Social Workers · Tennessee · Continuing education
Tennessee Social Work CE Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- LAPSW/LCSW: 30 clock hours every 2 years, including 6 h medical ethics, professionalism & law, 2 h suicide prevention (every 4 years), 1 h state laws & rules (jurisprudence); renewal by the end of your birth month.
- LBSW18 clock hours every 2 years, including 6 h medical ethics, professionalism & law, 2 h suicide prevention (every 4 years), 1 h state laws & rules (jurisprudence); renewal by the end of your birth month.
- LMSW24 clock hours every 2 years, including 6 h medical ethics, professionalism & law, 2 h suicide prevention (every 4 years), 1 h state laws & rules (jurisprudence); renewal by the end of your birth month.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
Tennessee LAPSW/LCSW CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 30clock hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Birth month
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By the end of your birth month
- Accepted credit
- In-person seminars/workshops (cross-disciplinary allowed), employer in-service training, events of professional associations or for which an accredited college grants CEUs; graduate (or for LBSW, undergraduate) social-work-related academic courses (max 15 hours, 1 credit = 15 hours); first-time presentation/teaching (max 75% incl. preparation); first-time professional paper (max 5); multi-media/distance courses with learning objectives and completion verification (max two-thirds of hours). The Board does not pre-approve programs.
- Renewal fee
- $95
- Audits & records
- Random audits, possibly in consecutive periods; evidence due within 15 working days. Keep proof 4 years from the end of the calendar year it was earned.
- Renew online
- apps.tn.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Medical ethics, professionalism & lawSocial work ethics | 6 | every renewal |
| Suicide preventionAll LBSW/LMSW/LAPSW/LCSW: Board-approved training at least once every four years (Tullis Suicide Prevention Training Act); counts toward the hours | 2 | every 4 years |
| State laws & rules (jurisprudence)T.C.A. §63-23-101 et seq. and the Board's rules | 1 | every renewal |
Good to know. Biennial renewal by the last day of the birth month; CE is earned in the two calendar years before the renewal year. Each license category held must meet its own hours.
Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1365-01-.07, 1365-01-.09 · checked Oct 28, 2026
Tennessee LBSW CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 18clock hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Birth month
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By the end of your birth month
- Accepted credit
- In-person seminars/workshops (cross-disciplinary allowed), employer in-service training, events of professional associations or for which an accredited college grants CEUs; graduate (or for LBSW, undergraduate) social-work-related academic courses (max 15 hours, 1 credit = 15 hours); first-time presentation/teaching (max 75% incl. preparation); first-time professional paper (max 5); multi-media/distance courses with learning objectives and completion verification (max two-thirds of hours). The Board does not pre-approve programs.
- Renewal fee
- $45
- Audits & records
- Random audits, possibly in consecutive periods; evidence due within 15 working days. Keep proof 4 years from the end of the calendar year it was earned.
- Renew online
- apps.tn.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Medical ethics, professionalism & lawSocial work ethics | 6 | every renewal |
| Suicide preventionAll LBSW/LMSW/LAPSW/LCSW: Board-approved training at least once every four years (Tullis Suicide Prevention Training Act); counts toward the hours | 2 | every 4 years |
| State laws & rules (jurisprudence)T.C.A. §63-23-101 et seq. and the Board's rules | 1 | every renewal |
Good to know. Biennial renewal by the last day of the birth month; CE is earned in the two calendar years before the renewal year. Each license category held must meet its own hours. New LBSW/LMSW licensees who apply in the exam year may count the exam for half the hours at the first renewal.
Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1365-01-.07, 1365-01-.09 · checked Oct 28, 2026
Tennessee LMSW CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 24clock hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Birth month
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By the end of your birth month
- Accepted credit
- In-person seminars/workshops (cross-disciplinary allowed), employer in-service training, events of professional associations or for which an accredited college grants CEUs; graduate (or for LBSW, undergraduate) social-work-related academic courses (max 15 hours, 1 credit = 15 hours); first-time presentation/teaching (max 75% incl. preparation); first-time professional paper (max 5); multi-media/distance courses with learning objectives and completion verification (max two-thirds of hours). The Board does not pre-approve programs.
