win-win for you and the clients you serve.

Ready to fulfill your New York CEU requirements?

At Training and eTracking Solutions, we offer NYSED-approved online courses specifically designed for New York social workers.

Browse Our NY-Approved Courses

Sources: New York State Education Department – Social Work Board guidelines and NASW NYS updates on continuing education.

CEU Requirements for New York Social Workers (LMSWs & LCSWs)