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Florida Social Work CE Requirements and License Renewal Guide

Writer's picture: Elevate Continuing EducationElevate Continuing Education
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Navigating the Florida social work license renewal process can be challenging, especially with varying continuing education (CE) requirements across renewal periods. To make things easier, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you stay compliant and stress-free. Whether you're renewing your license for the first time or are a seasoned professional, we'll cover everything you need to know to meet your CE requirements and successfully renew your Florida social work license.



Florida Social Work License Renewal Overview

Key Facts:

  • License Renewal Deadline: March 31, 2025

  • Renewal Frequency: Every 2 years on odd numbers years

  • License Types: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW), and Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern.

Visit the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling website for additional information, to verify your license and CE requirements, and more.


Florida CE Requirements for Social Workers

  • Total CE Hours:

    • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): 30 Hours Total Every 2 Years

    • Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW): 30 Hours Total Every 2 Years

    • Registered Clinical Social Work Interns (RCSWI): No CEs required for renewal


Full CE Requirements and Special Topic Requirements:

  • 30 total hours every 2 years

  • General Hours: 25 hours

    • SPECIAL CE TOPIC REQUIREMENTS:

      • Ethics and Boundaries OR Telehealth: 3 hours (Alternating each biennial renewal period)

      • Medical Errors: 2 hours (Must be taken from a Board-approved Medical Errors provider)

      • Florida Laws and Rules: 3 hours (Required every third biennium, count towards the 25 general hours)

      • Domestic Violence: 2 hours (Required every third biennium, count towards the 25 general hours)

      • Qualified Supervisor Training: 4 hours (Required every third biennium for those who are Qualified Supervisors, also count towards the 25 general hours)


First-Time License Renewal:

  • New licensees are exempt from the full 30-hour requirement but must still complete specific courses:

    • HIV/AIDS: 3 hours (one-time requirement before the first renewal)

    • Prevention of Medical Errors: 2 hours


Additional Notes:

  • Certificates of completion should be retained for at least four years in case of an audit.

  • It's crucial to use Board-approved providers for these courses.


Tracking Your Florida CEs with CE Broker

The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling utilizes CE Broker for tracking CE Credits, course completions, and fulfillment of CE Requirements. Elevate Continuing Education is an approved provider in CE Broker for the Florida Board and as such will report course completions directly in CE broker for all Florida licensees who provide their license information to us following completion of a CE Training.


Per for the Florida Board website: "The Department’s Continuing Education Tracking system is powered by CEBroker FREE Basic Account – This CE Broker’s Basic account provides all the necessary tools for you to comply with the department’s reporting requirements. You can view your course history, which will list the course name, educational provider name, date of completion and hours reported. You will also have access to CE Broker’s course search to find board-accepted CE and report completions instantly. Review all reported courses to ensure that your specific continuing education requirements are fulfilled. If needed, you can easily self-report any CE that may be missing." Paid accounts with additional features are also available for Florida licensed clinicians.


Elevate Continuing Education is approved in CE Broker through the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling and will report course completions directly in CE Broker for all Florida licensees who provide their license information to us following completion of a CE Training.


Recommended Online CE Courses for Florida Social Workers

At Elevate Continuing Education, we offer a variety of ASWB-approved courses accepted for Florida Social Workers and tailored to meet almost all of Florida’s specific CE requirements:


Can I take my CEs from Elevate CE?

YES! Elevate CE's credits are accepted for Florida Social Workers! The Florida Board of Social Work accepts both Live and Pre-Recorded CE credits - there is no limit to either type of course format. View our Live Webinars page or Recorded Webinars page to see our current courses and to get started today!


Elevate CE is an approved provider through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The Florida Board of Social Work accepts courses approved through ASWB. Please see the regulation here. 


Are there any course format requirements or limitations for Florida social workers?

The Florida Board of Social Work no longer has a live CE requirement. Therefore Florida social workers may choose any combination of live (synchronous) and/or recorded (asynchronous) courses to meet your CE requirements. There is no limit to the number of CE hours that can be taken in either format. Elevate CE offers Live Webinars (synchronous) and Recorded Webinars (asynchronous) - both of which may count towards the required CE hours for Florida Social Workers.


View our Live Webinars page or Recorded Webinars page to see our current courses and to get started today!


Tips for Managing Your Florida CE Requirements

  1. Start Early: Don't wait until the last minute to complete your CE requirements. Many social workers find themselves rushing in the final months, leading to unnecessary stress.

  2. Take Advantage of Online Courses: Florida allows all 30 CE hours to be completed online, including live and recorded webinars. This flexibility is perfect for busy professionals.

  3. Bundle Your Courses: Look for course bundles that cover multiple requirements. Elevate CE offers course bundles to help you earn the CE credits you need for an excellent value. 

  4. Leverage Free Resources: Some organizations offer free CE courses, especially on topics like HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence. Check with state-approved providers.

  5. Set Reminders: Use calendar alerts to remind you about the renewal deadline and to schedule CE courses throughout the year.

  6. Save Your Certificates: Florida’s Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling may audit you, so keep your certificates for at least 4 years. Consider storing digital copies in a dedicated folder on your computer or cloud storage.



Step-by-Step Guide to Renewing Your Florida Social Work License

Step 1: Complete Your CE Hours

  • Ensure all required CE credits are completed before March 31 of the renewal year.

Step 2: Use the MQA Online Services Portal

  • Log into the Florida Department of Health’s Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) online services portal to renew your license.

  • Verify your CE hours are uploaded correctly through the CE Broker system.

Step 3: Pay the Renewal Fee

  • The renewal fee for renewing an Active License before it has expired is $120, per the Florida Board of Social Work Website. Be prepared to pay online through the portal.

Step 4: Confirm Renewal

  • You should receive a confirmation email once your renewal is processed. Keep a copy of this email for your records.



Common Questions About Florida Social Work License Renewal

Q: Can I complete all my CE hours online? YUES, Florida allows you to complete all 30 CE hours online through approved providers, including live webinars and on-demand recorded courses. View our Live Webinars page or Recorded Webinars page to see our current courses and to get started.

Q: What happens if I miss the renewal deadline? If you miss the deadline, your license will go into delinquent status, and you may incur additional fees to reactivate it. Failure to renew by the end of the biennium can result in license termination.

Q: How can I confirm my CE credits have been reported? Log into the CE Broker system to verify that all your completed courses have been uploaded by your CE provider.



Key Takeaways for Florida Social Workers

  • Start planning your CE courses early to avoid last-minute stress.

  • Utilize online courses for flexibility and convenience.

  • Keep track of special CE requirements that differ by renewal period (like Domestic Violence and Laws & Rules courses).

  • Use Elevate Continuing Education for all your CE needs with easy-to-access, affordable, and engaging courses.



Conclusion

Renewing your social work license in Florida doesn’t have to be a hassle. With the right planning and resources, you can easily meet all the requirements and continue making a positive impact in your community. Elevate Continuing Education is here to support you with ASWB-approved courses designed to fit your busy schedule. Ready to get started? View our Live Webinars page or Recorded Webinars page to see our current courses and to get started today!

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