Updated for 2026 · Board-sourced

Illinois LCSW Continuing Education Requirements

What a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) must complete to renew in Illinois: 30 hours every 2 years, including 3 in ethics.

LCSW

Marcus Reyes, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker · Illinois

cycle

2025 – 2027

earned

19.0 hrs

needed

11.0 hrs

deadline

Jun 29, 2027

Total19 / 30 hrs
Ethics3 / 3 hrs
Cultural Competence0 / 3 hrs
Illustrative pacing for a fictional licensee. Required hours are Illinois’s actual board rule.

pace toward deadline

63%

Illinois LCSW CE requirements at a glance

30

total hours / 2 years

Biennial

renewal cadence

3

hours of ethics

1

other subject minimums

Total hours
30 hours every 2 years.
Renewal
Biennial cycle — tied to your license renewal date.
Ethics
3 hours required each cycle.
Cultural Competence
3 hours required each cycle.
New licensees
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.

This is the curated summary. Audit windows, recordkeeping, fees, and edge-case rules (reactivation, supervision-only) live in the full ruleset — we track all of it for you →

Illinois LCSW CE: frequently asked

How many CE hours do Illinois LCSWs need?

Illinois requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years (a biennial cycle) to renew an LCSW license.

How many ethics hours are required for Illinois LCSWs?

Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.

How often do Illinois LCSWs renew?

Biennial cycle — tied to your license renewal date.

Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Illinois LCSWs?

Yes. In addition to ethics, Illinois requires 3 hours of cultural competence.

Is the first renewal different for new Illinois LCSWs?

First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.

Sources & verification

Last verified
May 8, 2026
Ruleset version
2026.1

This page is informational, not legal advice — always confirm with your board. See something wrong? Report it →

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LCSW CE requirements in other states