Kentucky Social Work CE Requirement Statutes

This information below has been obtained directly from the Kentucky Board of Social Work Website and is current as of January 2025. Please visit Kentucky Board of Social Work for full information and details.

Section 2. Accrual and Computation of Continuing Education Hours for Renewal.

(1) Each certified social worker and licensed clinical social worker shall complete a minimum of thirty (30) continuing education hours during the three (3) year period for renewal, which shall be completed in person before a live presenter or through home or self-study, courses delivered through electronic media or technology including distance learning, online, or teleconference courses.

(2) Each licensed social worker shall complete a minimum of fifteen (15) continuing education hours during the three (3) year period for renewal, which shall be completed in person before a live presenter or through home or self-study, courses delivered through electronic media or technology including distance learning, online, or teleconference courses.

(3) All continuing education hours shall be relevant to the licensee's level of licensure.

(4) Kentucky Code of Ethical Conduct. Each renewal period, as part of the required continuing education hours, each licensee shall complete a board approved three (3) hour course on the Kentucky Code of Ethical Conduct established in 201 KAR 23:080, which shall be taken in person before a live presenter or through courses delivered through electronic media or technology including distance learning, online, or teleconference courses.

(5) Clinical Social Work Supervision. Each renewal period, as part of the required continuing education hours, each licensed clinical social worker who is a board approved supervisor pursuant to 201 KAR 23:070, Section 4(1)(c)2., shall complete a three (3) hour, board approved clinical social work supervision course, which shall be taken in person before a live presenter.

(6) Training Program in Suicide Assessment, Treatment, and Management. Every six (6) years, as part of the required continuing education hours, each licensee shall complete a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing education in a board approved training program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as required by KRS 210.366(2).

(a) The training program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management shall be approved by the board, by a pre-approved provider or sponsor identified in Section 3(1) of this administrative regulation, or by one (1) of the following boards:

1. Kentucky Board of Licensure of Marriage and Family Therapists;

2. Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors;

3. Kentucky Board of Licensure for Pastoral Counselors;

4. Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors;

5. Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology; or

6. Kentucky Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy.

(b) Exemptions. A licensee shall be exempted from completion of the training program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management if he or she:

1. Teaches or taught a graduate-level counseling course in suicide assessment, treatment, and management at least once during the six (6) year period; or

2. Teaches or taught a six (6) hour continuing education course in suicide assessment, treatment, and management at least once during the six (6) year period.

(7) Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation. During the three (3) year renewal period following initial licensure, as part of the required continuing education hours, each licensee shall complete a three (3) hour course in domestic violence, and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation as defined by KRS 194A.540.

(8) Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma. At least one (1) time every six (6) years, as part of the required continuing education hours, each licensee shall complete one and one-half (1.5) hours of continuing education covering the recognition and prevention of pediatric abusive head trauma as defined in KRS 620.020.

(9) Academic Credit Equivalency. Academic credit equivalency for continuing education hours shall be based on one (1) credit hour equals fifteen (15) continuing education hours.

Section 3. Methods of Acquiring Continuing Education Hours. Continuing education hours for renewal shall be directly related to the professional growth and development of the licensee. The hours may be earned by completing any of the continuing education programs listed in this section.

(1) Preapproved programs not requiring board review and approval. Except for courses on the Kentucky Code of Ethical Conduct under Section 2(4) of this administrative regulation, and courses on clinical social work supervision under 201 KAR 23:070, Section 4(1)(c)2., which require separate review and approval by the board, an educational program from any of the following providers shall be deemed to be relevant to the practice of social work and shall be approved without further review by the board if it is:

(a) Sponsored or approved by:

1. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB);

2. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) or any of its affiliated state chapters;

3. The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) or any of its affiliated state chapters;

4. The North American Association of Christians in Social Work or any of its affiliated state chapters; or

5. The Clinical Social Work Association or any of its affiliated state chapters;

(b) Sponsored by:

1. The American Psychological Association or any of its affiliated state chapters;

2. The American Counseling Association or any of its affiliated state chapters;

3. The National Board for Certified Counselors or any of its affiliated state chapters;

4. The American Psychiatric Association or any of its affiliated state chapters; or

5. A college, school, department, or program of social work in Kentucky, which is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); or

(c) An academic course offered by an accredited postsecondary institution directly related to social work, counseling, or psychology.

(2) Programs requiring board review and approval.

(a) A program that is not provided or sponsored by a preapproved provider or sponsor identified in subsection (1) of this section shall be reviewed by the board and approved for continuing education credit if the board determines that it is:

1. Relevant to the practice of social work; and

2. Contributes to the continuing professional competency of licensees.

(b) The board may approve various methods in which a continuing education program is presented including:

1. Home or self-study, courses delivered through electronic media or technology including distance learning, online, or teleconference courses; and

2. In-service training, conferences, or workshops provided by other organizations, educational institutions, or other service providers approved by the board.

(c) Board approval for home or self-study courses, courses delivered through electronic media or technology including distance learning, online, or teleconference courses shall be obtained each year unless the continuing education program does not require board approval under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Relevant programs or academic courses presented by the licensee. A licensee who presents relevant programs or academic courses shall earn full continuing education credit for each contact hour of instruction, not to exceed one-half (1/2) of the continuing education renewal requirements. Credit shall not be issued for repeated instruction of the same course.

(4) Relevant articles authored by the licensee. A licensee who is an author of a relevant article, which is published in a professionally recognized or juried publication, shall earn seven and a half (71/2) hours of the continuing education requirements for renewal if a certified social worker or fifteen (15) hours of the continuing education requirements for renewal if a licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker, if the article was published within one (1) year immediately preceding his or her renewal date.

(5) The following continuing education courses shall be submitted to the board for approval and shall not be automatically preapproved under subsection (1) of this section:

(a) Kentucky Code of Ethical Conduct required by Section 2(4) of this administrative regulation; and

(b) Clinical social work supervision for board-approved supervisors required by 201 KAR 23:070, Section 4(1)(c)2.