West Virginia accepts Elevate CE's credits for social workers.
The West Virginia Board of Social Work accepts courses approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). "Approved providers are certified instate providers listed on the Board's web page, the National Association of Social Workers (national or state chapters), the Association of Social Work Boards, another state social work licensing Board or a social work program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education. Any event sponsored by an approved provider will satisfy Category I hours." More information can be found at: https://www.wvsocialworkboard.org/CE-Info/For-Social-Workers/Requirements
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.
West Virginia Social Work Continuing Education Requirements
2025 License Renewal Information
Renewal Deadline: Rolling, based on license issue date
Renewal Frequency: Every two years
How many CEs do West Virginia social workers need for renewal?
Licensed Social Worker (LSW): 30 Total CE Hours every two years
Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW): 30 Total CE Hours every two years
Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW): 30 Total CE Hours every two years
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW): 30 Total CE Hours every two years
SPECIAL TOPIC REQUIREMENTS (required for all licensure levels)
1 Hour in Ethics
2 Hours in mental health conditions specific to veterans and family members of veterans.
Can I take my CEs from Elevate CE?
YES! West Virginia social workers need 30 CE hours every two years to renew their license. Here’s how Elevate Continuing Education can help you meet those requirements:
10 Hours Live: You must complete at least 10 CE hours in a live, interactive format. Our Live Webinars satisfy this requirement.
20 Additional Hours: The remaining 20 hours can be earned through any combination of Live Webinars or at your own pace with our Pre-Recorded Webinars.
Elevate CE is an approved provider through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The West Virginia 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 West Virginia social workers?
Yes, at least 10 of the total 30 hours must be live, synchronous learning format.
West Virginia has two CE credit categories and course format limitations related to these:
Category I Hours:
At least twenty hours must be presented by a Board approved provider, ten hours which must be face to face or synchronous
Category II Hours
Licnensees may use up to 10 hours in Individual Professional Activities that do not require prior approval.
Elevate CE offers Category I hours for West Virginia Social Workers.
Our Live Webinars count for Category I Live Synchronous credits (fulfilling the 10 hour requirement) and our Recorded Webinars count for Category I non-synchronous credits and can count for the remaining 20 required CE hours for West Virginia social workers.
Does Elevate CE participate with CE Broker and will CE courses be submitted for tracking?
YES, Elevate CE is approved through CE Broker for West Virginia social workers and we will report completed CE courses through CE Broker as long as the necessary information is provided upon course completion (your state licensure and license number information).
What type of CE credits does Elevate CE offer West Virginia Social Workers?
Elevate CE offers Category I CE credits for West Virginia social workers. Our Live Webinars count towards the face-to-face synchronous 10 hour requirement while our Recorded Webinars count towards the remaining 20 required CE Hours.
Elevate Continuing Education is an approved provider through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and as such all CE courses offered through Elevate CE are considered Category 1.
West Virginia Social Work CE Requirement Statutes
This information below has been obtained directly from the West Virginia West Virginia Board of Social Work Website and is current as of November 2024. Please visit here for full information and details.
§25-5-3. Continuing Social Work Education Requirements for License Renewal.
3.1. A licensee shall obtain, as a condition of renewal of license, at least thirty (30) contact hours of continuing social work education within each two (2) year license period:
3.1a. At least 2 of the 30 contact hours shall be in mental health conditions specific to veterans and family members of veterans. Training specific to veterans and family members of veterans may include, but is not limited to, inquiring about whether clients are veterans or family members of veterans; screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder; readjustment issues; risk of suicide and prevention of suicide; addiction; military sexual assault; and depression and grief.
3.1b. At least 1 of the 30 contact hours shall be in social work ethics
3.1.1. Of these contact hours, at least twenty (20) contact hours shall be earned by attending programs, conferences, workshops, online courses or professional meetings that are pre-approved by a WV authorized approved or certified provider. Of the twenty (20) approved provider hours, at least ten hours must be in a synchronous format-either online or in person, and no more than ten (10) hours may be earned online in an asynchronous training format; a printed certificate, listing the course name, approved or certified provider and contact hours must be provided in order to obtain credit. Continuing education courses endorsed by the Association of Social Work Boards, the National Association of Social Workers, an approved WV provider, another state social work licensing Board, or a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education are recognized as approved courses.
3.1.2. A licensee may earn the balance of contact hours through individual professional activities, described in this rule. Individual professional activities enhance the licensee’s knowledge of professional social work issues or which relate specifically to his or her particular social work practice setting. These individual professional activities are self-directed, professional social work study activities including, but not necessarily limited to, formally organized learning events not officially recognized by the Board, approved behavioral science college courses taken outside an accredited social work program, writing for professional social work publications, preparing a presentation for a certified or approved continuing social work education contact hours, reading professional literature; independent study, and research.
3.2. The licensee shall only receive credit for those continuing education activities that meet the specifications established by the Board.
3.3. An inactive, emeritus or temporary permit licensee is not required to earn continuing social work education contact hours.
3.4. A licensee is solely responsible for keeping adequate records of his or her continuing social work education contact hours and activities.
3.4.1. A licensee shall maintain written records of continuing education contact hours.
3.4.2. A licensee shall maintain written records of individual professional activities which describe:
3.4.2.a. The nature of the activity:
3.4.2.b. The dates the activity was engaged in and completed;
3.4.2.c. The number of contact hours earned in the activity and
3.4.2.d. The reference citations for any text, journal, or publication utilized as an activity.
3.4.3. The licensee or temporary licensee shall maintain records of all continuing education activities for a period of not less than three (3) years of time preceding the date of renewal. Once the license is renewed, the Board may expunge the records;
3.4.4. The licensee shall submit the record of continuing education activities on forms provided by a Board approved continuing social work education provider or the Board.
3.4.5. The licensee may deliver the continuing education record forms to the Board on a regular basis and at least annually during the two-year process in order for Board staff to keep an on-going tally to compare with that of the license, and to cause submission of a renewal application thirty to forty-five days prior to the date of expiration.
3.4.6. The Board may return incomplete or unreadable written records.
3.4.7. The Board may require a licensee to submit additional evidence of completion of contact hours, programs or activities for the purpose of monitoring the quality of providers and the accuracy of reports. Additional evidence includes, but is not limited to, payment receipts, program notes, certificates of attendance, a sworn statement from a provider representative, or other proof of program attendance.
3.5. Training related to the policies and procedures of an agency, organization or system for which the licensee is an employee may not fulfill any continuing social work education requirement.
3.6. A list of certified continuing education providers is available from the Board.
3.7. A license renewal application, evidence of satisfaction of continuing social work education and required payment of fee is due in the Board office at least thirty (30) days before the day of license expiration.
3.7.1. Failure to comply with submission of these materials prior to expiration of the license will result in automatic status change to delinquent the day following license expiration and activate the initial late fee in addition to the renewal fee.
3.7.2. A delinquent license remains renewable provided the licensee has ceased to perform social work; satisfies the continuing education requirements; and pays all late fees which will accumulate monthly for a maximum period of thirty-six months as specified in WV Code §30-30-20.
3.7.3. A licensee may not apply for special status inactive or emeritus if a license is delinquent.
3.7.4. A licensee shall submit all accrued continuing education when making application for inactive or emeritus licensure.
