continuing education courses for social workers

Continuing Education and Professional Development for Social Workers

Register today for a live webinar or convenient, online course that will satisfy your CE requirements.

Our social worker CE online courses, live webinars, online retreats and digital seminars help you stay up to date on the current best practices and cutting-edge theories in behavioral health. Leading experts in the field develop each course, and courses are vetted for compliance to ensure they meet ASWB standards Continuing education units (CEUs) are required and necessary for a social worker’s career. Not only to keep your license up-to-date, but so you can provide your clients with updated and accurate care. Now you can get the continuing education you need to be well-informed on new treatment developments and strategies, plus build your career through a convenient and affordable way that’s adaptable to your personal and professional needs. PESI gives you clinical resources on the widest range of topics including, trauma treatment , anxiety disorders , personality disorders , telehealth and much more, so you can easily expand your career goals and help your clients.

Certifications and Professional Advancement for Social Workers

One of the most accessible ways to demonstrate your professional commitment to serving specific populations or needs is by adding a certification that demonstrates your additional learning and engagement. Today's competitive hiring atmosphere also makes these endorsements an excellent investment in your career. PESI offers hundreds of resources so you can explore new ideas like Internal Family Systems (IFS) , discover how to use CBT for anxiety and OCD , understand antidepressant selection for clients with depression, and so much more. Self-paced online certification training courses include:

• Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP Level I & II)
• Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP)
• Certified Addictions-Informed Professional (CAIMHP)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• And many more

With a variety of online trainings to choose from you’ll find everything you need to satisfy yearly CE requirements while deepening your understanding of your clients and patients. PESI also offers hundreds of free resources (and free CE hours!) to make exploring new areas of social work accessible. Whatever interests you, you’ll quickly find what you need to learn new skills, offer a wider range of treatment and expand your professional opportunities.

Continuing Education that Pushes the Envelope

PESI’s presenters and facilitators are some of the most in-demand practitioners, instructors, and researchers working in their fields. They work to build a diverse offering of presentations for students with a variety of learning styles. You’ll be able to make the most of your continuing education because we offer a number of ways to meet your credit requirements, including:

Our comprehensive course library goes beyond just traditional online lectures. Step-by-step you’ll be guided through dozens of lessons from industry-leading experts and researchers who will share their practical techniques, skills, stories, and tips that you can immediately apply in your practice. Each online course comes with lifetime access and assessments designed to help you master the material, as well as discussion forums that give you the opportunity to learn the material with other professionals. Self-paced social work CEU courses are available for most of the same topics covered in live CE seminars.

Join thousands of Social Workers already learning at PESI.

Check Your State CE Requirements

If you're looking for continuing education courses designed to keep your licensing and certification up to date in every relevant area of professional practice you need, start by consulting your state guidelines to make sure you understand how to cover every requirement. From there you can plan an enriching year of learning that helps you hit your professional goals while keeping all your licensing and credentials up to date. It's efficient, it's easy to fit to your schedule, and new course offerings are being added as quickly as they are developed. Keep checking back for new webinar calendar dates and freshly developed courses.

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Online continuing education for social workers

• 250+ courses, new courses added weekly
• Live webinar, video, text, & audio formats
• Course completion certificates provided
• ASWB Approved Continuing Education Provider
• CE Broker reporting

Search by state

Choose your state to find courses that fit your needs.

ASWB approved

Continu ed is an ASWB Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Provider.

Get the quality social work CE credits you need

The courses you want, the CE credits you need—tailored for social workers like you.

Take as many CE courses as you like, as often as you want, for one low price. And check the library often; new courses are added weekly!

Learn and earn CE credits anytime, anywhere, and on any device, including your phone or tablet.

You’ll find high-quality, engaging content from trusted experts. Presenters cover valuable topics such as clinical social work, cultural competence, and ethics.

We track your CE and provide info you need about your state license requirements.

New courses added weekly

We’re regularly adding new courses so that you can stay up to date, whether you’re newly licensed or have been practicing for years. Explore valuable topics and build your skills!

Free course: Earn social work CE credits!

New to Continu ed ? Take a free course to see how easy it can be to earn CE credits online. (No credit card. No commitment.)

Clinical social work

Cultural competence, trauma and tic, explore all our topics in the course library >, but don’t just take our word for it, extensive course library.

