South Carolina Social Workers: Suicide Prevention CE Requirement
Frequently Asked Questions
Stay compliant. Strengthen your clinical skills. Help save lives.
South Carolina social workers are required to complete continuing education in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as part of their license renewal requirements.
This requirement applies to SC LBSW, SC LMSW, SC LISW, SC LISW-CP.
Spring Advisory's 2CE Suicide Prevention Continuing Education Course provides an opportunity to meet South Carolina Social Worker's license renewal requirement while strengthening your knowledge and confidence in recognizing, assessing, and responding to suicide risk.
1. Are South Carolina social workers required to complete suicide prevention continuing education?
Yes. South Carolina law and the State Board of Social Work Examiners’ continuing education regulations require licensed social workers to complete at least one contact hour in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as part of their continuing education requirements.
This requirement is included in Regulation 110-1 and applies to the biennial license renewal cycle.
2. How many continuing education hours do South Carolina social workers need?
South Carolina social workers must complete a minimum of 40 contact hours of accepted professional continuing education during each biennial renewal period.
Of those 40 hours, at least:
At least 1 contact hour must address suicide assessment, treatment, and management.
The remaining hours must meet the Board’s continuing education requirements.
Spring Advisory's 2CE suicide prevention course can help you fulfill the license renewal required suicide-specific education component.
While the requirement is minimum 1 hour of suicide prevention CE training, our course is a comprehensive 2-hour training which will help fulfill your overall 40-hour requirement much faster.
3. Does the suicide prevention course count toward my 40 CE hours?
Yes, provided the course meets the South Carolina Board’s continuing education acceptance and approval requirements. See point 5 below.
The required suicide prevention hour is included within the 40-hour total. It is not an additional hour on top of the 40 hours.
4. Can I complete my suicide prevention continuing education online?
South Carolina law specifically permits the required suicide assessment, treatment, and management continuing education hour to be completed virtually.
This means social workers may fulfill this requirement through qualifying virtual educational programs.
5. What topics should a qualifying suicide prevention course cover?
The South Carolina requirement identifies suicide assessment, treatment, and management as the subject matter.
Relevant educational topics may include:
Recognizing suicide warning signs and risk factors.
Identifying individuals who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Conducting suicide risk assessments.
Understanding protective factors.
Developing appropriate safety plans.
Implementing suicide intervention strategies.
Understanding treatment considerations and ongoing management.
Identifying appropriate referrals and support resources.
Understanding professional responsibilities when working with clients at risk of suicide.
Spring Advisory's 2CE course is designed to help social workers build practical knowledge in suicide prevention and intervention.
6. Does this requirement apply to LMSWs and LISWs?
YES. The requirement applies to individuals licensed under the South Carolina Social Work Practice Act who are subject to the Board’s continuing education requirements.
This includes applicable licensed social work credentials, such as:
Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
Licensed Independent Social Worker–Clinical Practice (LISW-CP)
Social workers should consult the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners for requirements specific to their license and renewal status. See the Continuing Education rule here.
(Statutory Authority: 1976 Code §§ 40–1–70, 40–63–10, and 40–63–70)
7. Is the suicide prevention hour separate from my other continuing education?
No. The suicide prevention hour is part of your required 40 contact hours.
For example:
Continuing Education Category | Required Hours |
General professional continuing education | 39 |
Suicide assessment, treatment, and management | 1 |
Total | 40 |
You do not need 41 hours to satisfy the minimum requirement.
8. What happens if I do not complete the required suicide prevention hour?
Completion of the required suicide prevention continuing education is part of the Board’s biennial license renewal requirements.
Failing to meet continuing education requirements may affect your ability to renew your license.
Social workers are responsible for ensuring that their continuing education meets the Board’s requirements before submitting their renewal documentation.
9. Why is suicide prevention training important for social workers?
Social workers frequently serve individuals and families experiencing mental health challenges, trauma, substance use concerns, grief, crisis situations, and other circumstances that may increase suicide risk.
Suicide prevention education helps social workers:
Recognize potential warning signs.
Identify and assess suicide risk.
Respond appropriately to clients experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Develop intervention and safety strategies.
Make informed referrals.
Strengthen professional competence and ethical practice.
Beyond fulfilling a licensing requirement, this education can help strengthen your ability to respond when a client needs support.
10. How do I know if this course meets South Carolina’s requirements?
South Carolina Regulation 110-1 Board’s established guidelines states: "Approved Provider of Continuing Education" means an individual, group, professional association, school, institution, organization, or agency approved by the board to conduct educational program(s).
Spring Advisory's 2CE Suirice Prevention course is approved and meet the standards of ASWB, Accepted Continuing Education standards, which is widely accepted CE credits for social workers.
11. Will I receive a certificate of completion?
Yes. Upon successfully completing the course, you must pass an exam and score 80% or higher, you will receive a certificate by email, documenting your participation and the number of continuing education contact hours awarded.
We recommend keeping your certificate and continuing education records for your professional documentation.
12. When should I complete my suicide prevention continuing education?
You should complete the required suicide prevention hour during your current biennial renewal period. (before December 31, 2026)
Rather than waiting until your license renewal deadline approaches, consider completing this requirement early.
This gives you time to address any remaining continuing education needs and maintain documentation of your completed training.
Complete Your Required Suicide Prevention CE Today
One required topic. Important professional knowledge. A meaningful opportunity to make a difference.
South Carolina social workers have a professional responsibility to maintain competency and stay informed about effective approaches to suicide assessment, treatment, and management.
Spring Advisory's Suicide Prevention 2 CE Course makes it convenient to complete this important educational requirement while developing knowledge you can apply in professional practice.
Don’t wait until your license renewal deadline. Complete your suicide prevention education today.
