If you hold a North Carolina LCSW license, the Social Work Certification and Licensure Board requires 40 clock hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle, including 4 hours of ethics. Up to half may be distance learning; the rest must be in-person or live-interactive. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
40 hours / 2 years
Forty clock hours each biennial renewal cycle.
Ethics (4 hours)
At least four hours focused on ethics each period.
20 distance max
Up to half may be distance learning; the rest in-person or live-interactive.
No carry-over
Unused hours may not be carried to the next cycle.
How many CE hours North Carolina clinical social workers need
North Carolina requires 40 clock hours of continuing education every two years; up to half may be distance learning, and shorter renewal terms require a minimum of 30 hours.
Mandated subject requirements
- Ethics: a minimum of 4 hours each renewal period.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
North Carolina social work credentials renew on a two-year cycle. Complete and document your 40 hours before your renewal deadline.
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View pricingNorth Carolina Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) CME at a glance
- Professional Ethics4 hrs
A minimum of 4 hours of CE focused on ethics each renewal period.
Always confirm with your licensing board
The North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board requires 40 clock hours of continuing education each two-year cycle, including 4 hours of ethics. Up to half may be distance learning (ASWB- or NASW-NC-approved); the rest must be in person or live-interactive. Shorter renewal terms require a minimum of 30 hours.
Continuing education rules change. Confirm current requirements with the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board before relying on these figures.
Source: North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board. 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.
North Carolina LCSW CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do North Carolina clinical social workers need?
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40 clock hours every two years.
Is ethics CE required in North Carolina?
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Yes — a minimum of 4 hours focused on ethics each renewal period.
How much North Carolina CE can be online?
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Up to half may be distance learning; the remaining half must be in-person or live-interactive.
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