If you hold an Alabama clinical social work credential, the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners requires 30 continuing education contact hours every two-year renewal cycle. At least 10 hours must come from live, classroom-style events, and the cycle includes specific ethics and clinical content requirements. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
30 hours / 2 years
Thirty CE contact hours each biennial renewal cycle.
Ethics (3 hours)
At least three hours must be in professional ethics.
10 live hours
At least ten of the thirty hours must be live classroom-style events.
Clinical / DSM
Independent practitioners need 6 clinical hours, including a DSM review.
How many CE hours Alabama clinical social workers need
Alabama requires 30 continuing education contact hours every two years. At least 10 must be earned through live, interactive classroom events; up to 20 may be self-study or home-study.
Mandated subject requirements
- Ethics: at least 3 hours each renewal cycle.
- Clinical / DSM: independent clinical practitioners must include 6 clinical hours, 3 of them a comprehensive DSM review.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Alabama social work licenses renew on a two-year cycle. Complete and document your 30 hours before your renewal deadline.
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View pricingAlabama Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) CME at a glance
- Professional Ethics3 hrs
At least 3 of the 30 hours must be in professional ethics each renewal cycle.
- Clinical / DSM Review (PIP/LICSW)6 hrs
Independent clinical practitioners must include 6 clinical hours, 3 of which must be a comprehensive review of the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).
Always confirm with your licensing board
The Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners requires 30 contact hours of continuing education each biennial renewal. At least 10 of the 30 hours must be earned through live, classroom-style events; up to 20 hours may be self-study/home-study.
Continuing education rules change. Confirm current requirements with the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners before relying on these figures.
Source: Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
Social Work Licensure Compact: enacted but not yet active. Enacted by states and a commission is forming, but NOT yet issuing privileges — LCSWs license state-by-state today.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
Alabama LCSW CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Alabama clinical social workers need?
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30 continuing education contact hours every two years.
Is ethics CE required in Alabama?
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Yes — at least 3 of the 30 hours must be in professional ethics.
How many hours must be live in Alabama?
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At least 10 of the 30 hours must be earned through live, classroom-style events.
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