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Understanding the NEW Maryland Social Work CE Requirements - 2026 Updates

  • Writer: Elevate Continuing Education
    Elevate Continuing Education
  • Mar 3, 2025
  • 6 min read

Updated: May 11

Maryland social workers renewing their licenses must now complete 3 Category I CEUs in Anti-Oppressive Social Work. This requirement is part of the continuing education (CE) regulations. It ensures that social workers engage in training that promotes equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practice. Social workers in Maryland must also fulfill their 3 Credit Ethics CE requirement in addition to this new requirement. Ethics CEUs can be Category I or Category II.


This article will help explain the difference between the new Anti-Oppressive Social Work CE requirement and the previous Implicit Bias One-Time Training requirement AND now for 2026 the NEW Structural Racism training requirement. For full details on Maryland’s new CE Anti-Oppressive Social Work CE requirement, check out our full blog post HERE.


Overview of Maryland Social Work CE Requirements:

  • 40 CEUs Total (30 for LBSW) during your 2-year renewal period

    • At least 20 CEUs must be Category I Credits (see below)

    • 20 CEUs may be earned with Category II Credits

      • All 40 may be earned via Category I credits.

    • SPECIAL TOPIC REQUIREMENTS (count towards 40 total CEUs):

      • 3.0 Anti-Oppressive Social Work CEUs (Category I ONLY)

      • 3.0 Ethics CEUs (can be Category I or Category II)

      • 3.0 Supervision CEUs - for Board Approved Supervisors ONLY (can be Category I or Category II)


    • *One-time Implicit Bias Training Requirement AND NEW Structural Racism Requirement - NOT CE Requirements

      • Maryland also has two one-time training requirements: Implicit Bias and Structural Racism. Implicit Bias was announced in 2022 and Structural Racism was announced in 2026.

      • These are one-time requirements and they are NOT CE requirements. Social Workers will complete these by taking trainings which fulfill the requirement and by attesting at renewal that you have completed this requirement (you will check a box when you renew your license to attest that you have completed the requirement).

      • *If you renewed in 2022 or 2023 and attested to have taken an Implicit Bias Training, then you have fulfilled the one-time implicit bias training requirement. You will need to attest to the fact that you have completed this requirement. New licensees and reinstated licensees must still fulfill this requirement. Social Workers renewing in 2024 and beyond still need to complete the new Anti-Oppressive Social Work CE requirement. See below for more information.


What's NEW for 2026? Maryland social workers must now be aware of:

  • *Ongoing Anti-Oppressive Social Work CE Requirement (3 Category I CE Hours per renewal cycle)

  • *NEW for 2026: One-Time Structural Racism Training Requirement (starting with 2026 renewals)

  • One-Time Implicit Bias Training (existing requirement - many people have already completed this - started in 2022 renewal cycle)


Upcoming Trainings That Fulfill the New Maryland Anti-Oppressive Social Work CE Requirement AND the Structural Racism Training Attestation



*Please note that select trainings above which include "Implicit Bias" in the title also fulfill the implicit bias training requirement for those social workers who have not yet fulfilled that (note if you already have completed that one-time training requirement, you DO NOT need to complete it again).


All of the above live real-time trainings provide Category I CEs and fulfills the NEW Anti-Oppressive CE Requirement AND


What is the difference between the new Anti-Oppressive Social Work CE requirement vs. the Implicit Bias and Structural Racism training requirements?


Beginning with the 2022 renewal cycle, Maryland introduced an implicit bias training requirement. This was a ONE-TIME requirement which was NOT a CEU requirement. No certificate was required - only an attestation during renewal that you have fulfilled the requirement.


The new Anti-Oppressive Social Work CEU requirement began with the 2024 renewal cycle and is now required EVERY renewal cycle and is a CEU requirement, meaning you need a CE Certificate (just like your Ethics CE requirement). If you already fulfilled the one-time Implicit Bias Training requirement, you do not need to fulfill that again but you DO need to fulfill the new Anti-Oppressive Social Work 3 Category I CE Requirement during your next renewal cycle and each renewal cycle from now on.


