Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024
(1)
The biennial license renewal period for a license to practice social work will
begin on January 1 of odd-numbered years and end on December 31 of the next
even-numbered year. Every licensee will renew on a biennial basis. The licensee
is responsible for renewing the license prior to its expiration. Failure of the
licensee to receive notice does not relieve the licensee of the responsibility
for renewing the license.
(2)
Renewal procedures.
a. A licensee seeking
renewal will:
(1) Meet the continuing
education requirements of rule 481-896.2(154C) and the mandatory reporting
requirements of subrule 895.7(3); and
(2) Submit the completed renewal application
and renewal fee before the license expiration date.
b. Those persons licensed for the first time
will not be required to complete continuing education as a prerequisite for the
first renewal of their licenses. Continuing education hours acquired anytime
from the initial licensing until the second license renewal may be used. The
new licensee will be required to complete a minimum of 27 hours of continuing
education per biennium for each subsequent license renewal.
c. Persons licensed to practice social work
shall keep their renewal licenses displayed in a conspicuous public place at
the primary site of practice.
d.
Failure to receive the notice of renewal will not relieve the licensee of the
responsibility for submitting the required materials and the renewal fee to the
board office 30 days before license expiration.
e. A social worker whose Iowa license is
delinquent, closed, retired, voluntarily surrendered, suspended, or revoked
cannot advance to a higher level until the license is again active.
(3) Mandatory reporting of child
abuse and dependent adult abuse.
a. Effective
July 1, 2019, a licensee who regularly examines, attends, counsels or treats
children in Iowa will complete an initial two-hour child abuse mandatory
reporter training course offered by the department of health and human services
within six months of employment, or prior to the expiration of a current
certificate. Thereafter, all mandatory reporters will take a one-hour
recertification training every three years, prior to the expiration of a
current certificate.
b. Effective
July 1, 2019, a licensee who regularly examines, attends, counsels or treats
adults in Iowa will complete an initial two-hour dependent adult abuse
mandatory reporter training course offered by the department of health and
human services within six months of employment, or prior to the expiration of a
current certificate. Thereafter, all mandatory reporters will take a one-hour
recertification training every three years, prior to the expiration of a
current certificate.
c. The
requirement for mandatory reporter training for identifying and reporting child
and dependent adult abuse will be suspended if the board determines that
suspension is in the public interest or that a person at the time of license
renewal:
(1) Is engaged in active duty in the
military service of this state or the United States.
(2) Holds a current waiver by the board based
on evidence of significant hardship in complying with training requirements,
including waiver of continuing education requirements or extension of time in
which to fulfill requirements due to a physical or mental disability or illness
as identified in 481-Chapter 895.
d. The board may select licensees for audit
of compliance with the requirements in paragraphs 895.7(3)"a"
and "b."
(4) Late renewal. To renew a late license,
the licensee will complete the renewal requirements and submit the late fee
within the grace period.
(5)
Inactive license. A licensee who fails to renew the license by the end of the
grace period has an inactive license. A licensee whose license is inactive
continues to hold the privilege of licensure in Iowa, but may not practice as a
social worker in Iowa until the license is reactivated. A licensee who
practices as a social worker in the state of Iowa with an inactive license may
be subject to disciplinary action by the board, injunctive action pursuant to
Iowa Code section 147.83, criminal sanctions
pursuant to Iowa Code section
147.86, and other available
legal remedies.
(6) Upon receiving
the information required by this rule and the required fee, board staff will
administratively issue a two-year license. In the event the board receives
adverse information on the renewal application, the board will issue the
renewal license but may refer the adverse information for further consideration
or disciplinary investigation.
