DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Division of Professional Regulation
Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners
Proposed
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Delaware Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners is proposing to revise its rules and regulations pursuant to 29 Del.C. Chapter 101 and 24 Del.C. §3906(1). The Board is proposing changes to the following Regulations:
A public hearing will be held on the proposed Rules and Regulations on Monday, September 20, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. in the Second Floor Conference Room “A” of the Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, Delaware, 19904. If the number of persons desiring to testify at the Public Hearing is large, the amount of time allotted to each speaker will be limited.
The Board will receive and consider input in writing from any person on the proposed Rules and Regulations. Any written comments should be submitted to the Board in care of Karin Stone at the above address. The final date to submit written comments shall be at the above scheduled public hearing. Persons may view the proposed changes to the Regulations between the hours of 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Board’s office at the Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, Delaware 19904. There will be a reasonable fee charged for copies of the proposed changes.
This notice will be published in two newspapers of general circulation not less than twenty (20) days prior to the date of the hearing.
Amend Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 as follows:
7.0 Continuing Education
7.1 Required Continuing Education Hours:
7.1.1 Hours Required. All licensees must complete forty-five (45) hours of continuing education during each biennial license period. For license periods beginning January 1, 1999 2005 and thereafter, documentation, as required by Rule 5.4 7.4 of all continuing education hours must be submitted to the Board for approval by October 31 of each biennial license period.
7.1.2 Proration. At the time of the initial license renewal, some individuals will have been licensed for less than two (2) years. Therefore, for these individuals only, the continuing education hours will be prorated as follows:
License Granted During First Credit Hours
Year Of Licensing Period Required
January 1 - June 30 35 hours
July 1 - December 31 25 hours
License Granted During Second Credit Hours
Year Of Licensing Period Required
January 1 - June 30 15 hours
July 1 - December 31 5 hours
7.1.3 Hardship. A candidate for license renewal may be granted an extension of time in which to complete continuing education hours upon a showing of good cause. "Good Cause" may include, but is not limited to, disability, illness, extended absence from the jurisdiction and exceptional family responsibilities. Requests for hardship consideration must be submitted to the Board in writing prior to the end of the licensing period, along with payment of the appropriate renewal fee. No extension shall be granted for more than 120 days after the end of the licensing period. If the Board does not have sufficient time to consider and approve a request for hardship extension prior to the expiration of the license, the license will lapse upon the expiration date and be reinstated upon completion of continuing education pursuant to the hardship exception.
See 2 DE Reg 775 (11/1/98)
7.2 Definition and Scope of Continuing Education:
7.2.1 Continuing Education is defined to mean approved acceptable courses offered by colleges and universities, televised and extension internet courses, independent study courses which have a final exam or paper, workshops, seminars, conferences and lectures oriented toward the enhancement of clinical social work practice, values, skills and knowledge, including self-directed activityies and preparation of a first-time clinical course as described herein. The following types of courses are NOT acceptable for credit: business, computer, financial, administrative or practice development courses or portions of courses.
7.2.1.1 Approved Courses shall be those courses which: increase the clinical social worker (CSW)’s knowledge about, skill in diagnosing and assessing, skill in treating, and/or skill in preventing mental and emotional disorders, developmental disabilities and substance abuse; AND are instructed or presented by persons who have received specialized graduate-level training in the subject, or who have no less than two (2) years of practical application or research experience pertaining to the subject.
7.2.1.2 Mental and Emotional Disorders, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse are those disorders enumerated and described in the most current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual including, but not limited to, the V Codes and the Criteria Sets and Axes provided for further study.
7.2.1.1 The Board will accept for continuing education credit all courses designated for clinical social workers which are offered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the National Association of Social Work (NASW) and the American Psychological Association (APA) approved providers. Other courses will be evaluated for acceptability at the time they are submitted for license renewal. The Board will no longer “pre-approve” continuing education courses.
7.2.1.2 Acceptable Courses, other than those approved pursuant to Rule 5.2.1.1, shall be courses which: increase the licensed clinical social worker’s knowledge about skill in diagnosing and assessing, skill in treating, and/or skill in preventing mental and emotional disorders, developmental disabilities and substance abuse; AND are instructed or presented by persons who have received specialized graduate-level training in the subject, or who have no less than two (2) years of practical application or research experience pertaining to the subject.
7.2.1.2.1 Mental and Emotional Disorders, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse are those disorders enumerated and described in the most current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual including, but not limited to, the V Codes and the Criteria Sets and Axes provided for further study.
7.2.2 7.2.4 The Board may, upon request, review and approve credit for self-directed activities, to a maximum of 15 10 hours per biennial licensing period. A licensee must obtain pre-approval of the Board prior to undertaking the self-directed activity in order to assure continuing education credit for the activity. Any self-directed activity submitted for approval must include a written proposal outlining the scope of the activity, the number of continuing education hours requested, the anticipated completion date(s), the role of the licensee in the case of multiple participants (e.g. research) and whether any part of the self-directed activity has ever been previously approved or submitted for credit by the same licensee.
7.2.2.1 7.2.1.3 Self-Directed Activity shall include teaching, research, preparation and/or presentation of professional papers and articles, and other activities specifically approved by the Board, which may include one or more of the following. The Board shall require documentation of each activity as noted below:
7.2.2.1.1 Publication of a professional clinical social work-related book, or initial preparation/presentation of a clinical social work-related college or university course (maximum of 10 hours);
7.2.2.1.1.1 Required documentation shall be proof of publication, or syllabus of course and verification that the course was presented.
