If you hold a Tennessee LCSW license, the Board of Social Worker Licensure requires a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years (15 per calendar year), including 6 ethics hours, a state law/rules hour, and periodic suicide prevention. 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 (15/year).
Ethics (6 hours)
At least six hours in social work ethics.
TN law (1 hour)
One hour on Tennessee statute and board rules every two years.
Suicide (2 / 4 yrs)
Two hours of suicide prevention every four years.
How many CE hours Tennessee clinical social workers need
Tennessee requires a minimum of 30 continuing education contact hours every two years (15 per calendar year).
Mandated subject requirements
- Ethics: at least 6 hours.
- Tennessee law & board rules: 1 hour.
- Suicide prevention: 2 hours every 4 years.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Tennessee social work licenses renew every two years. Complete and document your hours before your renewal deadline.
Know exactly what CME you need.
Tell us your license type, state, and renewal date. We map your required hours, the state-mandated topics, and your deadline — a clear, personalized plan for a flat $99.
View pricingTennessee Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) CME at a glance
- Social Work Ethics6 hrs
At least 6 of the 30 contact hours must be in social work ethics (3 hours annually).
- Tennessee Law & Board Rules1 hr
1 hour specific to TCA 63-23-101 et seq. and the Rules & Regulations of the TN Board of Social Workers Licensure, every two years.
- Suicide Prevention2 hrs · every 4 years
2 hours in suicide prevention every 4 years (effective January 1, 2020).
Always confirm with your licensing board
The Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure requires a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years (15 per calendar year) for LCSWs, including ethics, a state law/rules hour, and periodic suicide prevention.
Continuing education rules change. Confirm current requirements with the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure before relying on these figures.
Source: Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure. 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.
Tennessee LCSW CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Tennessee clinical social workers need?
+
A minimum of 30 contact hours every two years (15 per year).
Is ethics CE required in Tennessee?
+
Yes — at least 6 of the 30 hours must be in social work ethics.
Does Tennessee require suicide prevention training?
+
Yes — 2 hours in suicide prevention every 4 years.
Related
Need help meeting your Tennessee CE before renewal?
Tell us your license type and renewal month and we'll map the fastest compliant path — required hours, mandated topics, and your deadline — for a flat $99.
- Flat $99 per plan
- Every license type
- All 50 states
Get my CME plan
Tell us your license type, state, and renewal — we'll map exactly what you need.