If you hold a South Carolina clinical social work license (LISW-CP), the Board of Social Work Examiners requires 40 hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle, including at least 1 hour of suicide assessment, treatment, and management. At least 20 hours must be provided by a trained social worker. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
40 hours / 2 years
Forty CE contact hours each biennial renewal cycle.
Suicide (1 hour)
At least one hour in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.
20 SW-provided
At least 20 hours must be provided by a trained social worker.
Home study OK
All hours may be completed by independent home study.
How many CE hours South Carolina clinical social workers need
South Carolina requires 40 continuing education hours every two years, all of which may be independent home study, with at least 20 provided by a trained social worker.
Mandated subject requirements
- Suicide assessment, treatment & management: at least 1 hour.
- Ethics: accepted subject; no fixed hour count specified—confirm with the Board.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
South Carolina social work licenses renew biennially by December 31 of even-numbered years. Complete and document your 40 hours before that date.
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View pricingSouth Carolina Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) CME at a glance
- Suicide Assessment, Treatment & Management1 hr
At least 1 contact hour in suicide assessment, treatment, and management each cycle.
- Professional EthicsRequired
South Carolina does not specify a fixed ethics-hour requirement for LISW-CP licensees; ethics is an accepted CE subject. Confirm with the Board.
Always confirm with your licensing board
The South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (LLR) requires 40 hours of continuing education each two-year cycle for LISW-CP licensees; all may be independent home study, but at least 20 contact hours must be provided by a trained social worker (BSW, MSW, or DSW). Licenses renew December 31 of even-numbered years.
Continuing education rules change. Confirm current requirements with the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners before relying on these figures.
Source: South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (LLR). 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.
South Carolina LISW-CP CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do South Carolina clinical social workers need?
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40 continuing education hours every two years.
Does South Carolina require suicide training?
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Yes — at least 1 contact hour in suicide assessment, treatment, and management each cycle.
Is ethics CE required in South Carolina?
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No fixed ethics-hour requirement is specified for LISW-CP; ethics is an accepted CE subject. Confirm with the Board.
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