Continuing Education in NYS

Beginning January 1, 2015, the law requires each LMSW or LCSW to complete continuing education acceptable to the State Board from a provider approved by the Education Department.

Courses/educational activities must be taken after January 1, 2015 from a provider approved by the State Board.

• The initial list of approved providers for social work continuing education has been posted on the web at: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/swceproviderlist.htm. The Board office is continuing to review provider applications and the list of approved providers will be updated on a regular basis.

• Courses/educational activities taken from a provider that is not approved by the State Board are not acceptable under the law.

• If you know of an eligible continuing education provider who is not yet approved by the Board, you may want to refer them to the provider application at: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/swceproviders.htm.

The law requires each LMSW or LCSW to complete 36 hours of continuing education every three years as a condition of their registration renewal.  This requirement is pro-rated for the first three years.

You can access a table to calculate the pro-rated hours and other Questions and Answers at: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/swcefaq.htm.

If you have received a LMSW or LCSW registration notice for a period starting after January 1, 2015, you must complete the required pro-rated continuing education from a State-Board approved provider after January 1, 2015. Therefore, you should wait until 2015 to renew so that you can complete the requirement and answer “YES” to the question of whether you met the continuing education requirement.

If you cannot find the answers to your questions about continuing education on our Questions and Answers page (http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/swcefaq.htm), please email the State Board at SWBD@nysed.gov, rather than calling the office. This will allow the Board staff to continue to review and approve provider applications as well as limited permit applications and experience for licensure or the psychotherapy privilege.