LCSW Associate Renewal Information - Continuing Education and License Renewal Requirements

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ezra

LCSW Associate renewal instructions explain continuing education requirements, clinical practice documentation, and the renewal timeline tied to the 2-year license issuance cycle. The guidance covers how to keep the Board informed of current contact information, complete renewal online before expiration, and the process for requesting a mail waiver if online renewal is not possible. It specifies renewal fees, late fee and suspension rules, CE clock-hour minimums, ethics-focused hour requirements, and limits on carryover and self-care credits, plus approved and non-approved CE activities and recordkeeping.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

LCSW Associate Renewal Information

Renewal process and online requirements

Fees, deadlines, and waiver by mail

Continuing education (CE) hour requirements

CE topic limits: ethics and self-care

Approved and not approved continuing education activities

Documentation and recordkeeping

LCSW ASSOCIATE RENEWAL INFORMATION Continuing education (CE) for License renewal is required to maintain professional knowledge and technical competency. The LCSW Associate (LCSWA) license is issued on a two-year basis and will expire two years after the initial date of issuance. Please keep the Board advised at all times of your current contact information. You may update your contact information through your online profile. At this time, all LCSW Associate licensees must document completion of two years of clinical practice to qualify for examination eligibility of the ASWB Clinical exam. All LCSWA licensees will renew their license prior to their expiration date and may then apply for examination eligibility upon completing two years of clinical practice. RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE MUST BE COMPLETED ONLINE, through the Online Renewal tab on the Board’s website. Renewal of certification/licensure credentials MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE of the license. LCSWA Renewal Fee: $140 If you are unable to renew online, you may request a waiver to complete your renewal by mail by submitting the Online Processing Waiver Request Form. If approved, your Renewal Affidavit, CE log, and payment must be received at least 30 days before your license expires to allow sufficient processing time. Payment must be a certified check, money order, or cashier’s check issued within the last six months. Checks should be payable to NCSWCLB and sent to PO Box 1043, Asheboro, NC 27204. Renewals are NOT complete without the required renewal fee. Renewal submissions received by the Board after the expiration date of their certificate or license, but within 60 days after expiration will be assessed a $50.00 late fee. Persons failing to renew within 60 days after expiration will have their credential suspended for failure to renew and will be assessed a reinstatement fee of $155.00 in addition to anyother applicable fees and required forms. Renewal of certification/licensure requires 40 clock hours of continuing education (CE) within the two year credential cycle. If the renewal term is less than 2 years, a minimum of 30 hours ofCE is required. During each renewal period all NCSWCLB Certified and Licensed social workers shall engage in a minimum of four (4) hours ofCE focused on Ethics. Unused CE Hours may not be carried over from one renewal cycle to another. Continuing education hours must be accumulated within the licensure cycle. Additional hours accrued between the time of submission until a renewal cycle ends cannot be applied to the following renewal. These hours cannot be carried over to the following renewal/licensure cycle. THE BOARD DOES NOT APPROVE TRAINING ACTIVITIES IN ADVANCE. All training activities must satisfy the Administrative Code guidelines for Continuing Education [21 NCAC 63.0401]. For information regarding applicable continuing education, please refer to the Continuing Education Guidelines in the Administrative Code-21 NCAC 63 .0401. Please also review the Board’s Position Statement on Continuing Education under the Position Statements tab atthe top of the home page. DO NOT send course descriptions, attendance certificates, or other documentation with your renewal forms. It is the social workers responsibility to maintain these in their records should the documents be requested for audit or verification. Please maintain documentation for a period no less than three years. Please see below excerpt from the NC Administrative Code, section .0401. For the full version, please refer to 21 NCAC 63 .0401. (c) The following activities shall be approved for continuing education: (1) academic social work courses taken for credit or audit; (2) agency-based staff development, seminars, institutes, workshops, mini-courses or conferences oriented to social work practice, values, skills, and knowledge; (3) cross-disciplinary offerings from medicine, law, and the behavioral/social sciences or

FAQs

How often must the LCSW Associate (LCSWA) license be renewed, and when does it expire?

The LCSWA license is issued on a two-year basis and will expire two years after the initial date of issuance. Renewal must be completed prior to the expiration date.

What continuing education hours are required for LCSW Associate renewal?

Renewal requires 40 clock hours of continuing education (CE) within the two-year cycle. If the renewal term is less than 2 years, a minimum of 30 hours of CE is required, including at least four hours focused on Ethics during each renewal period.

What happens if renewal is submitted after the expiration date?

Renewal submissions received by the Board after expiration but within 60 days incur a $50.00 late fee. If renewal is not completed within 60 days after expiration, the credential is suspended and a reinstatement fee of $155.00 is assessed in addition to any other applicable fees and required forms.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ezra