Missouri Code of State Regulations
Title 20 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE
Division 2263 - State Committee for Social Workers
Chapter 2 - Licensure Requirements
Section 20 CSR 2263-2.082 - Continuing Education

Universal Citation: 20 MO Code of State Regs 2263-2.082

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024

PURPOSE: This amendment clarifies documentation requirements for self-study.

(1) As a condition for renewing a license to practice, all licensed social workers shall be required to have completed thirty (30) clock hours of acceptable continuing professional education courses prior to the renewal of the license.

(2) As part of the thirty (30) continuing education (CE) hours required for each renewal cycle, each applicant for renewal or reinstatement of a license shall complete:

(A) Three (3) clock hours of ethics presented by a social worker who has graduated from an accredited school of social work or by a professional who has knowledge of ethics as it relates to the practice of social work;

(B) Two (2) hours of suicide assessment, referral, treatment, and management training; and

(C) Three (3) hours devoted exclusively to explicit or implicit bias, diversity, inclusion, or cultural awareness/competency/humil-ity.

(3) The committee shall have authority to make exceptions to the continuing professional education requirement for reasons of health, military service, foreign residency, or other good cause.

(4) The overriding consideration in determining whether a specific activity is acceptable is that it shall be a formal curriculum of learning which contributes directly to the advancement, extension, and enhancement of professional skills and scientific knowledge of a licensed individual.

(5) A licensee who becomes licensed during a renewal cycle shall be required to obtain continuing education at the rate computed by the following, keeping in mind that correspondence courses may not total more than fifty percent (50%) of the total hours required:

(A)

REQUIRED CEs*

ISSUE MONTH

CE HOURS NEEDED

October

29

November

28

December

26

January

25

February

24

March

23

April

21

May

20

June

19

July

18

August

16

September

15

*This chart pertains to new licensees only.

Formula: Months licensed divided by the number of months in reporting cycle multiplied by total CE hours required for renewal. Total rounded up or down to the nearest whole number: four (4) or less round down; five (5) or more round up. Example: licensed on January 1 of an odd year, reporting cycle is 24 months, 30 hours of CE required. 20 months ÷ 24 months x 30 = 24.9 which rounds up to 25. Licensee must have 25 CE hours to renew.

(6) The required continuing education hours may be satisfied through any combination of the following activities:

(A) University or college courses that the licensee successfully completes for credit. Each semester hour credit shall equal fifteen (15) hours of continuing education and each quarter-hour credit shall equal ten (10) hours. Non-credit hours shall be measured in classroom hours;

(B) A maximum of fifteen (15) hours for the completion of self-study programs (i.e., audio or video recordings, electronic, computer, or interactive materials or programs). A course completion certificate or proof of passing an exam must be submitted to receive credit;

(C) Three (3) hours for the publication of an article in a non-peer-reviewed publication;

(D) Five (5) hours for publication of an article in a peer-reviewed professional publication;

(E) Five (5) hours for the publication of one (1) chapter in a social work related professional book;

(F) Ten (10) hours for the publication of an entire book related to the practice of social work;

(G) A maximum of five (5) hours for the initial one (1)-time preparation and presentation of a social work course, seminar, or workshop during a renewal period. Credit for preparation and presentation shall not be granted for repetitious presentations;

(H) A maximum of three (3) hours during a renewal period for supervision performed for any of the following: social work applicants, impaired licensees, licensees under disciplinary sanction, or peer review of another licensee's therapy skills which includes consultation, conference, and critique; undergraduate and graduate practicum students; or specialty applicants; or

(I) Attending workshops or seminars, including live interactive webinars, approved by or sponsored by the following:
1. National Association of Social Workers (NASW);

2. Social service agency and/or organizational staff development unit (i.e., hospitals, nursing homes, residential treatment facility, etc.);

3. Professional associations in the human services including, but not limited to the-
A. American Psychological Association (APA);

B. Missouri Psychological Association (MOPA);

C. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT);

D. Missouri Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT);

E. American Counseling Association of Missouri (ACAM);

F. American Counselors Association (ACA);

G. American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA);

H. Missouri Mental Health Counseling Association (MMHCA); and

I. Missouri Society for Clinical Social Workers (MSCSW);

4. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) or its successor-Approved Continuing Education (ACE);

5. Accredited college or university; or

6. Continuing education hours used to satisfy the continuing education requirements of another state may be submitted to fulfill the requirements of this state if the other state's continuing education requirements are substantially equal to or greater than the requirements of this state.

(7) Up to ten (10) continuing education hours may be carried over into the next reporting period. Continuing education hours shall not be awarded for regular work activities, administrative staff meetings, case staffing or reporting, membership in or holding office in, or participation on boards or committees, business meetings of professional organizations, or training specifically related to policies and procedures of an agency.

(8) Continuing education activities shall-

(A) Be presented by a qualified individual who is an instructor, consultant, or trainer whose documented background, training, education, or experience is appropriate for leading a discussion on the subject matter;

(B) Specify the level of knowledge participants should have upon entering (basic, intermediate, advanced) and the educational objectives obtained upon completing the activity; and

(C) Provide a mechanism for evaluation by the participants. The evaluation may be completed on-site immediately following the activity or an evaluation questionnaire may be distributed to participants to be completed and returned by mail.

(9) With the exception of any of the previously mentioned organizations in section (6), any other organized group that wants to sponsor a workshop or seminar shall submit an application for approval at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the program. Applications shall be submitted on forms provided by the committee. The committee shall notify the sponsor in writing of approval or denial. The committee will not consider requests for approval of any program submitted after it has already been presented.

(10) Once an application for approval of a course has been granted by the committee, reapproval shall not be required for each subsequent presentation of the course so long as it has not changed. If any portion of the course has significantly changed, reapplication must be made.

(11) A licensee shall be responsible for maintaining records of continuing education activities. Each licensee shall retain documentation of the continuing education verified on the renewal form for four (4) years following license renewal. The committee may conduct audits of licensees to verify compliance with the continuing education requirements.

(12) Upon request of the committee, the licensee shall provide all documentation of completion of continuing education activities. Failure to provide the committee with the proof of compliance with the continuing education requirement when requested will be considered a violation of the practice act and shall be cause for discipline. Documentation of continuing education may consist of-

(A) Certificates or affidavits provided by the program/sponsor;

(B) Receipts for fees paid to the sponsor;

(C) Educational transcripts;

(D) Written verification from the university practicum instructor that the licensee provided supervision of undergraduate or graduate students;

(E) Copy of publication and letter from editor/publisher;

(F) A written announcement of a presentation schedule and/or brochure specifically identifying the licensee as the presenter of a course/seminar/program.

(13) Continuing education required by the committee as part of discipline imposed on a licensee shall not count toward compliance with the continuing education requirement of this rule.

*Original authority: 337.627, RSMo 1989, amended 1993, 1995, 1997, 2007.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Missouri may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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