Continuing Education Requirements for Pennsylvania Licensed Clinical Social Workers (And How to Stay on Track)

As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of Pennsylvania, it is your responsibility to adhere to continuing education requirements each period in order to renew your license. Beyond license renewal being key to you maintaining your practice, continuing education is essential to stay abreast of what is happening in your field – something your clients will always appreciate you taking seriously. Education is how we all continue to learn and further hone our skills and expertise, so it’s certainly something to be celebrated. Though education is fantastic, keeping on track with the many hours you need to fulfill can be a challenge. Thankfully, there is a fantastic resource available to help you with that. Before we dive into the resource, let’s start by outlining what is required of Pennsylvania LCSWs in order to renew their license. 

Licensee Requirements for Pennsylvania Licensed Clinical Social Workers

A licensed clinical social worker in Pennsylvania has the obligation to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, all of which must be earned through courses or programs offered by approved providers. The required hours need to be completed in the 24 months preceding a licensee’s expiration date. Additionally, the hours must be broken down as follows: two hours in the Act 31 child abuse reporter training, three hours in ethics, and one hour in suicide prevention. Lastly, a renewal fee of $95 is also due at the time of renewal application, along with the continuing education certificates earned for proof of completion. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Pennsylvania Licensed Clinical Social Workers LCSWs need to complete 30 hours of continuing education biennially. 
  • Two hours must be on the child abuse reporter training, three on ethics, and one in suicide prevention. 

Given licensed social workers are likely to achieve their continuing education certificates in increments, from various workshops, conventions, agencies, and institutions, there is a lot of documentation to keep track of (potentially 30 or more certificates throughout the course of two years). As proof is required when you apply for renewal, it’s imperative you keep all of those certificates in a safe place – easily accessible and easy to track your progress. CE Hub is the safe place you need to work through your continuing education with ease. 

What is CE Hub? 

CE Hub is an app built specifically for social workers. Recognizing the difficulty that is storing continuing education certificates and keeping track of your hours, CE Hub was created to take the stress out of continuing education requirements. Instead of worrying throughout the period that you may not be on track, or perhaps that you may have lost a document or two, CE Hub provides you the peace of mind you need to enjoy the learning process. Using the platform is simple: you sign up, upload your continuing education certificates as you obtain them, then CE Hub handles the rest. All of your continuing education credits are tracked for you, and you even receive a reminder when it’s time to renew your license. Alleviate the stress of continuing education requirements by taking advantage of CE Hub today! 

Disclaimer: this content is for informational purposes only. Licensees should always confirm their continuing education requirements with their respective governing agency. In the state of Pennsylvania, LCSWs can clarify anything about their license by contacting the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors at the number (717) 783-1389. 

Reference Links:

https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/SocialWorkersMarriageanFamilyTherapistsandProfessionalCounselors/Pages/Social-Workers-Guide.aspx

https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/SocialWorkersMarriageanFamilyTherapistsandProfessionalCounselors/Pages/Clinical-Social-Worker-Licensure-Requirements-Snapshot.aspx

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