Continuing education (CE) requirements for social workers in the Upper Midwest region—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan—show a strong emphasis on ethics and cultural competence, with notable variation in renewal cycles and mandated special topics.
Michigan, in particular, has one of the most prescriptive requirements, demanding hours in ethics, pain management, human trafficking, and implicit bias. Minnesota is the only state in this group with a specific cultural responsiveness mandate.
Here’s an up-to-date breakdown of each state.
Minnesota
Minnesota operates on a biennial (two-year) cycle and requires a significant focus on ethics and cultural responsiveness.
| Basic Requirements | Details |
| Total Hours | 40 hours every 2 years |
| Required Topics | 2 hours in social work ethics |
| 4 hours in cultural responsiveness | |
| Online/Distance | Up to 50% (20 hours) may be completed through independent learning (non-live activities) |
| What Counts | ASWB ACE-approved, NASW, accredited university coursework, board-approved providers |
| Renewal Timeline | Every 2 years, based on license issue date (varies) |
| Board Contact | Minnesota Board of Social Work mn.gov/boards/social-work/ |
Wisconsin
Wisconsin renews biennially and has a strict requirement that ethics hours must be completed in a live, synchronous format.
| Basic Requirements | Details |
| Total Hours | 30 hours every 2 years |
| Required Topics | 4 hours in ethics and professional boundaries |
| Online/Distance | Ethics hours must be completed in an interactive learning format (e.g., live webinar, in-person). |
| What Counts | ASWB ACE providers, NASW, academic coursework, and interactive workshops |
| Renewal Timeline | Every 2 years, typically ending on February 28th of odd years |
| Board Contact | Wisconsin Marriage & Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board dsps.wi.gov |
Iowa
Iowa has a straightforward biennial requirement with a minimum ethics component and an option for pro bono credit.
| Basic Requirements | Details |
| Total Hours | 27 hours every 2 years |
| Required Topics | 3 hours in ethics |
| 3 hours in supervision (required for those in independent supervisory roles) | |
| Online/Distance | Unlimited distance learning hours allowed (accepts ASWB ACE providers) |
| Special Note | May earn up to 3 hours for board-approved pro bono services to underserved populations. |
| Renewal Timeline | Every 2 years, typically ending December 31st of even years |
| Board Contact | Iowa Board of Social Work dial.iowa.gov/licenses/other-professional-licensure/social-work-licensure |
Illinois
Illinois utilizes a biennial cycle with mandatory hours in ethics, sexual harassment, cultural competence, and implicit bias, plus an alternating rotation of other special topics.
| Basic Requirements | Details |
| Total Hours | 30 hours every 2 years |
| Required Topics | 3 hours in ethics |
| 1 hour in cultural competence | |
| 1 hour in implicit bias training | |
| Special Note | Licensees must also complete 1 hour in sexual harassment prevention (required every renewal) and have rotating requirements for Alzheimer’s/Dementia and Domestic Violence every third renewal cycle. |
| Online/Distance | Up to 50% (15 hours) may be completed through self-study/independent learning. |
| Renewal Timeline | Every 2 years, ending November 30th of odd years |
| Board Contact | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/socialworker.html |
Michigan
Michigan has the longest renewal cycle (three years) and the most highly specific mandated topics.
| Basic Requirements | Details |
| Total Hours | 45 hours every 3 years |
| Required Topics | 5 hours in ethics |
| 2 hours in pain and pain symptom management | |
| 2 hours in human trafficking | |
| Implicit Bias training (1 hour per year of the license cycle, totaling 3 hours for a 3-year license) | |
| Online/Distance | One-half of the required hours (22.5 hours) must be completed in person or via live, synchronous contact. |
| What Counts | Board-approved courses, including ASWB ACE providers. |
| Renewal Timeline | Every 3 years, ending April 30th |
| Board Contact | Michigan Board of Social Work (LARA) michigan.gov/lara/ |
Quick Reference: Upper Midwest Comparison
| State | Total | Cycle | Ethics | Special | Online Limit |
| MN | 40 | 2 years | 2 hrs | 4 hrs Cultural Responsiveness | Max 50% independent learning |
| WI | 30 | 2 years | 4 hrs | Ethics must be Live/Synchronous | Ethics hours are restricted |
| IA | 27 | 2 years | 3 hrs | 3 hrs Supervision (for supervisors) | Unlimited online hours allowed |
| Illinois | 30 | 2 years | 3 hrs | 1 hr Cultural Competence, 1 hr Implicit Bias, 1 hr Sexual Harassment, plus rotating mandates | Max 50% self-study allowed |
| MI | 45 | 3 years | 5 hrs | 2 hrs Pain Mgt, 3 hrs Implicit Bias, 2 hrs Human Trafficking | Minimum 50% Live/Synchronous |
Staying Compliant: Practical Tips
- Mind the Cycle: Note the difference between the biennial (MN, WI, IA, IL) and triennial (MI) renewal cycles. Michigan’s 45 hours over three years averages 15 hours annually, while Minnesota’s 40 over two years averages 20 hours annually.
- Check the Format: Wisconsin and Michigan have explicit rules about how you take CE. In Wisconsin, your ethics course must be interactive (live). In Michigan, half your total hours must be live/synchronous. Self-paced, on-demand courses will not satisfy these live requirements.
- Prioritize Mandates: Because states like Michigan and Illinois have multiple special topic requirements, complete those first to ensure compliance before filling the remaining hours with elective content.
- Use ACE Providers: ASWB ACE-approved courses are automatically accepted in all five states, simplifying your documentation and course selection.
- Save Everything: Retain course certificates and attendance records for at least 4 years, as audits can occur at any time, especially after renewal.
Where SWTP CEUs Fits
SWTP CEUs is an ASWB ACE-approved provider (#2486) that offers self-paced, on-demand courses.
- Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois: All SWTP CE courses count toward your general hours, ethics, and required topics (if the content aligns), as these states allow self-study for these hours.
- Wisconsin & Michigan: As of this writing, SWTP CE’s current offerings are all asynchronous; they’ll count toward your self-study/on-demand hour limits.
Browse SWTP CEUs courses here to get started on your Upper Midwest state renewal. Also take a look at the low-price Unlimited CE Pass, which brings down the cost of CEs by a lot.
Note: Always check with your state for the most current rules, renewal deadlines, and approved course formats before purchasing or completing courses.