Because you need social work CE credits to meet your continuing education requirements and stay at the forefront of meeting your clients' needs, Continu ed provides a convenient, affordable solution. With evidence-based online courses, you can increase your knowledge and build your skills while you earn CE credits. Courses are available in live webinar, video, audio, and text formats to fit your preference and your busy schedule.

Social work CEU membership

Membership is just $99 a year and gives you unlimited access to continuing education courses. Take as many courses as you want and earn CE credits. Course completion certificates are provided. Our high-quality, evidence-based courses are presented by leading experts, and the library is developed and overseen by an experienced team of social work professionals.

The most relevant course topics

To best serve social workers, Continu ed offers CE courses that address the latest research and important social work topics such as cultural competence, substance abuse, ethics, and trauma-informed care. Continu ed Social Work is an ASWB Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Provider with courses widely accepted by state boards.

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ACE: Approved Continuing Education

ACE approval demonstrates that a provider or course has been rigorously reviewed and found to offer quality continuing education according to best practices.

ASWB’s Approved Continuing Education program has been designed to review and approve high-quality CE providers and courses, whether they are delivered in person or via distance learning. This approval means that social work continuing education programs are generally acceptable to social work regulatory boards across the United States and Canada.

Ace standards.

Regardless of whether a CE provider pursues individual course approval or provider approval, programs must adhere to the ACE standards outlined in the ACE Handbook.

States and provinces that accept ACE

The ASWB Approved Continuing Education program approves continuing education providers and individual programs. When social workers choose courses created and offered by ACE providers or individual courses approved by ACE, they can trust they will receive high-quality content accepted by most U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions to meet licensure renewal requirements.

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For continuing education providers

With options for individual courses, conferences, or entire CE catalogs, top-notch social work continuing education providers benefit from ACE approval.

• Compare course approval and provider approval
• Questions? Email ACE.

Three ways to find social work CE credit

• ACE providers Download a list of all approved ACE providers
• Individual course and conference approval Approved individual courses and conferences are listed on our spreadsheet
• Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education ASWB authorizes some Joint Accreditation providers to offer ACE credit to social workers

ACE individual course/conference approval

Individual course/conference approval evaluates individual courses and conference sessions and approves them for licensees to earn continuing education credit.

ACE provider approval

ACE provider approval is optimal for CE providers that offer a large number of courses or programs.

Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education

ACE collaborates with Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education for CE in multiple professions.

ACE approval

• Serves as a mark of distinction recognized by social work licensing boards and social workers
• Is currently recognized by most states and provinces in North America
• Demonstrates that continuing education meets rigorous standards for quality and relevance
• Supports competency in the social work profession
• Allows providers to list and manage courses directly to an online database
• Entitles providers to receive timely information on CE issues and requirements via the Continuing Competence newsletter

Are you eligible to apply to ACE?

• Does your organization have a licensed social worker involved in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of social work continuing education?
• Does your organization have someone with appropriate experience to serve as continuing education director?
• Is your organization able to supply evaluation and documentation of programs?

If you can answer YES to all these questions, then you meet the minimum requirements and are eligible to apply to ACE.

Professional Development and Training

Social work is a dynamic profession, requiring you to stay current in the field, whether it’s applying the latest research, understanding a new regulation and its implications, maintaining your license or professional credential, or acquiring additional training to meet the needs of an aging population, for example. Look to the following resources to. . .

• grow and manage your career;
• maintain a practice of excellence; and
• better serve individuals, families, and communities.

Continuing Education Resource Center

The cornerstone of professional development is continuing your education. Increase your knowledge and skills by attending face-to-face continuing education programs, receive relevant and timely information about the clients and community you serve, or plan to complete an online course in the privacy of your home or office. All social workers need continuing education to enhance their career. Below are resources that provide you with the continuing education you need to enhance your professional skills:

