I just renewed my social work license (LMSW) this week, marking two years since I graduated from Baylor with my Master’s and passed my licensing exam!!
I work in a dual role as a social work case manager, so my ACMA membership is crucial for staying updated. I’ve been fortunate that both hospitals I’ve worked at covered my ACMA membership, allowing me to get the majority of my continuing education (CE) for free. I fell three hours short of Ethics and scoured the internet to find a CE course relevant in Texas that was interesting enough for me to fully engage in.
Every state has different requirements. According to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council website, “licensed social workers (e.g., LBSW, LMSW, LCSW) must obtain a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education during each renewal period. At least 6 of these hours must be in professional ethics and social work values, with an additional 3 hours in cultural diversity or competency. For supervisors, at least 6 hours must be in supervision. These hours can count towards the total requirement.”
Additionally, I needed 3 hours in human trafficking due to my clinical role.
I believe it’s important to choose CEs that are relevant to your field and engaging for you. Sometimes, though, they can be excessively expensive. For instance, why would an online, self-paced class cost $75? That’s quite steep!
Anyway, here’s to celebrating my two-year LMSW anniversary with gratitude and a commitment to professional growth!