Social Work Continuing Education Credits in California

Did you know that Licensed Clinical Social Workers in California need to complete 36 hours of continuing education credits every two years to keep their license?

These requirements are 15 years old, set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to keep you updated with new trends, methods, and ethical standards in your field. California’s requirements stand out from other states that have minimal or no renewal needs. The state requires at least half of these social work continuing education credits from live, interactive courses. Your license renewal also needs six hours of California Law and Ethics courses, plus a one-time six-hour course in Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention.

The good news is you have several ways to meet these requirements through approved social work CEU courses. This piece covers everything about earning and tracking your social work CE in California – from specific requirements to approved providers and documentation practices. You’ll learn how continuing education enhances your career and helps you serve over 150,000 Californians living with HIV and other vulnerable populations better. Whether you choose in-person workshops, online learning, or university programs, we’ve got you covered.

Understanding California’s CE Requirements

California social workers must complete specific continuing education requirements to stay current with evolving practices and standards. Let’s get into what the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) requires for license types of all sizes.

Who needs CE credits in California?

Several professional categories within social work need continuing education requirements. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) must complete continuing education hours to keep their licenses active. Plus, Associate Clinical Social Workers (ACSWs) now need to meet certain continuing education requirements during each renewal period since January 1, 2023.

These mandates apply to both new and experienced practitioners. California law requires all LCSW licensees to complete continuing education before each active status license renewal. BBS licensed supervisors must complete extra continuing education in supervision to keep their supervisory status.

How many hours are required?

Social workers in California need 36 hours every two years of continuing education credits. This requirement applies to each license renewal cycle. The requirements differ based on when you got your license.

Licensees renewing for the first time only needed 18 hours of continuing education for many years. This changed on July 1, 2023, and now all licensees renewing for the first time must complete all 36 hours of social work CE.

Associates have their own requirements. Since January 1, 2023, all associate registrants must complete at least 3 hours of continuing education coursework in California law and ethics during each yearly renewal period.

Special course mandates (e.g., Law & Ethics, Suicide Prevention)

Your social work continuing education credits must include several specific courses in California:

• Law and Ethics Requirement: Each renewal period requires 6 hours of Law and Ethics continuing education. These count toward your total 36-hour requirement.
• One-Time Requirements:
  • Telehealth Training: Starting July 1, 2023, you must take a one-time 3-hour course in providing mental health services via telehealth, which includes telehealth law and ethics.
  • Suicide Risk Assessment: A one-time 6-hour course in suicide risk assessment and intervention has been mandatory since January 1, 2021.
  • HIV/AIDS Course: A 7-hour HIV/AIDS course must be completed before your first license renewal.
  • Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting: You need a 7-hour course before first renewal.
  • Substance Dependency: Before your first license renewal, you must complete fifteen hours in alcoholism and chemical substance dependency.

Supervisors face additional requirements. Those with supervisory status need 6 hours of supervision coursework to renew or resume supervisory duties after a two-year or longer break. California’s first-time supervisors must complete 15 hours of supervision coursework.

These special requirements help you stay informed about everything in social work practice while maintaining professional standards through regular continuing education in California.

Ways to Earn Social Work Continuing Education Credits

You can earn your continuing education credits as a California social worker in several ways. Pick the learning methods that work best with your schedule, style of learning, and career interests.

Live workshops and seminars

Face-to-face learning remains popular to earn social work continuing education credits. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) hosts yearly conferences that give you CE credits and great networking opportunities. These events rotate between different geographic regions, so professionals can attend them anywhere in the country.

Local NASW chapters regularly host live seminars approved for California social workers. These in-person events let you interact directly with presenters and colleagues. You’ll learn in a rich environment where everyone discusses real-life applications of the material.

Teaching courses for Board-accepted providers is another way to earn CE credit. You’ll earn the same credit as attendees would get. The rules limit you to maximum of 18 hours each renewal period for teaching, and you can’t claim credit for teaching the same course twice in one renewal period.