• Continuing Education Portal The CE Portal is a national listing of quality continuing education offerings. A wealth of information at your finger tips where you can search by topic, location, and/or date. 
• NASW Chapters NASW Chapters connect you to NASW chapter/state annual conferences and local continuing education programs and activities. Review an NASW Chapter Web site where you live and work to access continuing education events and a network of colleagues.
• Online Courses NASW WebEd online courses educate social workers on today’s practice topics. Free CEUs can be used for licensure, NASW credential application and renewal, professional development, and can enhance social work curricula.
• Risk Management Workshops NASW Assurance Services, Inc. (ASI) offers risk management workshops with CEUs and online resources to reduce a social worker’s risk and exposure to an ethics complaint, licensing board complaint, or malpractice law suit. To learn more, visit the ASI Education Center .
• NASW Lunchtime Series NASW members can take advantage of one-hour live teleconferences and earn 1.0 free CEUs. Can’t make a teleconference, but still want to earn the CEU? Listen to the pod cast, download the audio file, or read the transcript later. The Lunchtime Series covers current topics of interest to social workers. Register to listen right away.
• NASW Specialty Practice Sections Teleconferences NASW Sections sponsor practice-based teleconferences exclusively for section members. The live teleconferences provide you with the opportunity to earn more free CEUs. The courses are available 24/7 by downloading the audio file or reading the transcript.

Professional Networking

Strengthen and grow your social work career through networking with your colleagues around the globe and in your community.

• Attend NASW Chapters face-to-face events to meet professional social workers in your community.

• Comment on the latest social work issues at socialworkblog.org
• Expand your list of professional contacts by joining NASW’s LinkedIn official group page .
• Friend NASW on our official Facebook group page and introduce yourself, post comments on our Wall, and add topics for discussion.
• Tweet  on NASW’s Twitter Feed
• Tune in to social work happenings on NASW’s YouTube Channel and comment on what you have seen and heard.

Read, Research and Write for the Social Work Profession

• Publications NASW Press is a leading scholarly press in the social sciences. It serves faculty, practitioners, agencies, libraries, clinicians, and researchers throughout the United States and abroad. Known for attracting expert authors, the NASW Press delivers professional information to hundreds of thousands of readers through its scholarly journals, books, and reference works.
• Research Review the NASW Web site Research Page that provides information on social work research to help inform policy, practice, and education; visit the NASW Center for Workforce Studies Clearinghouse , an on-line library for those searching for information about the social work workforce; read Social Work Speaks Abstracts to research policy issues related to the social work profession; and apply for the dataset to conduct research on the social work workforce to strengthen your knowledge of professional social work!
• Write for Your Profession Submitting content to www.HelpStartsHere.org , publishing for the NASW Press, and writing in the NASW Sections newsletters is a great way to inform and connect with like-minded colleagues, build an impressive portfolio of writing samples, and enhance your opportunities for leadership and advancement in the social work profession.

Advocating for social work and the clients/communities we serve is critical to securing the future of social work. 

• The Social Work Reinvestment Initiative is a collaborative effort comprised of leading social work organizations and other stakeholders committed to securing federal and state investments related to recruitment, training, retention and research that strengthen the social work profession and the communities it serves. 
• Grassroots advocacy teaches you how to take action on federal and state issues important to social workers.  The Grassroots Toolkit is a great resource for lobbying and contacting your members of congress.

A state social work license is. . .

• Issued to regulate the practice of social work
• Issued to protect the public
• Issued by and useful only in the jurisdiction (state) where the holder plans to practice. 

Licensing requirements vary from jurisdiction. Visit the state regulatory board directly or the Association of Social Work Boards , for a list of social work state licensing agencies or for a comparison of state regulations .

Credentials and Certifications

NASW credentials and certifications provide recognition to those social workers who have met national standards for higher levels of specialized knowledge, skills, and experience.  Credentials and certification enhance your state license and attest to your commitment to advanced social work practice.

Ethics and Best Practices

The NASW Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers.  NASW. Our Code of Ethics addresses:

Leadership Series Documents

Social work can be a very rewarding profession.  However, transforming passion for your profession into a vibrant and satisfying career is not always easy.    The NASW Leadership Ladders series is designed to assist social workers with successfully navigating their careers.  Whether you are new to the profession, a second-career professional or a mid-career professional, these tips will help you broaden your sphere of influence and take on the challenges that can catapult you to the next level in your career!

Social Workers CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

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Back to Accreditations & Approvals

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. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit.

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Continuing Education

As a professional, you are committed to lifelong learning and a pursuit of the latest information, skills and interventions that will help you best meet the needs of the clients and communities you serve.  Whether you're required to have continuing education credits as part of maintaining your license, or simply desire more experience in the field, we are committed to providing all social workers with vital professional development resources and cutting-edge opportunities that strengthen your professional skills. Our members receive access to up-to-date info on NJ licensing regulations and preparation for licensure, certificate and CE programs, student services, and resources for clinical social workers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Continuing Education

Online learning.