7.2.2.1.2 Publication of a professional clinical social work-related article or chapter of a book (maximum of 5 hours);
7.2.2.1.2.1 Required documentation shall be reprint of publication(s).
7.2.2.1.3 Initial preparation/presentation of a professional clinical social work-related continuing education course/program (maximum of 2 hours, in addition to number of hours actually attended at the course/program) (Will only be accepted one time for any specific program);
7.2.2.1.3.1 Required documentation shall be outline, syllabus agenda and objectives for course and verification that the course was presented.
7.2.2.1.4 One year of Field instruction of graduate students in a Council on Social Work Education-accredited school program, in a clinical setting (maximum of 2 hours);
7.2.2.1.4.1 Required documentation shall be a letter of verification from school of social work.
7.2.2.1.5 Participation in formal clinical staffings at federal, state or local social service agencies, public school systems or licensed health facilities and licensed hospitals (maximum of 5 hours);
7.2.2.1.5.1 Required documentation shall be a signed statement from the agency, school system, facility or hospital, from a supervisor other than the licensee, including date and length of staffing.
7.2.2 7.2.3 Any program submitted for continuing education hours must have been attended during the biennial licensing period for which it is submitted. Excess credits may not be carried over to the next licensing period.
7.2.3 7.2.4 An “hour” for purposes of continuing education credit shall mean 60 50 (fifty) minutes of instruction or participation in an appropriate course or program. Meals and breaks shall be excluded from credit.
7.2.5 The Board may award a maximum of 5 continuing education hours for the first-time preparation and presentation of a clinical social work course, in-service training, workshop, or seminar. A copy of the course syllabus and verification that the course was presented is required for Board approval.
7.3 Continuing Education Content Hourly Requirements:
During each biennial licensing period, licensees shall complete a minimum of thirty (30) forty-five (45) hours of continuing education. in Category I courses. The remaining fifteen (15) continuing education hours may be taken in Category II courses. At least three (3) of the 30 Category I 45 hours shall consist of courses acceptable to the Board in the area of ethics for mental health professionals.
Category I: Courses which have as their primary focus and content the assessment, diagnosis, and biopsychosocial (biological, psychological and social) treatment of mental and emotional disorders, developmental disabilities, and/or substance abuse; courses which have as their primary focus and content the ethical practice of social work.
Category II: Courses in any of the following areas which are related to and increase the CSW’s knowledge of mental and emotional disorders, developmental disabilities, and/or substance abuse
research methods and findings;
psychology and sociology;
human growth and development;
child and family constructs;
physical illness and health;
social action;
advocacy;
human creativity;
spirituality
HIV
7.4 Continuing Education Reporting and Documentation
7.4.1 Continuing Education Reporting Periods.
Licenses are valid for 2 year periods, renewing on January 31 of odd numbered years (e.g. January 31, 20015, 20037). Continuing education (CE) reporting periods run from October 31 November 1 to October 31 of the preceding two even-numbered years. (e.g. credits for the January 2001 license renewal may be obtained between October 31, 1998 and October 31, 2000). The Board will allow credits obtained between October 31 and January 31 to apply to either (but not both) of the biennial licensing periods, at the licensee’s discretion. Beginning with the January 20035 license renewal, all required continuing education shall should be completed within the previous two year October November to October period (e.g. between October 31 November 1, 20002 and October 31, 20024 for January 20035 renewal). The Board shall continue to have the discretion, however, to grant extensions of time in which to complete continuing education in cases of hardship, pursuant to 24 Del.C. §3912 and Rule 7.1.3.
7.4.2 In order to assure receipt of continuing education credits, a licensee must complete and submit the appropriate continuing education form provided by the Division of Professional Regulation no later than October 31st preceding the start of the next biennial licensing period.
7.4.3 In addition to the form, each licensee must submit the following documentation as to each course attended: a certificate of attendance or completion signed by the presenter and attesting to the number of hours the licensee attended and documentation identifying the date and location of the course. , the total number of CE hours attended and the agenda, outline or brochure describing the course. Originals or photocopies will be accepted and retained by the Board. The Board reserves its right to request additional documentation, such as copies of program materials, to verify CE compliance. Statutory Authority: 24 Del.C. §§3906(7), 3912.
7.4.4 Prior to the end of each renewal period, the Board shall conduct a random audit of licensees to verify compliance with continuing education for that renewal period. Upon request from the Board, an audited licensee will be required to submit, in addition to the documents noted above, copies of agenda, outline and brochure, for each course submitted for credit. Originals or photocopies will be accepted and retained by the Board. The Board reserves its right to request additional documentation to verify CE compliance.
7.4.5 In addition to licensees selected for random audit, the Board also may request additional supporting documentation from any licensee whose renewal materials, as required by Rules 7.4.2 and 7.4.3, raise questions as to the completion or acceptable content of the course(s).
See 2 DE Reg 1680 (6/1/00)
See 4 DE Reg 1815 (5/1/01)
See 7 DE Reg 1667 (6/1/04)
* Please Note: As the rest of the sections were not amended they are not being published. A complete set of the rules and regulations for the Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners is available at:
http://www.state.de.us/research/profreg/Frame.htm
