How to Find Free Social Work CEUs for Your State
Keeping up with continuing education is an important part of maintaining your Social Work license, but the cost of CE courses can add up quickly. The good news is that there are free continuing education opportunities if you know where to look.
A free course is only helpful if your licensing board accepts the credit, since every state has its own rules about approved providers, required topics, and course formats. This guide covers how to find free Social Work CEUs, where to look for reputable opportunities, and how to make sure they count.
Did you know? Agents of Change Continuing Education offers Unlimited Access to 200+ ASWB and NBCC-approved online CE courses and 25+ Live Events per year for one annual fee to meet your state’s requirements for Continuing Education credits and level up your career.
We’ve helped more than 100,000 Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals with exam prep and Continuing Education. Learn more here about Agents of Change and claim your 7.5 free CEUs.
Quick answer: where to find free Social Work CEUs
- Know your state’s rules first: hours, required topics, online limits, and accepted providers.
- CE providers: many offer free courses, such as 7.5 free CEUs from Agents of Change.
- Professional organizations: NASW and its state chapters often offer free or member-only webinars.
- Your employer: hospitals, agencies, and schools often provide free trainings with CE credit.
- Universities and health systems: lectures, grand rounds, and community trainings.
- Always confirm the event offers CE credit and that your board accepts it.
Jump to: Know Your Requirements · Online Options · Local Opportunities · Networking · FAQs
Understand and Track Your CE Requirements for Free!
1) Know Your State’s Requirements
Before signing up for any free course, know exactly what your state requires. Check:
- How many CE hours you need and how often you renew
- Required topics, such as ethics, mandated reporting, cultural competence, or suicide prevention
- Limits on online or self-paced courses, or required live hours
- Which providers your board accepts
- Whether extra hours carry over to your next renewal
- Whether different rules apply to your first renewal
The free Agents of Change CE Requirements Tracker gives you an overview of requirements by profession, license type, and state. Knowing what you need lets you be strategic. For example, if your state requires an ethics course, five free hours on unrelated topics won’t meet that requirement. Always confirm with your board, since rules can change and the board is the final authority.
2) Online Options for Free CEUs
Instead of clicking the first search result, start with organizations that regularly train Social Workers and Mental Health Professionals.
| Where to Look | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| CE providers | Many offer free courses so you can try their content, with credits and approvals clearly listed. Agents of Change Continuing Education offers 7.5 free CEUs and free live events. |
| Professional organizations | The National Association of Social Workers offers online CE, with some webinars free for members. State NASW chapters often host free or low-cost webinars on state-specific practice issues. |
| Hospitals, universities, and agencies | Organizations like Sheppard Pratt offer free virtual CE programs, and the Council on Social Work Education offers webinars on emerging issues in Social Work. |
Remember: free training and free CE credit aren’t always the same thing. Before registering, confirm the event offers a certificate with CE credit, check the provider’s approval, and make sure your board accepts it.
3) Local Opportunities: Look Closer to Home
Some of the best options come through organizations you already know.
| Source | What They May Offer |
|---|---|
| Your employer | Hospitals, agencies, schools, and nonprofits often provide staff trainings with CE credit. Check your learning portal, professional development calendar, or staff emails before paying elsewhere. |
| Colleges and universities | Schools of Social Work, psychology, public health, and medicine host lectures, conferences, and community trainings. Alumni may get free or discounted access. |
| NASW chapters | Many offer free or discounted events for members and keep calendars of local CE programs. |
| Hospitals and health systems | Grand rounds, lectures, and trainings that may be open to community clinicians |
| Mental health and nonprofit organizations | Free trainings on topics like suicide prevention, trauma, substance use, domestic violence, and child welfare |
| Libraries and community organizations | Educational events hosted with universities, health systems, or professional groups |
Join professional email lists and check event calendars regularly, since free events are often announced only a few weeks ahead and fill quickly.
4) Networking With Other Mental Health Professionals
| Strategy | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Conferences | Presenters, attendees, and exhibitors often know about upcoming free webinars and workshops. |
| Alumni associations | Newsletters and events often share free learning opportunities. |
| Mentorship | Mentors may know of resources that aren’t widely advertised, and newer Social Workers may know newer platforms. |
| Online professional communities | Ask colleagues for recommendations in your area of interest, and share free opportunities you find. |
| Presenting | Some boards grant CE credit for presenting approved trainings. Check your board’s rules. If you’d like to present for Agents of Change, reach out here. |
5) FAQs: Finding Free Social Work Continuing Education
How can I verify that a free course counts in my state?
Check that the course clearly lists its approval, such as ASWB ACE, and the number of credits. Then check your state board’s website for accepted providers, or call the board if you’re unsure. You can also ask the provider directly about its approvals.
How do I choose courses that are relevant to my practice?
Start with your required topics, then choose courses that support your goals, such as child welfare or substance use. Read course descriptions and learning objectives, and ask colleagues for recommendations.
How can I fit CE into a busy schedule?
Work backward from your renewal deadline and spread courses across your cycle. Break requirements into small chunks, use self-paced courses during gaps in your week, and track completed hours and certificates as you go.
Can I complete all my CE hours for free?
It may be possible, but it’s often hard to cover every required topic and format for free. Free courses can significantly reduce your costs, and a membership can fill the gaps if you need many hours.
6) Conclusion
Finding free Social Work CEUs takes a little planning, but there are more options than many Social Workers realize. Check your state’s requirements, confirm CE credit is included and accepted, and use free opportunities from providers, professional organizations, employers, and local institutions to make continuing education more manageable.
Learn more about Agents of Change Continuing Education. We’ve helped more than 100,000 Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals with exam prep and Continuing Education and want to help you next!
► Learn more about Agents of Change Continuing Education here: https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/
About the Lead Instructor, Dr. Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing Continuing Education for Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals for more than 10 years. From all of this experience helping others, she created Agents of Change Continuing Education to help Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals stay up-to-date on the latest trends, research, and techniques.
Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Written by Agents of Change
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