
Minnesota accepts Elevate CE's credits for social workers.
The Minnesota Board of Social Work includes on their list of acceptable content & activities: "CE provider or program approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)". More information can be found at: https://mn.gov/boards/social-work/licensees/ce.jsp Elevate Continuing Education, #1816, formerly Maryland CEU Institute is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program.
Minnesota Social Work Continuing Education Requirements
2025 License Renewal Information
Renewal Deadline: Rolling, every two years based on birth month
Renewal Frequency: Every two years
How many CEs do Minnesota social workers need for renewal?
Licensed Social Worker (LSW): 40 Total CE Hours every 2 years
Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW): 40 Total CE Hours every 2 years
Licensed Independent Social Worker (LICSW): 40 Total CE Hours every 2 years
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW): 40 Total CE Hours every 2 years
SPECIAL TOPIC REQUIREMENTS:
2 Hours in Ethics (all license levels)
4 Hours in Cultural Responsiveness (all license levels)
12 Hours in Clinical Content (LICSW ONLY)
6 Hours in Supervision (Supervisors ONLY)
Can I take my CEs from Elevate CE?
YES! Minnesota Social Workers can fulfill their CE Course hours through Elevate Continuing Education through a combination of Live Webinars and Recorded Webinars.
Elevate CE is an approved provider through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The Minnesota Board of Social Work accepts courses approved through ASWB. Please see the regulation Here.
View our Live Webinars or Recorded Webinars to get started learning and earning the CEs your need for renewal today!
Are there any course format requirements or limitations for Minnesota social workers?
Minnesota Social Workers may complete up to 50% of the 40 total hours through independent learning, which includes:
Online activities without live interaction
Research for publication, presentations, or professional development
Elevate CE offers Recorded Webinars that are accepted as independent learning, making it easier for you to fulfill your CE requirements. The remaining 50% of CE Hours can be completed with Elevate CE's Live Webinars which count towards Live Interactive (synchronous) CE Hours.
Minnesota Social Work CE Requirement Statutes
This information below has been obtained directly from the Minnesota Board of Social Work Website and is current as of January 2025. Please visit here for full information and details.
148E.130 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSEES.
Subdivision 1.Total clock hours required. (a) A licensee must complete 40 hours of continuing education for each two-year renewal term. At the time of license renewal, a licensee must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the licensee has completed the required continuing education hours during the previous renewal term. Of the total clock hours required:
(1) all licensees must complete:
(i) two hours in social work ethics as defined in section 148E.010; and
(ii) four hours in cultural responsiveness;
(2) licensed independent clinical social workers must complete 12 clock hours in one or more of the clinical content areas specified in section 148E.055, subdivision 5, paragraph (a), clause (2);
(3) licensees providing licensing supervision according to sections 148E.100 to 148E.125, must complete six clock hours in supervision as defined in section 148E.010; and
(4) no more than half of the required clock hours may be completed via continuing education independent learning as defined in section 148E.010.
(b) If the licensee's renewal term is prorated to be less or more than 24 months, the total number of required clock hours is prorated proportionately.
Subd. 1a.Increased clock hours required effective August 1, 2011. (a) Notwithstanding the requirements in subdivision 8, the clock hours specified in subdivision 1 apply to all new licenses issued effective August 1, 2011, under section 148E.055.
(b) Any licensee issued a license prior to August 1, 2011, under Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 148D.055, must comply with the increased clock hours in subdivision 1 and must document the clock hours at the first two-year renewal term after August 1, 2011.
Subd. 1b.New content clock hours required effective July 1, 2021. (a) The content clock hours in subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1), item (ii), apply to all new licenses issued effective July 1, 2021, under section 148E.055.
(b) Any licensee issued a license prior to July 1, 2021, under section 148E.055 must comply with the clock hours in subdivision 1, including the content clock hours in subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1), item (ii), at the first two-year renewal term after July 1, 2021.
Subd. 8.Acceptable content. The continuing education must:
(1) promote the standards of practice described in sections 148E.195 to 148E.240; and
(2) contribute to the practice of social work as defined in section 148E.010.
Subd. 9.Acceptable continuing education activities. (a) A continuing education activity must be one of the following:
(1) academic coursework at an institution of higher learning. One credit of coursework in a semester-based academic institution is the equivalent of 15 clock hours;
(2) educational workshops, seminars, conferences, or live webinars;
(3) staff training from an employer; or
(4) continuing education independent learning as defined in section 148E.010.
(b) A continuing education activity automatically meets the requirements of this section if the licensee completes it through:
(1) a board-approved continuing education provider;
(2) a continuing education provider or program approved by the Association of Social Work Boards or a similar examination body that the board has designated; or
(3) a continuing education program approved by the National Association of Social Workers.
(c) The board does not require providers and programs to be preapproved, but the continuing education activity must meet the requirements specified in this section.
Subd. 10.Extension. At the time of renewal, the board may grant a onetime extension to complete the required clock hours when a licensee is unable to comply with this section.
Subd. 11.Records retention. For one year following the expiration date of a license, the licensee must maintain documentation of clock hours earned during the previous renewal term. The documentation must include the following:
(1) for educational workshops, seminars, conferences, or live webinars, documentation of attendance issued by the presenter or sponsor must include the:
(i) name of the sponsor;
(ii) title and date of the activity;
(iii) number of clock hours; and
(iv) names of the presenters;
(2) for academic coursework at an institution of higher learning, a transcript must include the:
(i) name of the institution;
(ii) title of the course;
(iii) dates of the course; and
(iv) number of credits completed or audited;
(3) for an employer's staff training, an employer's documentation of attendance must include the:
(i) name of the employer;
(ii) title of the training;
(iii) date of the training; and
(iv) number of clock hours completed; and
(4) for continuing education independent learning, a written summary of the activity conducted must include the:
(i) topics covered;
(ii) applicability of the activity to the licensee's social work practice;
(iii) titles and authors or presenters of materials reviewed;
(iv) dates the licensee conducted the activity; and
(v) number of clock hours completed.
Subd. 12.Audits. (a) The board may audit licensees at the time of license renewal or reactivation to determine the licensee's compliance with the requirements of this section.
(b) When the board audits a licensee, the licensee must provide the documentation specified in subdivision 11.
History: 2007 c 123 s 89,138; 2009 c 157 art 3 s 44-46,49; 2012 c 187 art 3 s 10; 2020 c 79 art 3 s 43-48; 1Sp2021 c 7 art 4 s 13,14; 2023 c 25 s 55