Online self-paced courses

The digital world has made online options a convenient choice for busy professionals. California licensees can now get all their CE hours through interactive electronic formats – online courses, teleconferencing, and videos.

Many ASWB-approved providers offer detailed online learning platforms with on-demand courses. The NASW Online CE Institute has over 400 courses you can take as on-demand or live webinars in dozens of categories. These platforms track your progress so you can finish coursework at your own speed.

Virtual options often include:

• Live webinars with real-time interaction
• Pre-recorded sessions you can access anytime
• Online conferences and summits
• Interactive learning modules with assessments

University and college programs

Universities and colleges provide another way to meet your continuing education requirements. You can earn CE hours from postsecondary schools that meet Business and Professions Code requirements or have approval from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

University course credits convert to CE hours this way:

• 1 semester unit equals 15 CE hours
• 1 quarter unit equals 10 CE hours

Universities have created specialized certificate programs in areas like trauma-informed care or working with veterans. These programs combine academic depth with practical skills that help advance your career.

Reading and self-study options

Self-study options give independent learners flexibility. Organizations offer approved reading programs where you study selected publications and take an assessment to earn credits. NASW lets you earn CE credits by reading specific NASW Press publications about topics like self-care in social work and environmental practice.

Self-study courses usually need you to:

• Read all content in the self-study materials
• Pass chapter quizzes with a minimum score (usually 80%)
• Complete a course survey

Documentation matters whatever method you choose. Keep records of all your completed CE courses, including certificates and transcripts, for at least two years after your license renewal period.

These different paths let you customize your continuing education experience to match your career goals while meeting California’s licensure requirements.

Approved Providers and How to Choose Them

The right providers for your continuing education credits can make a significant difference in how you spend your time and money as a social worker. California has specific guidelines about organizations that can offer approved CE courses for your licensure requirements.

NASW and ASWB-approved providers

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) operates a detailed CE Approval Program for national, regional, and multi-state organizations. More than 46 state licensure boards across the country have approved this program. California social workers can rely on the NASW-CA Online CE Program since the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) specifically recognizes it.

The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)’s Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program provides another option. Providers must undergo a rigorous review to receive ACE approval and meet quality standards based on best practices. Most U.S. states accept ACE continuing education credits, but regulatory boards have the final say on which courses qualify for credit.

CSWE-accredited institutions

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has accredited 550 baccalaureate programs, 347 master’s programs, and 4 practice doctorate programs nationwide. The California BBS recognizes these accredited institutions as legitimate CE providers. CSWE’s accreditation is a quality marker that ensures programs prepare social workers to serve in a variety of communities effectively.

California BBS-recognized agencies

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts several specific approval agencies that can certify CE providers:

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
• California Psychological Association (CPA)
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)

The BBS also automatically recognizes certain organizations as CE providers, including professional associations like the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors.

How to verify a provider’s legitimacy

The BBS doesn’t maintain a detailed list of all approved CE providers. So you’ll need to do your own verification. Start by checking if one of the BBS-recognized approval agencies listed above has approved the provider.

Look for clear statements on the provider’s promotional materials that suggest which approval agency has certified them. Providers must list their approving agency on all promotional materials according to BBS requirements.

Cross-check credentials using verification tools like the ASWB’s ACE provider verification database to confirm a provider’s ACE approval status.

You can petition the Board to count courses from providers not pre-approved by the California Board toward your requirements. This involves submitting detailed information about course content, duration, and instructor credentials, but approval isn’t guaranteed.

Note that you must determine whether a course meets California’s specific CE requirements, even when it offers ASWB ACE credit.

Tracking and Reporting Your CE Hours

Documentation and proper record-keeping are crucial to manage your continuing education credits as a social worker in California. The process looks simple on paper. Good records will save you from stress down the road, especially during an audit.

How to document your CEU courses

California takes a different approach from other states. The state doesn’t require you to submit continuing education certificates when renewing your license. You need to track and maintain your own records. Keep all certificates, transcripts, and other documentation in a safe place after completing social work CE courses.

