License Renewal Information

Renewal Information

PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors licensees must renew their license on a biennial cycle using the PALS system (). The renewal link from the PA State Board will be open in January 2025. It takes at least 3 days for licensure to go through, plan accordingly.

Current Licensure Cycle - March 1, 2023 - February 28, 2025
Next License Cycle: March 1, 2025 - February 28, 2027

Renewal Costs (as of 2024)
Biennial Licensing Renewal Fee - $95

First-Time Renewal: (Do NOT wait until the last day to renew your license. There may be technical issues that can not be resolved in one day.)

An individual applying for licensure in the PA Commonwealth for the first time shall be exempted from the continuing education requirement for the biennial renewal period following initial licensure. Ref

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All credits must be complete within the license cycle dates. (No carry-over of CE credits.) You can not take a course with the same name more than once in a cycle period. For the most current information about social work licensure requirements, visit your

To renew your license in PA, you will need 30 continuing education hours which include:

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Ethics (3 credits)

Of the 30 CE hours, three (3) hours must be specifically Ethics credits. (CE Trainings)

Act 31 Child Abuse Training Requirement (2 credits)

Of the 30 CE hours, two (2) hours must be specifically Act 31 Child Abuse credits. ( providers.)

EXCEPTION NOTE: First time renewal requires 3 credits.

All health related licensees applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board are required to complete at least two hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal. Act 31 applies to all health-related licensees.

Act 74 Suicide Prevention Training Requirement (1 credit)

Of the 30 CE hours, one (1) hour must be specifically Act 74 suicide prevention credit.(CE Trainings)

Beginning with the biennial renewal cycle of March 1, 2017, through Feb. 28, 2019, licensees must complete one hour of continuing education in suicide prevention as a condition of license renewal. If the word “suicide” or a derivative of the word “suicide” is contained in the title of a suicide prevention course/program taken through an approved provider, the continuing education earned can be used towards satisfying the suicide prevention continuing education requirement. If the course/program pertains to suicide prevention and the title of the course/program does not contain the word “suicide,” the approved provider of the course/program must indicate on the certification of attendance/completion the number of hours of suicide prevention continuing education earned.

Note: The required one hour of continuing education in suicide prevention is separate from the required three hours of continuing education in ethics. The two requirements may not be combined.

Other License Related Information

Applying for a License LSW/LCSW Exam Prep Workshop PA State Board

Records Management

Licensee must keep records of continuing education credits for at least 4 years.

Online vs. In-Person

The PA State Board and NASW-PA distinction between an “in-person” and “online” CE training is as follows:

In-person training refers to the ability of participants to interact/converse in real time with the presenter. Training delivery methods can include synchronous (live) virtual classroom that uses video conferencing technology and physical in-person trainings.

All of our CE trainings are considered "In-Person"

Online trainings refer to self-paced/home study type programs where participants learn on their own time and schedule. Training delivery methods can include pre-recorded video trainings, trainings administered by mail, or self-paced training that uses various learning management technology.

The Center for Professional Development delivery methods include in-person and synchronous (live) virtual classroom using the Zoom video conferencing technology and thus are categorized as “In-Person” CE trainings.

License Organization Contact Information

PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors
717-783-1389
PO Box 2649
Harrisburg, Pa 17105
st-socialwork@pa.gov

National Association Social Workers-PA (NASW-PA)
717-232-4125
1000 Bent Creek Blvd. Suite 40
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
anewkam.naswpa@socialworkers.org

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Candidate Services: 888-579-3926
400 Southridge Parkway, Suite B
Culpeper, VA 22701

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