Sometimes it is easiest to jump online and learn, we understand that. Throughout the year we offer both live online continuing education programs and a robust library of on-demand programs as well. You can register for the live programs through events page and search for on-demand programs through our online institute.

In Person Courses

Throughout the year we offer various in person courses, both at our chapter office and in the community--through partnerships with organizations and in your units. These courses are sometimes a few hours, while others are full day symposiums around a central topic. You can search for in person programs on the event page.

Who Recognizes These Programs for CE?

The New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners, The New Jersey Department of Education Professional Development (Provider #705), The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners (family therapists, professional counselors, rehabilitation counselors and alcohol and drug counselors) for license and certification renewal, The New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work. In addition, most states will accept programs offered through NASW-NJ for credit in other states.

How Many Credits Do I Need?

If you are an LCSW: An LCSW shall complete a minimum of 40 credits of continuing education, of which at least 20 credits shall be in courses or programs directly related to clinical practice, 5 credits must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the LCSW earns more than 40 credits during a biennial period, the LCSW may carry a maximum of eight surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period; If you are an LSW: An LSW shall complete a minimum of 30 credits of continuing education, 5 of which must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the LSW earns more than 30 credits during a biennial period, the LSW may carry a maximum of six surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period. If you are a CSW: A CSW shall complete a minimum of 20 credits of continuing education, 5 of which must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the CSW earns more than 20 credits during a biennial period, the CSW may carry a maximum of four surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period. If an applicant initially obtains a license or certificate within the second year of a biennial license period (September 1, 2019 or later) the applicant shall complete not fewer than one-half of the minimum required credits of continuing education, 3 credits of which shall be related to ethics and 2 credits of which shall be related to social and cultural competency. An LCSW shall complete at least 10 of their 20 credits in programs which directly relate to clinical practice.

Recorded Workshops

Sometimes it is easiest to jump online and learn, we understand that. Throughout the year we offer both live webinars and a robust library of on-demand programs as well. You can register for the live programs through our events page and search for on-demand programs through our Social Work Online CE institute . 

Live Webinars

Throughout the year we offer live webinars around a variety of topics that are eligible for clinical, social/cultural and ethics credits. You can search for live webinars programs on the event page .

If you are an LCSW: An LCSW shall complete a minimum of 40 credits of continuing education, of which at least 20 credits shall be in courses or programs directly related to clinical practice, 5 credits must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the LCSW earns more than 40 credits during a biennial period, the LCSW may carry a maximum of eight surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period.

If you are an LSW: An LSW shall complete a minimum of 30 credits of continuing education, 5 of which must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the LSW earns more than 30 credits during a biennial period, the LSW may carry a maximum of six surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period.

If you are a CSW: A CSW shall complete a minimum of 20 credits of continuing education, 5 of which must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the CSW earns more than 20 credits during a biennial period, the CSW may carry a maximum of four surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period.

If an applicant initially obtains a license or certificate within the second year of a biennial license period (September 1, 2021 or later) the applicant shall complete not fewer than one-half of the minimum required credits of continuing education, 3 credits of which shall be related to ethics and 2 credits of which shall be related to social and cultural competency. An LCSW shall complete at least 10 of their 20 credits in programs which directly relate to clinical practice.

Professional Development

• Clinical Supervision
• Licensure Exam Institute
• Licensing in NJ
• CE Course Approval

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On-Demand Webinars

Our most popular webinars are now available on-demand on the Social Work Online CE Institute. Earn your credits at your convenience from the comfort of your home, office, or your favorite study place.

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Social Work Continuing Education Courses

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• Online Programs 6 items
• Online, Text-Based
• Online Video
• Live Online
• American Psychological Association (APA) 41 items
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) 33 items
• NBCC 39 items
• Florida Board - Social Work, MFT, Counseling, and Psychology 41 items
• NYSED - Social Work, MFT and Counseling Only 40 items
• American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders 41 items
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Continuing Education

As a professional social worker, you are committed to lifelong learning and a pursuit of the latest information, skills and interventions that will help you best meet the needs of the clients and communities you serve.  Whether you're required to have continuing education credits as part of maintaining your license, or simply desire more experience in the field, we are committed to providing all social workers with vital professional development resources and cutting-edge opportunities that strengthen your professional skills. 

