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 Accordion Name : Continuing Education (13)
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| Continuing Education | Continuing Education Information | Please note that the information provided below is not a substitute for the Continuing Education Requirements as described in the regulations. However, the information can be used as a guide for some of the areas in the regulations. The current continuing education requirement is to complete 40 (30 for LBSW's) continuing education units (CEUs) in programs and categories approved by the Board for each two-year period of licensure. Category I credit can only be provided by Board Authorized Sponsors. The Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners accepts continuing education units offered by Association of Social Work Boards, National Association of Social Workers, and Board Authorized Sponsors. Not only must the continuing education sponsor be approved, but the content must meet the Board's continuing education regulations (COMAR 10.42.06). The objectives of the continuing education requirements include: maintenance and enhancement of professional competence, ongoing improvement of professional skills and knowledge, and enrichment of social work services provided to the citizens of Maryland.
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| Continuing Education | Board Authorized Sponsors | The following sponsors may provide training in Category I and Category II learning activities: - Recognized state, regional, national, or international social work associations
- National, regional, or state accredited academic institutions offering academic courses or programs recognized as acceptable social work curriculum subject areas by the Council on Social Work Education.
- National level non-social work professional organizations that are relevant to the professional development of social workers
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| Continuing Education | Directory of Board Authorized Sponsors | If you wish to review a list of authorized providers and/or programs, you should review the information listed on the websites for ASWB and NASW, as well as the Authorized Sponsors page on this web site. | 3 |
| Continuing Education | Home Study Programs | A licensee can earn up to 20 (15 for LBSW's) Category II continuing education units from home study programs. The home study program must be provided by a Board Authorized Sponsor (COMAR 10.42.06.04.E.07).
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| Continuing Education | Ethics Requirement | Effective November 1, 2017 all licensed social workers are required to obtain three (3) Category I or Category II continuing education units, every two years, in the content area focusing on ethics and professional conduct, including boundary issues. The program must be given by a Board Authorized Sponsor. The content area must be related to social work ethics and professional conduct which may include maintaining appropriate boundaries with clients and a review of the social work statute and Code of Ethics as it relates to conduct which is consistent with generally accepted professional standards. In addition, the content of the program may address issues related to avoiding dual relationships and the acceptance of gifts. Since many mental health professionals require their licensees to take similar ethics programs, you may be receiving notices of programs offered by their national professional associations who are approved by the Board to provide Category I continuing education units. It would be appropriate to participate in their programs.
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| Continuing Education | Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice Requirement | ANTI-OPPRESSIVE SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE REQUIREMENT Effective December 11, 2023, all licensed social workers are required to obtain three (3) Category I continuing education units in anti-oppressive social work practice content “focusing on race, culture, or equity, and include one or more of the following topics: - Cultural humility;
- Social justice;
- Racial equity;
- Implicit bias; or
- Anti-racism practices;"
The Continuing Education Learning Activities must be provided by a Board Authorized Sponsor. Reference: COMAR 10.42.06.03.A.(1)(d) | 6 |
| Continuing Education | Category I Activities | | 7 |
| Continuing Education | Credits | - At least 20 (15 for LBSW's) of the required CEUs must be earned in this Category.
- All 40 (30 for LBSW's) credit units may be earned in this Category.
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| Continuing Education | Documentation | - An official transcript for academic courses; or
- A certificate of participation on agency / organization letterhead, which is signed and dated by the authorized sponsor indicating CEUs earned.
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| Continuing Education | Category II Activities | - Approved Programs given by Board Authorized Sponsors shall last a minimum of 60 minutes or one hour on a single subject.
- In-service trainings, structured peer-case conferences, journal clubs, preparation and presentation of a scientific or professional paper at a meeting of a professional or scientific organization; authoring a professional publication; preparing and presenting Category I activities. (Refer to COMAR 10.42.06.04.E) for calculating maximum number of credit units.)
- Online learning including webinars and home-study courses provided by a Board Authorizes Sponsor.
- Peer Case Conference and Journal Club information. See page 6 of BSWE Newsletter Winter 2023.
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| Continuing Education | Credits | - Twenty (20) (15 for LBSW's) of the required 40 credit units may be earned in this category.
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| Continuing Education | Documentation | - A certificate of participation, or
- If a certificate of participation is not available: the dates when the program was presented; the name(s) of the presenter(s); topics presented; and an outline of the presentation (this could be from your notes).
- Post-test passing score for audio-visual and home study programs or a certificate of participation.
- Proof of presentation made, reprints of publications, official documentation from educational institutions when credit is claimed for the instruction of students;
- Dates, times and names of participants in structured peer-case conferences and journal club activities on agency/ organization's letterhead. (In addition. review Spring 2017 BSWE Newsletter article.)
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| Continuing Education | Other Items | - No credit can be earned for activities related to consultation or the provision of and participation in planned supervisory activities as a supervisor or supervisee.
- Social workers shall retain records documenting completion of continuing education requirements for 3 year after the licensing renewal date. The Board conducts a random audit of licenses renewed each year.
- A credit hour means 1 hour and includes the terms “contact hour”, “clock hour”, “hour “ or “continuing education credit ". If continuing education units are expressed in percentages, then .3 CEUs equals 3 credit units.
