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).
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.
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.
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 including 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)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.
Category I Activities
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.
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.)