Our members receive access to up-to-date info on DE licensing regulations and preparation for licensure, certificate and CE programs, student services, and resources for clinical social workers...

Frequently Asked Questions about Continuing Education

Online learning.

Sometimes it is easiest to jump online and learn, we understand that. Throughout the year we offer both live online continuing education programs and a robust library of on-demand programs as well. You can register for the live programs through events page and search for on-demand programs through our online institute.

In Person Courses

Throughout the year we offer various in person courses, both at our chapter office and in the community--through partnerships with organizations and in your units. These courses are sometimes a few hours, while others are full day symposiums around a central topic. You can search for in person programs on the event page.

Who Recognizes These Programs for CE?

The New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners, The New Jersey Department of Education Professional Development (Provider #705), The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners (family therapists, professional counselors, rehabilitation counselors and alcohol and drug counselors) for license and certification renewal, The New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work. In addition, most states will accept programs offered through NASW-NJ for credit in other states.

How Many Credits Do I Need?

If you are an LCSW: An LCSW shall complete a minimum of 40 credits of continuing education, of which at least 20 credits shall be in courses or programs directly related to clinical practice, 5 credits must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the LCSW earns more than 40 credits during a biennial period, the LCSW may carry a maximum of eight surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period; If you are an LSW: An LSW shall complete a minimum of 30 credits of continuing education, 5 of which must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the LSW earns more than 30 credits during a biennial period, the LSW may carry a maximum of six surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period. If you are a CSW: A CSW shall complete a minimum of 20 credits of continuing education, 5 of which must be related to ethics, 3 credits must be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 credit must be related to prescription opioid addiction. If the CSW earns more than 20 credits during a biennial period, the CSW may carry a maximum of four surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period. If an applicant initially obtains a license or certificate within the second year of a biennial license period (September 1, 2019 or later) the applicant shall complete not fewer than one-half of the minimum required credits of continuing education, 3 credits of which shall be related to ethics and 2 credits of which shall be related to social and cultural competency. An LCSW shall complete at least 10 of their 20 credits in programs which directly relate to clinical practice.

Recorded Workshops

sometimes it is easiest to jump online and learn, we understand that. throughout the year we offer both live webinars and a robust library of on-demand programs as well. you can register for the live programs through our events page and search for on-demand programs through our social work online ce institute . 

live webinars

Throughout the year we offer live webinars around a variety of topics that are eligible for clinical, social/cultural and ethics credits. You can search for live webinars programs on the event page .

• requirements for lbsws: for each renewal period, 20 hours are required. at least six of the hours shall be in the area of professional ethics. at least one of the hours shall be in the area of mandatory reporting.
• requirements for lmsws: for each renewal period, 30 hours are required. at least six of the hours shall be in the area of professional ethics. at least one of the hours shall be in the area of mandatory reporting.
• requirements for lcsws: for each renewal period, 40 hours are required. at least six of the hours shall be in the area of professional ethics. at least one of the hours shall be in the area of mandatory reporting.

any course or activity submitted for continuing education credit must have been attended during the  biennial licensing period for which it is submitted. excess credits may not be carried over to the next  licensing period.

Now that you've earned your continuing education credits, you'll want to make certain you've retained your certificates to submit to the board for verification. CE tracker makes it easy to keep track of all your continuing education credits online.

• Member Rate: $25
• Non-Member Rate: $40

Subscribe to CE Tracker

Our most popular webinars are now available on-demand on the Social Work Online CE Institute. Earn your credits at your convenience from the comfort of your home, office, or your favorite study place.

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Register for Continuing Education Units or take a course to obtain a license.

Continuing Education Units #

"url(#clip0_20_65)">   We are committed to providing social workers the opportunity to further their education through professional development including but not limited to workshops, conferences, seminars. Following the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA), we Continuing Education Units (CEU), both Category I and II. As a way to ensure that costs associated with maintaining state licensure expectations are not a barrier, we hosts professional development opportunities year-round that are either free or have a nominal fee.

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Doctoral Scholars Speaker Series #