California Social Workers CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

California Social Workers

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, NetCE is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. NetCE maintains responsibility for this course.

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts courses from any provider who is APA, NBCC and/or ASWB approved.

Continuing Education Requirement

Attention California Health and Mental Health Professionals:
Due to the Governor’s Executive Order N-39-20, there have been changes to licensing requirements. For those licensed by a board under the California Department of Consumer Affairs, the Director will temporarily waive continuing education requirements for licenses due to expire between March 31, 2020, and May 31, 2021. These temporary waivers do not relieve such individuals from timely complying with any other renewal requirements, including completing and submitting the required renewal forms to the governing licensing agency. Additionally, continuing education and any associated fees for those seeking to reactivate or restore a license will be temporarily waived. Licensees must satisfy any waived renewal requirements within six months of this order, unless further extended, and activated or restored licenses pursuant to this waiver will be valid for six months, or until the State of Emergency is terminated, whichever is sooner. For more information, please visit https://www.dca.ca.gov/licensees/dca_21_134.pdf.

As part of California’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response, on March 30, 2020, Governor Newsom announced the state is preparing for an increase in the number of people who urgently need health care in California during the COVID-19 outbreak. To meet this moment, the state is opening additional health care sites to treat people affected by COVID-19 and to relieve the pressure on our health care system by providing care for non-COVID-19 cases. To ensure adequate staff for health care sites throughout California, Newsom is calling on healthcare providers, behavioral health professionals, and health care administrators to register today. For more information, please visit https://covid19.ca.gov/healthcorps/.

NetCE is also closely monitoring board notices regarding continuing education requirements. Please check our website regularly for updates.

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts NetCE courses.

LCSWs are required 36 hours every two years, all of which may be completed through self-study (print) or online. A minimum of 6 of the 36 hours must be in law and ethics every two years. There is a one-time requirement of 7 hours in HIV/AIDS during the first renewal.

Licensees who supervise Marriage and Family Therapist Trainees or Associates are required 6 hours in supervision training every renewal.

Licensees who supervise Associate Social Workers must complete a one-time requirement of 15 hours in supervision.

Effective January 1, 2021 all applicants and current licensees must complete a one-time requirement of 6 hours in suicide prevention and intervention.

*NetCE courses are considered self-study and online.

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For More Information

Please contact the California Board of Behavioral Sciences at (916) 574-7830 or http://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/lawsregs.pdf for additional information regarding your continuing education.