NEW in 2026 the Board announced a new one-time training requirement on the topic of Structural Racism. This is just like the Implicit Bias requirement - it needs to be completed one time, it is NOT a CEU requirement (no certificate is needed to verify completion). Maryland health professionals will verify completion of this one-time requirement by attestation during renewal that you have fulfilled the requirement.


In 2024, the Board published the following clarifications in regards to the Implicit Bias Training Requirement: "March 2024 BOARD UPDATE AND CLARIFICATION: The requirement is to take this training for one licensing renewal cycle only. • If you are a new graduate or a licensee that reinstated or reactivated your license and have not yet taken the required Implicit Bias training, at your next license renewal period, you will need to attest that you have completed this training for the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities."



What if I completed the Implicit Bias training requirement? What about the Structural Racism Requirement?

If you fulfilled the one-time Implicit Bias Training requirement then you DON'T need to complete it again. BUT now in 2026 you DO need to complete the new Structural Racism one-time training requirement.


What trainings fulfill the new Structural Racism requirement?

Social Workers in Maryland may choose to fulfill the new Structural Racism training requirement at the SAME TIME as their 3 CEU Anti-Oppressive Social Work requirement. Remember that while these two requirements may overlap in their content, they are NOT the same in how they're verified.


As an alternative, Social Workers may choose to complete a training in just Structural Racism. The Maryland Department of Health has provided resources for health professionals to complete these trainings online, if they wish. Visit the Department Website for more information: https://health.maryland.gov/mhhd/Pages/Implicit-Bias-Resources.aspx


Below are some of the trainings offered on the MD Department of Health website to assist Maryland Social Workers. Many of these trainings are free and all can be completed online:


**Please note that these trainings fulfill the new Structural Racism training requirement but many DO NOT provide CEUs for completion and DO NOT count towards the 3 CE Hour Anti-Oppressive Social Work requirement. Elevate CE is a Board Authorized Sponsor through the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners and is offering upcoming CEU trainings which can fulfill both the 3 Hour Anti Oppressive Social Work Requirement AND the new Structural Racism training.


What if I'm newly licensed, reinstating, or have not fulfilled the Implicit Bias training requirement yet?

If you are newly licensed or reinstating your license and have not fulfilled the one-time Implicit Bias training requirement, then you will still need to complete that training requirement AND the new Structural Racism training requirement. The Board of Social Work Examiners has provided the following guidance on this: "Implicit Bias Training provided by a Board Authorized Sponsor that is recognized by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners and meets the COMAR 10.42.06 Continuing Education Requirements satisfies this requirement. You may complete a MD Board Authorized Sponsor Implicit Bias training, you may earn CEUs, obtain a CE Certificate and include on the Continuing Education Report Form to meet your 40(30 LBSWs) CEU requirement."


Elevate Continuing Education is a Board Authorized Sponsor through the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners - the above trainings that we are offering which fulfill the NEW Anti-Oppressive Social Work 3 Category I CE Requirment WILL ALSO fulfill the new Structural Racism requirement AND many fulfill the Implicit Bias requirement for those who are newly licensed or reinstating.


Stay Compliant & Expand Your Knowledge


If you are a Maryland social worker due for license renewal in 2026, ensure you meet the NEW anti-oppressive social work CE requirement AND the new Structural Racism training . One of our expert-led Live webinars is the perfect opportunity to do so. View our trainings and Register today to secure your spot in one of these highly relevant and required trainings!


  • For more details on Maryland’s new CE requirement, check out our full blog post HERE.

  • To understand the differences between Category I and Category II CEUs for Maryland Social Workers, view our full blog post on this topic HERE.

  • Please


Register today to secure your spot in one of these highly relevant and required trainings!



Note: Elevate Continuing Education is a Board Authorized CE Sponsor by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. However, we are not affiliated with the board, and social workers should verify their licensing requirements directly with the BSWE.

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