201 KAR 23:075. Continuing education

      Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Academic courses offered by an accredited postsecondary institution" means a social work course, at the graduate level:

      (a) Designated by a social work title or content; or

      (b) An academic course, at the graduate level, relevant to social work.

      (2) "Approved" means recognized by the Kentucky Board of Social Work.

      (3) "Continuing education hour" means fifty (50) clock minutes of participation in continuing educational programs.

      (4) "Program" means an organized educational experience:

      (a) Planned and evaluated to meet behavioral objectives; and

      (b) Presented in one (1) session or series.

      (5) "Provider" means a person or an organization approved by the Kentucky Board of Social Work to provide a single continuing education program.

      (6) "Relevant" means having content applicable to the practice of social work.

      (7) "Sponsor" means a person or an organization approved by the Kentucky Board of Social Work to provide more than one (1) continuing education program over the course of a year.

 

      Section 2. Accrual and Computation of Continuing Education Hours. (1) A minimum of thirty (30) continuing education hours shall be accrued by each licensed clinical social worker and certified social worker holding licensure during the three (3) year period for renewal.

      (2) A minimum of fifteen (15) continuing education hours shall be accrued by each licensed social worker holding licensure during the three (3) year period for renewal.

      (3) All continuing education hours shall be in or relevant to the licensee's level of licensure.

      (4) Three (3) of the continuing education hours during each renewal period shall be acquired in the area of the social work code of ethics as established in 201 KAR 23:080.

      (5) Licensed clinical social workers who are board approved supervisors pursuant to 201 KAR 23: 070, Section 3(1)(c)2, shall complete a board approved supervision course every licensure renewal period as part of their thirty (30) continuing education hours.

      (6) Every third renewal period, two (2) of the continuing education hours shall be on HIV/AIDS courses approved by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services pursuant to KRS 214.610.

      (7) Three (3) of the continuing education hours shall be completed in the area of domestic violence related training courses pursuant to KRS 194A.540 during the three (3) year cycle following initial licensure.

      (8) One and one-half (1.5) hours of continuing education shall be completed one (1) time every six (6) years in the area of the recognition and prevention of pediatric abusive head trauma pursuant to KRS 335.130(5).

      (9) Academic credit equivalency for continuing education hours shall be based on one (1) credit hour equals fifteen (15) continuing education hours.

 

      Section 3. Methods of Acquiring Continuing Education Hours. Continuing education hours applicable to the renewal of the license shall be directly related to the professional growth and development of the licensee. The hours may be earned by completing any of the following education programs:

      (1) Programs not requiring board review and approval. Except for courses on ethics which are provided to meet the requirements of Section 2(4) of this administrative regulation and courses for supervision under 201 KAR 23:070, Section 3(1)(c)2, an educational program from any of the following providers shall be deemed to be relevant to the practice of social work and shall be approved without further review by the board if it is:

      (a) Sponsored or approved by:

      1. The National Association of Social Workers or any of its affiliated state chapters; or

      2. The Association of Social Work Boards;

      (b) Sponsored by:

      1. Clinical Social Work Association or any of its affiliated state chapters;

      2. The American Psychological Association or any of its affiliated state chapters;

      3. The American Counseling Association or any of its affiliated state chapters;

      4. The National Board for Certified Counselors or any of its affiliated state chapters;

      5. The American Psychiatric Association or any of its affiliated state chapters; or

      6. A college, school, department, or program of social work in Kentucky which is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; or

      (c) An academic course offered by an accredited postsecondary institution directly related to social work, counseling, or psychology.

      (2) Programs requiring board review and approval. A program from any of the following sources shall be reviewed and determined if it is relevant and therefore subsequently approved by the board.

      (a) Relevant programs, including home study, distance learning or teleconference courses, and in-service training provided by other organizations, educational institutions, or other service providers approved by the board.

      1. Board approval for home study, distance learning and teleconference courses shall be obtained each year unless the program does not require board approval under subsection (1) of this section.

      2. The combined total number of hours for home study, distance learning or teleconference courses shall not exceed one-half (1/2) of the individual’s continuing education hours.

      3. Courses on the board’s code of ethics which are taken to meet the requirements of Section 2(4) of this administrative regulation and courses for supervision under 201 KAR 23:070, Section 3(1)(c)2, shall be attended in person before a live presenter, and shall not be taken through home study, distance learning or teleconference courses.

