Attention Maryland Social Workers - there's a new continuing education requirement you need to be aware of for the 2025 license renewal! Maryland Social Workers must now fulfill 3.0 Category I CEUs on the topic of Anti-Oppressive Social Work. What does this mean? We have compiled everything you need to know about this new requirement - along with the existing requirements to help you ensure you're all set for this year's renewal.
Here is the new CE requirement, as stated in the updated COMAR regulations:
COMAR 10.42.06.03.A.(1)(d) Continuing Education Requirements:
“3 of the required Category I continuing education units shall have anti-oppressive social work practice content focusing on race, culture, or equity, and include one or more of the following topics: (i) Cultural humility; (ii) Social justice; (iii) Racial equity; (iv) Implicit bias; or (v) Anti-racism practices;”
View the entire COMAR 10.42.06 regulation at https://health.maryland.gov/bswe/Documents/Regs/10.42.06ContinuingEducationRequir ements.pdf
What does this mean for Maryland Social Workers?
Maryland Social Workers renewing their license starting in 2024 and beyond will need to ensure that they're fulfilling this new Category I requirement along with their general CE hours, 3.0 Ethics Credits, and 3.0 CE Credit Supervision Requirement (ONLY for Board Authorized Supervisors).
Overview of Maryland Social Work CE Requirements:
40 CEUs Total (30 for LBSW) during your 2-year renewal period
At least 20 CEUs must be Category I Credits (see below)
20 CEUs may be earned with Category II Credits
All 40 may be earned via Category I credits.
SPECIAL TOPIC REQUIREMENTS (count towards 40 total CEUs):
3.0 Anti-Oppressive Social Work CEUs (Category I ONLY)
3.0 Ethics CEUs (can be Category I or Category II)
3.0 Supervision CEUs - for Board Approved Supervisors ONLY (can be Category I or Category II):
What is the difference between Category I and Category II CEUs for Maryland Social Workers?
The main difference between Category I and Category II CEUs is that Category I CEUs are live real-time interactive transactions between presenters, trainers, and social workers (including face-to-face and interactive technology). Category I CEUs must be provided by Board Authorized Sponsors.
Category II CEUs can be fulfilled through self-study trainings and other non-interactive activities. We have written an article which goes into greater detail on the difference between Category I and Category II CEUs for Maryland Social Workers.
How can I fulfill this new Maryland Social Work Anti-Oppressive Social Work CEU Requirement?
In 2025 Elevate Continuing Education is offering multiple Live Webinars to help Maryland Social Workers fulfill this new requirement! Elevate Continuing Education is a Board Authorized Sponsor through the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners and we're able to provide Category I courses that fulfill the CEU requirements for Maryland Social Workers. See our listing below for courses that fulfill all the special topic requirements for Maryland Social Workers. To see all of our course listings, visit our Live Webinars or Recorded Webinars pages to get started.
Don't forget that we have convenient Category II (recorded webinars) that are also accepted for Maryland Social Workers.
2025 License Renewal CEU Courses:
Anti-Oppressive Social Work Requirement (Category I only):
May 9, 2025: (4 Category I Credits - FULFILLS NEW REQUIREMENT): Beyond Cultural Competence: Cultural Humility in Clinical Practice 4-Hour Training
August 8, 2025 (3 Category I Credits - FULFILLS NEW REQUIREMENT): Cultivating Cultural Humility for Mental Health Providers 3-Hour Training
September 5, 2025 (3 Category I Credits - FULFILLS NEW REQUIREMENT): 3-Hour Implicit Bias Training: Increasing Understanding Towards Justice in the Provision of Mental Health Care
October 21, 2025 (3 Category I Credits - FULFILLS NEW REQUIREMENT): 3-Hour Implicit Bias Training: Increasing Understanding Towards Justice in the Provision of Mental Health Care
Ethics CEU Requirement (can be Category I or Category II):
Live Ethics Category I Webinars:
July 24, 2025 Morning Session (3 Category I Ethics CEUs): Exploring Ethical Obligations: Boundaries, Confidentiality and Mandated Reporting
July 24, 2025 Afternoon Session (3 Category I Ethics CEUs): Ethical Decision-Making: Navigating Complex Cases
October 17, 2025 Afternoon Session (3 Category I Ethics CEUs): When Therapy Ends: Ethical Considerations of Terminations and Endings
Recorded Webinar Ethics Category II:
Recorded Webinar Category II Training (3 credits - available 24/7): "Digital Dilemmas: Ethical Use of Technology in Mental Health" *access this training anytime 24/7
Recorded Webinar Category II Training (3 credits - available 24/7): "Where's the Line? Navigating Ethics of Dual Relationships and Boundaries" *access this training anytime 24/7
Supervision CEU Requirement (only required for Board Approved Supervisors - can be Category I or Category II):
Live Category I Supervision Webinars:
September 19, 2025 Afternoon Session (3 Category I CEUs): Advancing Supervisory Skills: Improving Emotional Intelligence for Workplace Conflict Resolution
Recorded Webinar Category II Training (3 credits):"Trauma-Informed Supervision (TIS): A Healing-Centered Approach to Enhance Supervisory Skills" *access this training anytime 24/7
Recorded Webinar Category II Training (3 credits):"Administrative Supervision Refresher Training" *access this training anytime 24/7
In addition to the above required courses, we have many other trainings to help you fulfill the rest of your required 40 CEUs (30 for LBSW). View our CE Courses page to learn more about all the trainings that we offer.
For more information about this new requirement and additional information about license renewal and continuing education for Maryland Social Workers, please review the information provided by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners at the following links:
Ready to get started? Visit our Live Webinars or Recorded Webinars pages to get started learning and earning CEs today!
Please note that Elevate Continuing Education is a continuing education provider and is a Board Authorized CE Sponsor by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners, but Elevate CE is in no way associated with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. Licensees should use the above guidelines for informational purposes and should verify their own licensing requirements directly through their licensing board.