LCSW Renewal in Texas: Fees, 30 CE Hours, and Jurisprudence Exam

To complete an LCSW renewal in Texas, you pay $141 to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council every two years, finish 30 hours of continuing education, pass the Texas Jurisprudence Exam, and complete an approved human trafficking prevention course.¹ The renewal window opens 60 days before your expiration date, and a license left unrenewed for a full year expires permanently.²

What It Costs

The base renewal fee is $108.³ Texas.gov and online payment processing surcharges bring the total to $141 at checkout.¹ Payment goes through the BHEC online licensing portal by credit card or electronic check.

Renewing late costs more. If your license has been expired 90 days or less, the late fee is 1.5 times the base fee, plus platform charges. Between 90 days and one year, it doubles to twice the base fee.³ A renewal submitted seven months late can run around $250 or more once surcharges are added.

The 30 Continuing Education Hours

Each two-year cycle requires 30 CE hours. Within those hours:

At least 6 hours in ethics, including study of the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners Act and Board rules.
At least 3 hours building competency serving a distinct population, defined as any group sharing a common attribute or characteristic of your choosing.
The remaining 21 hours in any topic relevant to social work practice.¹⁴

Coursework must come from a Board-approved provider or otherwise meet the criteria in 22 TAC §781.501. Keep every completion certificate. You typically won’t upload them at renewal, but the BHEC can audit you and expect documentation immediately.

Passing the jurisprudence exam during the renewal period counts as one hour of ethics credit toward the 30-hour requirement.⁵

Jurisprudence Exam and Human Trafficking Training

Two requirements sit outside the 30 CE hours and must be completed fresh every cycle.

The Texas Jurisprudence Exam covers state social work laws and Board rules. You take it through the BHEC regulatory website and must earn a passing score during your current renewal period. A prior score does not carry over.

Under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 116, health care practitioners including social workers must complete a human trafficking prevention course before each renewal.⁶ The course must appear on the list approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Keep both certificates with your renewal records.

How to Renew Online

The renewal window opens 60 days before your expiration date.² Before you log in, have your license number, Social Security number, BHEC portal credentials, CE completion certificates, jurisprudence exam score, and human trafficking training certificate ready.

The portal address is vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov.⁷ After logging in, select the renewal link for your LCSW license. The system asks you to enter your completed CE hours and confirm you’ve passed the jurisprudence exam and finished the trafficking course. You then sign an electronic attestation that your information is truthful and pay the fee. Save the receipt. The BHEC’s public license verification tool usually reflects the updated expiration date within a few business days.

Missing the Deadline

A license not renewed by its expiration date becomes delinquent, and you lose the legal authority to practice clinical social work or hold yourself out as an LCSW. You can still renew within one year by paying the late fees above and completing any outstanding CE.²

After one full year, the license expires entirely. Late renewal is no longer available, and you must reapply for licensure from scratch under current application requirements.²

Practicing on an expired license carries consequences beyond fees. Under Texas Occupations Code §505.507, knowingly acting as a social worker without a valid license is a Class A misdemeanor. The state can pursue civil penalties of $50 to $500 for each day of violation, and the Board can impose administrative penalties of $50 to $5,000 per violation. Falsely reporting completed CE is a separate disciplinary matter.⁸

Inactive Status if You’re Not Practicing

If you’re not currently practicing and don’t want to keep up with CE, the BHEC lets you move your license to inactive status. You cannot practice or represent yourself as an LCSW while inactive, but the license stays on file and avoids permanent expiration. Your license must be current to request inactive status; if it’s already delinquent, complete the renewal first.⁹ An inactive-status fee applies through the online portal. Reactivating later requires meeting the CE requirements in effect at that time.

Military Service Members and Spouses

Texas gives military service members up to two additional years to complete continuing education and other renewal requirements. If you were on active duty when your renewal came due, the BHEC will not charge a late-renewal surcharge. These accommodations apply to active-duty members, veterans, and military spouses.¹⁰

1
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Renewing a Social Work License
2
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Renewing a License
3
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council Fee Schedule
4
Legal Information Institute. 22 Texas Code 781.501 – Requirements for Continuing Education
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Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Rule 781.501 – Requirements for Continuing Education
6
Justia. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 116 – Training Course on Human Trafficking Prevention
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Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Apply or Renew Online (Online Licensing System)
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Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Rules – Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council
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Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. How to Request Your License be Moved to Inactive Status
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Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Military Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses