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Does social work CE have to be ASWB approved?
It depends on your state board, which has the final say on any course, ASWB says. ASWB says most U.S. states accept courses approved through its ACE program. New York does not.
By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.
The steps, in order
Find your board
The state that licenses you
Read its CE rule
Hours, period and topics
Check each course
Ask if your board takes it
Keep your certificate
Proof of your credit
Steps: find your board, read its CE rule, check each course against it, and keep your certificate.
What the source says
Who sets my renewal CE hours?
Your board. ASWB says CE requirements for license renewal are determined by your board. ASWB compiles information on CE requirements in the United States and Canada.
If a course is ACE approved, can I just buy it?
Check first. ASWB says that even where a board accepts ACE courses, you are responsible for checking that a course meets your jurisdiction's CE requirements. Boards have the final authority over any individual course.
Which states accept ACE?
ASWB says most U.S. states and all Canadian provinces recognize ACE continuing education credits for social workers.
Does New York accept ACE?
No. ASWB says New York does not accept ASWB ACE provider or course/conference approval. Read New York's own rule before you buy.
Where people go wrong
- You buy a course because it says ACE approved, and your board does not take it. ASWB says boards have the final authority over any individual course.
- You assume every state works the same way. ASWB says New York does not accept ACE approval.
Questions
What does ACE approval mean?
ASWB says it means social work CE programs are generally acceptable to social work regulatory boards across the United States and Canada.
Can a provider be approved course by course?
Yes. ASWB says a CE provider can pursue either individual course approval or provider approval. Both must follow the ACE standards in the ACE Handbook.
Can a Joint Accreditation provider give ACE credit?
Some can. ASWB says it authorizes some Joint Accreditation providers to offer ACE credit to social workers.
Your next step
Look up your board's CE rule, then check each course against it. ASWB points to its Laws and Regulations Database for your board's CE requirements.
Sources we read
- www.aswb.org › getting continuing education credits · read Nov 13, 2026
- www.aswb.org › ace approved continuing education · read Nov 13, 2026
Who publishes this guide
State Cert Guide is an independent guide to what each state requires. If a fact on this page is wrong, tell us and we fix it.