Mental health professionals in California must complete 36 hours of continuing education (CE) to renew their license. For first-time license renewal, only 18 hours are required. All licensees must keep their CE documentation for two years in case of random audits. For more details on CE requirements, check with the California Board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. In California, the Board requires biennial renewal of LCSW licenses.
Those who assume supervisory functions for the first time must take 15 hours of supervisory courses, which can be completed in one or more courses. CE hours can be taken at institutions of higher education that meet the requirements set out in Business and Professions Code §4980.54 (for LMFT and AMFT), §4989.34 (for LEP), §4996.22 (for LCSW and ASW) or §4999.76 (for LPCC and APCC). Alternatively, they can be taken at institutions approved by the California Office of Private Postsecondary Education. However, licensees may not participate in more than twelve hours of self-learning educational activities approved by the Board in a thirty-six month period.