      (b) Relevant programs or academic courses presented by the licensee. A presenter of relevant programs or academic courses shall earn full continuing education credit for each contact hour of instruction, not to exceed one-half (1/2) of the continuing education renewal requirements. Credit shall not be issued for repeated instruction of the same course.

      (c) Authoring an article in a relevant, professionally recognized or juried publication. Credit shall not be granted unless an article was published within the one (1) year period immediately preceding the renewal date. A licensee shall not earn more than one-half (1/2) of the continuing education hours required for renewal under the provisions of this subsection. More than one (1) publication shall not be counted during each renewal period.

      (d) Courses on ethics required by Section 2(4) of this administrative regulation shall be submitted to the board for approval and shall not be automatically approved under Section 3(1) of this administrative regulation.

 

      Section 4. Procedures for Approval of Continuing Education Providers and Programs. (1) A program, which is offered by a provider, may be used for continuing education if approval is secured from the board for the course. In order for the board to adequately review these programs, the following information shall be submitted:

      (a) A published course outline or similar description which includes an explanation of the course objectives;

      (b) Names and qualifications of the instructors presented in the form of curriculum vitas or resumes;

      (c) Copies of the evaluation sheet or instrument by which the attendees can comment on the program, and the program agenda indicating hours of education, including all breaks;

      (d) Number of continuing education hours requested and a statement whether the provider is requesting course approval to meet the requirements of Section 2(4) of this administrative regulation;

      (e) Official certificate of completion or college transcript from the sponsoring agency or college; and

      (f) A completed Provider Application for Continuing Education Credit Approval form.

      (2) The board may approve a specific continuing education program if the provider of the program:

      (a) Files a written request for approval;

      (b) Pays an application fee of $100 for each one day program of eight (8) hours or less; and

      (c) Provides information about each continuing education program that it proposes to present which meets the requirements established in subsection (1) of this section.

      (3) The approval of a program pursuant to this section shall permit the provider to offer the program for one (1) year.

      (4) The provider shall submit a request for renewal and a fifty (50) dollar renewal fee for each subsequent request to offer the same approved program.

 

      Section 5. Procedures for Preapproval of Continuing Education Sponsors and Programs. (1) Sponsor approval. Any sponsor seeking to obtain approval of a continuing education program prior to its offering shall:

      (a) Apply to the board at least thirty (30) days in advance of the commencement of the program, and shall provide the information required in Section 4(1) of this administrative regulation; and

      (b) Provide proof to the board that the sponsor seeking this status:

      1. Consistently offers programs which meet or exceed all the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this section; and

      2. Does not exclude any licensee from its programs.

      (2) A continuing education program shall be qualified for approval if the board determines that the program being presented:

      (a) Is relevant to the practice of social work;

      (b) Contributes to the professional competency of the licensee; and

      (c) Has competent instructors with appropriate academic training, professional license or certification, or professionally recognized experience.

      (3) The sponsor shall specify whether it is requesting course approval to meet the requirements of Section 2(4) of this administrative regulation.

      (4)(a) The board may approve an organization that is not listed in Section 3(1) of this administrative regulation as a sponsor of continuing education for a twelve (12) month period if the organization:

      1. Files a written request for approval by submitting the Sponsorship Application for Continuing Education Credit Approval form;

      2. Pays an initial application fee of $250; and

      3. Proposes to sponsor continuing education programs that meet the requirements established in Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

      (b) The board shall periodically review the programs that a sponsor has provided to determine if the sponsor continues to meet the requirements of this administrative regulation.

      (c) An approved sponsor shall submit an annual report of the continuing education programs offered during that year.

      (d) A sponsor that is approved pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection may request renewal of its approval for subsequent years by filing a 150 renewal fee annually and notifying the board that the original information required in this section remains current.

 

      Section 6. (1) A licensee or a certificate holder may request an individual review of a continuing education program that was otherwise not approved if it was completed during the appropriate time period if the individual has:

      (a) Made a timely request by applying for individual review by submitting the Individual Application for Continuing Education Credit Approval form; and

      (b) Paid a fee of ten (10) dollars.

      (2) The review shall be based on the standards for continuing education established by this administrative regulation.

      (3) Approval by the board of a continuing education program under this section shall:

      (a) Qualify as if it has been obtained from an approved provider; and

      (b) Be limited to the particular offering upon which the request for individual review is based.