- Any program that lasts 60 minutes provides 1 continuing education credit unit.
- One academic credit is equal to 5 credit units (COMAR 10.42.06.04.C.)
- A licensed social worker may request an extension of time to complete the continuing education requirements for license renewal as outlined in COMAR 10.42.06.10, Extension of Time. Additional information on how to Request an Extension of Time may be found at Request for Extension of Time instructions.
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| Accordion Name : FAQ (12)
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| FAQ | Where do I get information about the examination? | Once the Board has approved your application to sit for the exam, ASWB will send you information about taking the exam. If you need accommodations for testing, please click on this link for more information: ESL Accommodations for testing Additional information can be found here in the ASWB Guidebook: ASWB Guidebook
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| FAQ | What happens if I fail the exam – is there a limit on how many times I can take it? | No, there is no limit; however, ASWB policy states that candidates must wait 90 days between exam attempts.
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| FAQ | Is it possible to waive the ASWB 90-day requirement for re-testing? | Yes, Maryland allows applicants to request a waiver of the 90-day waiting period if your most recent exam score was within 10 correct answers of the passing score. Please go to the following link to request a waiver from ASWB:
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| FAQ | Am I a licensed social worker in Maryland after I passed the examination required for the level of licensure I am seeking? | Congratulations on passing the exam! However, you are not a fully "licensed" social worker until the Board issues you a license number. Once you have passed the exam, go the application portal and pay the $75 license fee. Once your payment is processed, the Board will issue your license!
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| FAQ | How do I notify the Board of an address change and/ or a name change? | | 5 |
| FAQ | How do I know when to renew my license? | MD Social Workers have to renew their license every two years. The Board will email all licensees on or before September 1st of their renewal year. Please make sure your email address is up to date with the Board. Remember to regularly check your email or visit this website for renewal notices!
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| FAQ | Is there a "grace period" if I do not renew my social work license by the 31st of October? | No. If you do not renew by October 31st, your license will be in a "non-renewed" status. You will not be able to practice social work in Maryland. You will have five years to reinstate your license without submitting a new application. For information on how to apply for reinstatement, please click here: Reinstatement Online Application | 5 |
| FAQ | Do you have reciprocity with other states? If so, what other states? | No, the MD Board of Social Work Examiners does not have reciprocity with other states. However, a social worker with an active license in another jurisdiction can apply for "Licensure by Endorsement." Social Workers from other states must be licensed in Maryland to see clients in Maryland. Please see highlighted sections of regulation10.42.01 for more information on Licensure by Endorsement  10.42.01GoverningLicensure_endorsement.pdf | 8 |
| FAQ | How long do I need to keep my client/patient records? | Destruction of health medial records is regulated by COMAR Health-General 4-403 The Board recommends that at Social Worker consult with their own legal counsel and/or follow the guidelines of the agency or practice setting where they are employed. | 10 |
| FAQ | What do I need to know about the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) in relation to my social work practice? | HIPAA sets national minimum standards to protect the privacy of individually identifiable health information, covering various uses and disclosures including treatment, reimbursement, research access, and law enforcement requests. The Board advises seeking training and consultation from professional associations such as NASW for guidance on HIPAA's implications in their practice. | 11 |
| FAQ | What is the one-time Implicit Bias Training Requirement? | The Implicit Bias training mandated under Senate Bill 5/ House Bill 28 Public Health is a one time training requirement for all licensed health professionals in Maryland This legislative was effective April 1, 2022. More information can be found here: IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING REQUIREMENT.pdf | 12 |
| FAQ | The Primary Source of License Verification | Please use the following link to verify a license of a Maryland social worker: License Verification
The PRIMARY AND SOLE SOURCE to verify a Maryland social work license is by using the Board's website.
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| Accordion Name : FAQ Renewal (14)
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| FAQ Renewal | Is the online renewal secure? | Yes
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| FAQ Renewal | Do I have to have a Criminal History Record Check (CHRC)? | Yes. COMAR 10.42.01.04 A states:
“A. To obtain an initial license or a license for renewal, reactivation, reinstatement, or reissuance, an applicant shall complete a criminal history records check through the central repository. In accordance with Criminal Procedure Article, §§10-201—10-228, Annotated Code of Maryland, the central repository shall provide criminal history records information to the Board.
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| FAQ Renewal | What is the Rap Back service? | A: Per COMAR 10.42.02 B (17): "Rap (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) Back service" means a service which allows the Board to receive notifications from the Federal Bureau of Investigation on applicants and licensees who may have future criminal charges thus eliminating the need for repeated background checks on the same applicant or licensee.
By checking the Rap Back box at the end of the renewal application, you are authorizing the Board to receive such future notifications. Therefore, you will not need to be fingerprinted as each license renewal.
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| FAQ Renewal | What is the FBI Privacy Statement? | A: As an applicant who is the subject of a national fingerprint-based criminal history record check for a noncriminal justice purpose (such as an application for employment or a license, an immigration or naturalization matter, security clearance, or adoption), you must be provided with an adequate written FBI Privacy Act Statement (dated 2013 or later) and the Board must have proof that it was provided to you.
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| FAQ Renewal | What paperwork will I send in? | No, you do not send documentation for renewals. However, you have to attest to completing your Continuing Education Unit (CEU) requirements.
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