|
 Accordion Name : Continuing Education (12)
|
| 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 con tinuing 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. | 1 |
| 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
| 2 |
| 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).
| 4 |
| 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.
| 5 |
| Continuing Education | Category I Activities | | 6 |
| 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.
| 7 |
| 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.
| 8 |
| 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.
| 9 |
| Continuing Education | Credits | - Twenty (20) (15 for LBSW's) of the required 40 credit units may be earned in this category.
| 10 |
| 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.)
| 11 |
| 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.
| 12 |
| Accordion Name : FAQ (12)
|
| FAQ | Where do I get information about the examination? | The best place to obtain information regarding examinations, test centers or special accommodations for the disabled is the Association of Social Work Boards.
| 1 |
| FAQ | How do I notify the Board of an address change and/ or a name change? | You can update your address by going to the Change of Address form in this website and submitting your address change electronically. Or you can submit the change in writing, include name, license number, the old and new address. When requesting a name change, a social worker must submit a copy of a legal document showing the name change. The address or name change may be submitted by mail or fax.
| 2 |
| FAQ | Whose responsibility it is if I do not receive my renewal form in the mail? | It is the licensee's responsibly to renew his/her license every two years. If you do not receive your renewal notice by September 1, it is the licensee’s responsibility to renew online or to contact the Board in order to obtain a renewal form. It is the Board's responsibility to mail the renewal notice to you; however, it is not the Board's responsibility to ensure that you receive your renewal notice. It is your responsibility to ensure that you receive your renewal notice and renew your license before your current license expires.
| 3 |
| FAQ | Is there a limit on how many times a candidate for licensure can take the licensing examination? | No. There is no limit on the number of times the licensing examination can be taken. However, a candidate must wait 90 days before retaking the examination.
| 4 |
| FAQ | Is there a "grace period" if I do not renew my social work license by the 31st of October? | No. On and after November 1st, you will be required to reinstate your license.
| 5 |
| FAQ | How do I get additional information about the different committees? | Call the Board office at (410) 764-4788 for additional information about committees.
| 6 |
| FAQ | What are the educational requirements for each of the different licensing levels? | There are four different levels of licensure and each of them are described in details in the licensing section. If you need further information please contact the board.
| 7 |
| FAQ | Do you have reciprocity with other states? If so, what other states? | No, the Board of Social Work Examiners does not have reciprocity with any other states. The Board, however, will accept the exam results of persons from other states who have sat for and passed the national social work examination given through the Association of Social Work Boards.
| 8 |
| FAQ | Am I a licensed social worker in Maryland after I passed the examination required for the level of licensure I am seeking? | No. An individual is not a licensed social worker until the Board of Social Work Examiners has issued a license to the individual.
| 9 |
| FAQ | How long do I need to keep my client/patient records? | Destruction of medial records is regulated by COMAR Health-General 4-403 and it reads: “Except for a minor patient…5 years after the record or report is made” and “in the case of a minor patient, a medical record……about the minor patient may not be destroyed until the patient attains the age of majority plus 3 years or for 5 years after the record or report is made, whichever is later unless…” The Board recommends that social workers in private or independent practice obtain a copy of this regulation, review it and consult an attorney if they have any questions. For social workers in agency settings, it is recommended that they follow the guidelines the agency has established based on this regulation and any other regulations which may dictate how long a client file needs to be retained. You can obtain copies of statutes and regulations over the internet at COMAR Health-General 4-403 | 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 establishes national minimum standards to protect the privacy of individually identifiable information. The HIPAA standards address the many varied uses and disclosures of health information and apply not only to functions relating to treating patients and reimbursing health care providers, but also to activities that range from when health information should be available for research without authorization to whether a provider may release health information about a patient for law enforcement purposes. The Board cannot provide advice in this area to individual social workers as to the implications of HIPAA in their practice. The Board recommends that social workers seek out training opportunities and perhaps contact their professional associations. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
| 11 |
| FAQ | What are Implicit Bias Training Requirements? | Implicit Bias Training Requirements under Senate Bill 5/ House Bill 28 Public Health - Implicit Bias Training and the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities explains the CEU requirements and how to acknowledge that the requirements have been met. See document for details - Implicit Bias Training Requirements | 12 |
| Accordion Name : FAQ Renewal (14)
|
| FAQ Renewal | Is the online renewal secure? | Yes
| 1 |
| 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.
| 1 |
| 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.
| 1 |
| 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.
| 1 |
| FAQ Renewal | What paperwork will I send in? | When you renew online, no paperwork is required. You will attest electronically that you have completed your continuing education (CEU ) requirement.
| 2 |
| FAQ Renewal | Section 2 questions #1 through #5 of Renewal Application? | Please provide a written explanation to all questions marked with a yes. Questions # 4 & # 5 require the social worker to submit a certified copy of the police/court record and the final disposition.
Please mail the following to the Director of Licensing & Certification:
- A signed copy of the online renewal application or the renewal application
- The renewal fee
- CEU report form
- Fee with the legal documentation.
| 3 |
