Iowa Social Work CE Requirement Statutes

This information below has been obtained directly from the Iowa Board of Social Work Website and is current as of August 2024. Please visit Iowa Board of Social Work for full information and details.

Iowa Social Work 645—281.2(154C) Continuing education requirements.

281.2(1) The biennial continuing education compliance period extends for a two-year period beginning on January 1 of each odd-numbered year and ending on December 31 of the next even-numbered year. Each biennium, each person who is licensed to practice as a licensee in this state will be required to complete a minimum of 27 hours of continuing education approved by the board.

281.2(2) Requirements of new licensees. Those persons licensed for the first time during the license renewal period 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 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.

281.2(3) Requirement of supervisors. For licensure at the independent level, persons serving in a supervisory role must complete three hours of continuing education in supervision.

281.2(4) Hours of continuing education credit may be obtained by attending and participating in a continuing education activity. These hours must be in accordance with these rules.

281.2(5) No hours of continuing education will be carried over into the next biennium except as stated for the second renewal. A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation.

281.2(6) The licensee will maintain a personal file with all documentation of the continuing education credits obtained.

[ARC 8058C, IAB 6/12/24, effective 7/17/24]

645—281.3(154C,272C) Standards.

281.3(1) General criteria. A continuing education activity that meets all of the following criteria is appropriate for continuing education credit if the continuing education activity:

a.   Constitutes an organized program of learning that contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee;

b.   Pertains to subject matters that integrally relate to the practice of the profession;

c.   Is conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training and experience by reason of which said individuals should be considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program. At the time of audit, the board may request the qualifications of presenters;

d.   Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both;

e.   Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance including:

(1) Date, location, course title, presenter(s);

(2) Number of program contact hours; and

(3) Certificate of completion or evidence of successful completion of the course provided by the course sponsor; and

f.    Contains one of the following content areas:

(1) Human behavior.

1.   Theories and concepts of the development of human behavior in the life cycle of individuals, families and the social environment;

2.   Community and organizational theories;

3.   Normal, abnormal and addictive behaviors;

4.   Abuse and neglect; and

5.   Effects of culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender.

(2) Assessment and treatment.

1.   Psychosocial assessment/interview;

2.   Utilization of the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) of the American Psychiatric Association, published March 2022;

3.   Theoretical approaches and models of practice—individual, couple, and family therapy and group psychotherapy;

4.   Establishing treatment goals and monitoring progress;

5.   Techniques of social work practice; and

6.   Interdisciplinary consultation and collaboration.

(3) Social work research, program evaluation, or practice evaluation.

(4) Management, administration, and social policy.

1.   Organizational policies and procedures;

2.   Advocacy and prevention in social work practice;

3.   Management of social work staff and other personnel; and

4.   Management of social work programs.

(5) Theories and concepts of social work education.

(6) Social work ethics as they pertain to the rules of conduct.

(7) An area, as demonstrated by the licensee, that directly relates to the licensee’s individual practice as a social worker. The licensee will submit for consideration by the board a specific explanation of how the program relates to the licensee’s individual practice setting as a social worker.

281.3(2) Specific criteria. Continuing education hours of credit can be obtained by completing:

a.   A minimum of three hours per biennium in social work ethics.

b.   Academic coursework that meets the criteria set forth in the rules. Continuing education equivalents are as follows:

1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours

1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours

c.   Programs designed for the purpose of enhancing the licensee’s administrative, management or other clinical skills.

d.   Activities/programs that are sponsored or approved by:

(1) ASWB Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program; or

(2) National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Approval Program.

e.   Pro bono or volunteer work that meets the following criteria:

(1) A licensee may earn a maximum of 3 of the required 27 hours of continuing education for credit during one biennium by performing pro bono or volunteer services for indigent, underserved populations or in areas of critical need within the state of Iowa. Such services must be approved in advance by the board.

(2) A licensee will apply for prior approval of pro bono or volunteer services by sending a letter to the board indicating that the following requirements will be met:

1.   The site for these services is identified including information about the clients, the services that will be offered, how they will be performed and the learning objectives.

2.   A contract will be established between licensee and client(s), and each party will be aware that the services are being provided without charge.

3.   The services will be subject to all the legal responsibilities and obligations related to the licensee’s profession.

4.   The licensee will keep records and files of these client services pursuant to the rules of 645—Chapter 282.

5.   A representative from the site for pro bono or volunteer services must provide a letter stating that these services are to be performed by the licensee.

6.   Upon review, the licensee will receive a letter from the board indicating prior approval for these pro bono or volunteer services that will be done for continuing education credit.

7.   Following completion of such services:

● The licensee must provide the board a letter stating that the services were performed as planned.

● The representative from the site must provide a letter indicating such completion.

f.    Instruction of a course at an approved college, university or graduate school of social work. A licensee may receive credit on a one-time basis, not to exceed three hours of continuing education credit per biennium.

g.   Instruction, presentation, or moderation of continuing education programs. A licensee may receive credit on a one-time basis, not to exceed three hours of continuing education credit per biennium, for programs at which the licensee is actually in attendance for the complete program, provided the licensee receives a certificate of attendance in compliance with this rule.

h.   Authorship of professional papers, publications or books and preparation of presentations and exhibits. A presentation must be made before a professional audience. Presentations may receive credit on a one-time basis for the article, publication, book or preparation of a presentation or exhibit, not to exceed three hours of continuing education credit per biennium.

i.    Supervision of a social work practicum student(s) from an accredited social work education program. A licensee may receive one credit for every 100 hours supervised, not to exceed 6 hours of continuing education credit per biennium.

[ARC 8058C, IAB 6/12/24, effective 7/17/24]