CE Requirements

Continuing Education Requirements:

For renewal of a license, social workers must complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE). Of those 30 hours of CE there must be:

  • 3 hours of ethics presented by a social worker who has graduated from an accredited school or by a professional who has knowledge of ethics in relation to social work.
  • 2 hours of suicide assessment, referral, treatment, and management training.
  • 2 hours of sex and human trafficking training for the first renewal cycle after initial licensure; the following years will be 1 hour of sex and human trafficking training.

A licensee who becomes licensed during a renewal cycle is required to obtain continuing education as follows:
Issue Month Required CE Hours Needed
October 29
November 28
December 26
January 25
February 24
March 23
April 21
May 20
June 19
July 18
August 16
September 15

CE hours may be satisfied through the following activities:

  • University or college courses. One semester-hour credit is equivalent to 15 hours of CE, and each quarter-hour credit is equivalent to 10 hours. Non-credit hours will be measured in classroom hours.
  • Self-study programs: must have a passing exam or certificate.
  • Non-peer-reviewed study article publication (3) hours.
  • Publication of an article in a peer-reviewed publication (5) hours.
  • Publication of one chapter in a social work-related professional book (5) hours.
  • Publication of an entire book related to the practice in social work (10) hours.
  • Maximum (5) hours for the preparation and presentation of a social work course, seminar, or workshop during a renewal period.
  • Maximum (3) hours of supervising applicants, impaired licensees, licensees under disciplinary action, or peer review of another licensee's therapy skills: consultation, conference, and critique of undergraduate and graduate practicum students.
  • Attend workshops or seminars approved by the
      • National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
      • Social service agency, community mental health center, and organizational staff development unit. You can see the full list of approved CE Providers by clicking here
      • You can see the latest CE offerings from NASW-MO by going to the Events Page.
  • Up to 10 CEs may be carried over to the following years minimum 30 CE requirement.