It’s worth mentioning that you’ll need to contact the CE provider directly if you lose a certificate. The Board doesn’t maintain these records for you. Make sure to document these details for each course:

• Course title and subject matter
• Provider name and approval information
• Completion date
• Number of hours earned
• Certificate number (if applicable)

What to do during a CE audit

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences runs regular audits to verify CE requirement compliance as part of its consumer protection duties. You’ll get a notification by letter or email from the Board if selected. You must submit all requested documentation by the given deadline.

Quick response to audit requests matters greatly. The Board’s Enforcement Unit reviews non-compliant files for further analysis. Complete all required hours right away if you find yourself non-compliant. Send the Board your course information with a letter explaining the situation.

Tips for staying organized

A good system to track your social work continuing education credits helps avoid last-minute panic and audit stress:

• Keep documentation for at least two years after the license renewal period
• Try digital tracking tools like CE Tracker from NASW that shows exactly what you need for renewal
• Space out your credit completion throughout your compliance period instead of rushing near the deadline
• Set up a digital or physical folder just for CE documentation
• Add calendar reminders for renewal deadlines
• Record completed CE credits right after finishing courses

Your license could face citation, fine, or disciplinary action if you don’t meet continuing education requirements. A reliable system to track your social work CEU courses isn’t just helpful—it’s essential to keep your professional standing in California.

Benefits of Continuing Education for Social Workers

Social workers who pursue continuing education credits gain more than just meeting basic requirements. Social work’s ever-changing nature means you need constant learning to stay effective in your practice.

Staying current with best practices

Social work evolves with new methods, regulations, and research findings. Continuing education enables you to stay informed about these changes. Your interventions will line up with the latest evidence-based approaches. Regular participation in educational opportunities beyond your entry-level degree helps you gain knowledge, polish skills, and strengthen professional attitudes. This dedication to learning helps you apply current research and understand new regulations that shape your practice.

Meeting licensure renewal deadlines

Completing required social work CE hours keeps your license valid. Missing these requirements could delay renewal or lead to license suspension. The NASW considers continuing education crucial to ensure quality social work services. A proactive approach to your continuing education credits prevents any disruption in your practice and client service.

Improving client outcomes

Better knowledge means better client care. Social work continuing education credits boost your expertise to provide effective interventions. The NASW points out that regular continuing education helps social workers “maintain and increase their proficiency in service delivery”. This improved expertise ended up creating better outcomes for the people, families, and communities you serve.

Expanding your career opportunities

Social work CEU courses open doors to career growth. Specialized training qualifies you for promotions and new roles. Expertise in areas like trauma-informed care or telehealth services makes employers value you more. Continuing education helps prevent burnout by offering fresh points of view that keep your work interesting. Your commitment to learning shows excellence in the field, making you stand out throughout your career.

Next Steps

Getting your continuing education credits as a California social worker definitely requires attention to detail. The process becomes easier when you plan properly. This piece covers the specific requirements from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences – 36 hours every two years and specialized courses in Law and Ethics.

You now have several ways to meet these requirements. Many opportunities exist to match your learning style and professional interests. You can choose from interactive workshops, self-paced online learning, university programs, or independent study options.

Approved providers play a crucial role in making sure your time and effort count toward licensure requirements. You should verify a provider’s credentials through recognized approval agencies before signing up for any course.

A reliable system to track and document your completed courses will protect you during potential audits. It’s worth mentioning that you should keep all certificates and records for at least two years after your renewal period.

Your investment in continuing education pays off with major professional benefits. You stay current with best practices, keep your license active, deliver better client outcomes, and open up new career opportunities. Over the last several years, this ongoing professional development has helped both you and the vulnerable populations you serve across California.

Social work continuing education goes beyond a simple licensure requirement. It paves your way to professional excellence and a lasting career in this vital field. Plan your CE strategy today to meet requirements while building your professional knowledge and skills.