Arizona · LMSW Renewal
Arizona LMSW CEU Requirements (2026–2027)
If you hold an active LMSW in Arizona, the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners requires 30 clock hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal period, including 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of cultural competency, and 3 hours of the Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial. Here is the verified breakdown, straight from the source.
Last verified: May 2026 · Source: AAC R4-6-801; R4-6-802; ARS Title 32, Chapter 33
The short version
| Requirement | Hours | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 | Every 2 years |
| Behavioral Health Ethics or Mental Health Law | 3 | Every 2 years |
| Cultural Competency or Diversity | 3 | Every 2 years |
| Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial | 3 | Every 2 years |
AzBBHE regulates LMSW alongside LCSW, LPC, LMFT, and LAC under one substantive rule. AAC R4-6-801 sets the universal 30-clock-hour biennial CE total for “a licensee holding an active license to practice behavioral health in this state.” R4-6-802 lists the universal sub-requirements. LMSW totals are identical to LCSW totals.
Behavioral Health Ethics or Mental Health Law: 3 hours
R4-6-802(C)(1) requires 3 clock hours in “behavioral health ethics or mental health law,” from a sponsor or approver listed in subsection (D). Content focused on the AzBBHE code of ethics, AZ professional regulation, or applied clinical-ethics dilemmas all qualify.
Cultural Competency or Diversity: 3 hours
Same rule requires 3 clock hours focused on cultural competency and diversity, distinct from the ethics block. Content addressing culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or socioeconomic context qualifies.
Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial: 3 hours
R4-6-802(C)(2) requires completion of the 3-clock-hour Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial each renewal cycle. The board-approved tutorial covers AZ statutes and rules that govern behavioral health practice. This requirement has been in place since January 1, 2018, and counts toward the 30-hour total.
No carryover
R4-6-801 explicitly states that “a licensee may not carry excess continuing education hours from one license period to the next.” Plan your hours to land inside each biennial window.
Renewal timing
Arizona renewal is biennial. License expiration date is on your AzBBHE license; renew online via the AzBBHE portal.
LMSW vs. LCSW: identical baseline
Arizona's rule structure is unified across credential tracks. The only divergence is in R4-6-802(E), which adds an addiction-content overlay for substance-abuse-specialty licensees (LISAC and friends), and that does not apply to LMSW or LCSW.
Accepted CE sponsors and approvers
AAC R4-6-802(D) lists accepted entities including ASWB-ACE, NASW, NBCC, AAMFT, APA, AzBBHE-approved sponsors, accredited universities, and specific federal/state agencies. The full list lives in the rule itself, check it before paying for any course you intend to count.
Documentation
Keep completion certificates for at least 4 years (R4-6-803 retention rule). AzBBHE conducts random audits. The board can require source verification, so keep both the certificate and any provider syllabus that proves content alignment.
Board links
Track these requirements automatically.
Still Licensed keeps your Arizona ethics and total hours up to date as you log each CE. Multi-state support means one entry can count toward every state you're licensed in.
This page is informational. Rules change. Verify against the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE) before acting on anything here.