- Renewal fee
- $95
- Audits & records
- Random audits, possibly in consecutive periods; evidence due within 15 working days. Keep proof 4 years from the end of the calendar year it was earned.
- Renew online
- apps.tn.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Medical ethics, professionalism & lawSocial work ethics | 6 | every renewal |
| Suicide preventionAll LBSW/LMSW/LAPSW/LCSW: Board-approved training at least once every four years (Tullis Suicide Prevention Training Act); counts toward the hours | 2 | every 4 years |
| State laws & rules (jurisprudence)T.C.A. §63-23-101 et seq. and the Board's rules | 1 | every renewal |
Good to know. Biennial renewal by the last day of the birth month; CE is earned in the two calendar years before the renewal year. Each license category held must meet its own hours. New LBSW/LMSW licensees who apply in the exam year may count the exam for half the hours at the first renewal.
Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1365-01-.07, 1365-01-.09 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Tennessee
05 Questions
How do I verify a social worker license in Tennessee?
Use the license lookup of the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure (tn.gov/content/tn/health/licensure/sw.html); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
How many CE hours do social workers need in Tennessee?
LAPSW/LCSW: 30 clock hours every 2 years. LBSW: 18 clock hours every 2 years. LMSW: 24 clock hours every 2 years.
Which CE topics are mandatory for social workers in Tennessee?
LAPSW/LCSW: Medical ethics, professionalism & law — 6 h (every renewal); Suicide prevention — 2 h (every 4 years); State laws & rules (jurisprudence) — 1 h (every renewal). LBSW: Medical ethics, professionalism & law — 6 h (every renewal); Suicide prevention — 2 h (every 4 years); State laws & rules (jurisprudence) — 1 h (every renewal). LMSW: Medical ethics, professionalism & law — 6 h (every renewal); Suicide prevention — 2 h (every 4 years); State laws & rules (jurisprudence) — 1 h (every renewal).
Which CE courses count for social workers in Tennessee?
LAPSW/LCSW: In-person seminars/workshops (cross-disciplinary allowed), employer in-service training, events of professional associations or for which an accredited college grants CEUs; graduate (or for LBSW, undergraduate) social-work-related academic courses (max 15 hours, 1 credit = 15 hours); first-time presentation/teaching (max 75% incl. preparation); first-time professional paper (max 5); multi-media/distance courses with learning objectives and completion verification (max two-thirds of hours). The Board does not pre-approve programs. LBSW: In-person seminars/workshops (cross-disciplinary allowed), employer in-service training, events of professional associations or for which an accredited college grants CEUs; graduate (or for LBSW, undergraduate) social-work-related academic courses (max 15 hours, 1 credit = 15 hours); first-time presentation/teaching (max 75% incl. preparation); first-time professional paper (max 5); multi-media/distance courses with learning objectives and completion verification (max two-thirds of hours). The Board does not pre-approve programs. LMSW: In-person seminars/workshops (cross-disciplinary allowed), employer in-service training, events of professional associations or for which an accredited college grants CEUs; graduate (or for LBSW, undergraduate) social-work-related academic courses (max 15 hours, 1 credit = 15 hours); first-time presentation/teaching (max 75% incl. preparation); first-time professional paper (max 5); multi-media/distance courses with learning objectives and completion verification (max two-thirds of hours). The Board does not pre-approve programs.
How do social workers report CE in Tennessee?
LAPSW/LCSW: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit. LBSW: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit. LMSW: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit.
When is the renewal deadline for social workers in Tennessee?
LAPSW/LCSW: Licenses renew by the end of your birth month (2 years cycle). LBSW: Licenses renew by the end of your birth month (2 years cycle). LMSW: Licenses renew by the end of your birth month (2 years cycle).