Updated for 2026 · Board-sourced

Virginia LCSW Continuing Education Requirements

What a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) must complete to renew in Virginia: 30 hours every 2 years, including 6 in ethics standards law.

LCSW

Marcus Reyes, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker · Virginia

cycle

2025 – 2027

earned

19.0 hrs

needed

11.0 hrs

deadline

Jun 29, 2027

Total19 / 30 hrs
Ethics Standards Law6 / 6 hrs
Illustrative pacing for a fictional licensee. Required hours are Virginia’s actual board rule.

pace toward deadline

63%

Virginia LCSW CE requirements at a glance

30

total hours / 2 years

Biennial

renewal cadence

6

hours of ethics standards law

0

other subject minimums

Total hours
30 hours every 2 years.
Renewal
Biennial cycle — tied to your license renewal date.
Ethics Standards Law
6 hours required each cycle.
Format limits
Up to 5 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
At least 20 hours must be earned live.
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 →

Virginia LCSW CE: frequently asked

How many CE hours do Virginia LCSWs need?

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

How many ethics hours are required for Virginia LCSWs?

Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics standards law.

How often do Virginia LCSWs renew?

Biennial cycle — tied to your license renewal date.

Can Virginia LCSWs complete CE online or by home study?

Up to 5 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. At least 20 hours must be earned live.

Is the first renewal different for new Virginia 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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