Keeping with the University of Kentucky and College of Social Work’s mission of education and service, the Office of Professional Development and Continuing Education (OPDCE) provides life-long learning opportunities for social workers and other helping professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills and meet state licensing requirements. OPDCE provides high quality, relevant, and evidence-based programming that will enhance practitioners’ clinical and non-clinical skills.

OPDCE programming is guided by regulations and protocols promulgated by the Kentucky Board of Social Work, the Kentucky Board of Psychology Examiners, the Kentucky Board of Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselors, the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board, the American Association of State Social Work Boards and the Continuing Education Unit Guidelines set forth by the Commission on Colleges and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

OPDCE courses offer social workers and other helping professionals cutting-edge, evidence-based information on topics such as:

  • mental health services and interventions
  • substance abuse
  • domestic violence
  • child maltreatment
  • leadership and management
  • HIV/AIDS
  • military and veteran populations
  • clinical supervision
  • ethics

OPDCE has a variety of online, in person, and live virtual CE courses available, including:

  • Online CE Courses (complete at your own pace)
  • Live Virtual Courses (instructor-led via Zoom)
  • In-Person Courses (instructor-led in Lexington)

If you have questions about Kentucky’s continuing education requirements, please visit the Kentucky Board of Social Work website.

If you have questions about our available courses, please contact Christopher Dennison at christopher.dennison@uky.edu.