Criteria for Approval of Continuing Education Programs

(1) Program Content Requirements. A continuing education course or program, or an individual continuing education activity, may be approved, and may be used to satisfy the continuing education requirements set forth in 258 CMR 31.03(1), only if that course, program or activity covers: (a) Theories and concepts of human behavior in the social environment; (b) Social work practice, knowledge and skills; (c) Social work research, program evaluation, or practice evaluation; (d) Social work agency management or administration; (e) Development, evaluation and/or implementation of social policy; (f) Social work ethics and standards of professional practice; or (g) Current issues in clinical or non-clinical social work practice (e.g., diversity, aging, multi­ culturalism, new approaches to diagnosis and treatment of mental or emotional disorders, etc.) Continuing education credit will not be given for programs that do not apply directly to and "contribute to the growth of professional competence in social work practice". Programs focused on marketing skills, management or other business skills, or computer proficiency skills will not be considered acceptable, as those types of courses are intended to enhance business skills, and not social work skills. (2) Approval by Recognized Entity. A continuing education course or program, other than an individual continuing education activity approved for credit pursuant to 258 CMR 31.04(4), may be used to satisfy the continuing education requirements set forth in 258 CMR 31.03(1) only if it has been reviewed and approved by a recognized entity, as defined in 258 CMR 31.02. A continuing education course or program shall be deemed to have been approved by a recognized entity if: (a) The course or program is presented or conducted by a graduate or undergraduate social work school, program or department accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; (b) The course or program has been reviewed and approved by ASWB as an Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program; (c) The course or program has been approved for continuing education credit by a governmental agency in any other state, province, territory or political subdivision of the United States or Canada which is responsible for the licensure, certification or registration of social workers; (d) The course or program has been reviewed and approved by the National Association of Social Workers or a chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; (e) The course or program has been reviewed and approved for continuing education credit by the National Association of Black Social Workers or by a state chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers; or (f) The course or program has been reviewed and approved by any other organization which has been authorized by the Board to review and approve such courses or programs. (3) Administrative Requirements for Continuing Education Courses and Programs. A continuing education course or program, other than an individual continuing education activity approved for credit pursuant to 258 CMR 31.04(4), may be used to satisfy the continuing education requirements set forth in 258 CMR 31.03(1) only if the entity which provides or sponsors that course or program also meets the following requirements: (a) An outline of the course or program is prepared and distributed to all attendees. Said outline shall state the number of continuing education contact hours provided; (b) The course or program shall be at least 50 consecutive minutes in length; (c) The provider or sponsor of the course or program ensures that the course or program is presented by individuals who are properly qualified and competent to do so by virtue of appropriate academic training, professional licensure or certification, and/or appropriate professional experience; (d) The provider or sponsor of the course or program maintains written documentation of the qualifications of the person or persons who presented the course or program; (e) A person who is duly licensed as a social worker, psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or other licensed mental health professional, by a government agency in any other state, province, territory or political subdivision of the United States or Canada, which is responsible for the licensure, certification or registration of the above referenced licensed mental health professionals, is directly involved in the planning development and review of that course or program; (f) The provider or sponsor of the course or program establishes and maintains an accurate written record of course attendance showing the date of the program or course, the location at which the program or course was given, the name of each person who attended, and the license number of each person who attended; (g) The licensed social worker receives a certificate or other written evidence of his or her completion of that course or program only if he or she demonstrates satisfactory comprehension or understanding of the content of that course or program to the provider or sponsor of that course or program; (h) The provider or sponsor of the course or program does not issue certificates or other written evidence of completion of the course or program until the course or program is completed; (i) The provider or sponsor of the course or program provides all attendees with an opportunity to evaluate that course or program, on a written form provided for that purpose, and retains all completed written evaluation forms for a period of five years after the date on which the course or program was presented; (j) The provider or sponsor of the course or program complies with all other applicable state and federal laws including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act and any other state or federal laws relating to accessibility of such courses or programs to persons with disabilities or special needs; and (k) The provider or sponsor of the course or program has received an authorization number from a recognized entity which has reviewed the course or program and determined that the course or program meets all applicable requirements of 258 CMR 31.04. (4) Special Approval of Individual Continuing Education Activities. A licensed social worker may obtain credit toward completion of the continuing education required by 258 CMR 31.03(1) for an individual continuing education activity, as defined in 258 CMR 31.02, as long as: (a) The individual continuing education activity in question meets the program content requirements of 258 CMR 31.04(1); (b) The individual continuing education activity in question consists of a lecture, an oral presentation at a course or conference, publication of a book, publication of an article in a recognized professional journal, completion of research for such a presentation or publication, or a substantially equivalent activity as determined by the Board; (c) The licensed social worker seeking credit for the individual continuing education activity in question submits to the Board a written request for continuing education credit for that activity, accompanied by satisfactory written proof of his or her completion of that activity, at least 60 days prior to the end of the licensure period for which continuing education credit is being sought; (d) The Board determines that the individual continuing education activity in question meets all other applicable requirements of 258 CMR 31.04; and (e) The number of continuing education hours awarded to that licensed social worker for the individual continuing education activity in question does not exceed 50% of the total number of continuing education hours required for renewal of that social worker’s license. (5) Other Credits and Organizations. A licensee may receive up to 25% of continuing education credit in courses that have been approved by the following organizations AND contribute to the professional competence of the licensee. In order to be accepted for continuing education credit, the program must contribute to the growth of professional competence in social work practice. See 258 CMR 31.04(1). All licensees must receive a minimum of 75% of their continuing education credit in courses approved by a recognized entity set forth in 258 CMR 31.04(2). The Board may grant continuing education credits for educational programs sponsored by the following organizations in addition to those designated in 258 CMR 31.04(2). The Board has approved the following organizations: (a) American Psychological Association (APA); (b) National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC); (c) Board of Nursing Home Administrator's (NHA); (d) American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC); (e) Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).