 

      Section 7. Responsibilities and Reporting Requirements of Licensees. Each licensee shall be responsible for obtaining required continuing education hours. The licensee shall identify his or her own continuing education needs, take the initiative in seeking continuing professional education activities to meet these needs, and seek ways to integrate new knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Each person holding licensure shall:

      (1) Select approved programs by which to earn continuing education hours;

      (2) Submit to the board, if applicable, a request for continuing education programs requiring approval by the board as established in Section 4 of this administrative regulation;

      (3) Maintain the licensee's own records of continuing education hours;

      (4) At the time of renewal, list the continuing education hours obtained during that licensure renewal period;

      (5) Furnish documentation of attendance and participation in the appropriate number of continuing education hours at the time of his or her renewal, as follows:

      (a) Each person holding licensure shall maintain, for a period of one (1) year from the date of renewal, all documentation verifying successful completion of continuing education hours;

      (b) In each calendar year, up to fifteen (15) percent of all licensees shall be required by the board to furnish documentation of the completion of the appropriate number of continuing education hours for the current renewal period;

      (c) Verification of continuing education hours shall not otherwise be reported to the board;

      (d) Documentation shall take the form of official documents including:

      1. Transcripts;

      2. Certificates;

      3. Affidavits signed by instructors; or

      4. Receipts for fees paid to the sponsor; and

      (e) Each licensee shall retain copies of his or her documentation.

 

      Section 8. Responsibilities and Reporting Requirements of Providers and Sponsors. (1) Providers of continuing education not requiring board approval shall be responsible for providing documentation, as established in Section 7(5) of this administrative regulation, directly to the licensee.

      (2) Sponsors of continuing education requiring board approval shall be responsible for submitting a course offering to the board for review and approval before listing or advertising that offering as approved by the board.

 

      Section 9. Board to Approve Continuing Education Hours; Appeal if Approval Denied. If an application for approval of continuing education hours is denied, in whole or part, a licensee or a provider may request reconsideration by the board of its decision. The request shall be in writing and shall be received by the board within thirty (30) days after the date of the board’s decision denying approval of continuing education hours.

 

      Section 10. Waiver or Extensions of Continuing Education. (1) The board may, in individual cases involving medical disability, illness, or undue hardship as determined by the board, grant waivers of the minimum continuing education requirements or extensions of time within which to fulfill the requirements or make the required reports.

      (2) A written request for waiver or extension of time involving medical disability or illness shall be submitted by the person holding licensure and shall be accompanied by a verifying document signed by a licensed physician.

      (3) Waivers of the minimum continuing education requirements or extensions of time within which to fulfill the continuing education requirements may be granted by the board for a period of time not to exceed one (1) calendar year.

      (4) If the medical disability or illness upon which a waiver or extension has been granted continues beyond the period of the waiver or extension, the person holding licensure shall reapply for the waiver or extension.

 

      Section 11. Continuing Education Requirements for Reinstatement or Reactivation of Licensure. (1) A person requesting reinstatement or reactivation of licensure shall submit evidence of thirty (30) hours of continuing education within the thirty-six (36) month period immediately preceding the date on which the request for reinstatement or reactivation is submitted to the board.

      (2) The person may request, and the board, at its discretion, may reinstate the licensure, with the provision that the person shall receive thirty (30) hours of continuing education within six (6) months of the date on which the licensure is reinstated.

      (3) The continuing education hours received in compliance with this section shall be in addition to the continuing education requirements established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation and shall not be used to comply with the requirements of that section.

 

      Section 12. Incorporation by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

      (a) "Provider Application for Continuing Education Credit Approval", 10/2010;

      (b) "Sponsorship Application for Continuing Education Credit Approval", 10/2010; and

      (c) "Individual Application for Continuing Education Credit Approval", 10/2010.

      (2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at Kentucky Board of Licensure for Social Work, 44 Fountain Place, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (26 Ky.R. 277; Am. 720; eff. 10-20-1999; 29 Ky.R. 505; 981; eff. 10-16-2002; 36 Ky.R. 635; 1195; eff. 1-4-2010; 37 Ky.R. 1335; 1692; 1974; eff. 3-4-2011; 38 Ky.R. 818; eff. 12-7-2011.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 335.130(4)

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 335.070(3), (6), 335.130

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 335.130(4) allows the board to require continuing education as a condition of license renewal. This administrative regulation delineates the requirements for continuing education and prescribes methods and standards for the accreditation of continuing education courses.