Maryland accepts Elevate CE's credits for social workers.
Elevate Continuing Education is an Authorized Sponsor through the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. In addition, the Maryland BSWE accepts ASWB approved courses on their list of authorized sponsors. View the list of authorized sponsors here: https://health.maryland.gov/bswe/Documents/CEU/List-of-Sponsors.pdf
Elevate Continuing Education, #1816, formerly Maryland CEU Institute is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program.
Maryland Social Work Continuing Education Requirements
2024 License Renewal Information
Renewal Deadline: October 31, 2024
Renewal Frequency: Every 2 years on October 31 depending on initial licensure year.
NEW 2024 License Renewal CE Requirement for Maryland Social Workers:
3 Category I CEUs must cover anti-oppressive social work practice
Accepted Topics include:
Cultural humility
Social justice
Racial equity
Implicit bias
Anti-racism practices
For details, view the full regulation here
This new requirement is effective December 11, 2023, and starts with the October 31, 2024, license renewal period.
Elevate CE is offering a Cultural Humility 3 Category I (Live Webinar) CEU training which fulfills the new requirement. Visit our Live Webinars page to learn more and register.
How many CEs do Maryland social workers need for renewal?
Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical (LCSW-C): 40 CEUs
Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW): 40 CEUs
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): 40 CEUs
Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW): 30 CEUs
SPECIAL TOPIC REQUIREMENTS (required for all licensure levels):
3.0 Ethics CEUs (can be Category I or Category II):
3.0 Anti-Oppressive Social Work CEUs (must be Category I):
3.0 Supervision CEUs - for Board Approved Supervisors ONLY (can be Category I or Category II)
Can I take my CEs from Elevate CE?
YES! We offer CEs that fulfill all of the required courses for Maryland Social Workers. Our organization is a Board Authorized Sponsor through the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. We offer Category I and Category II courses. See below for more information.
What is the difference between Category I and Category II CEUs for Maryland Social Workers?
The main difference between Category I and Category II CEUs is that Category I CEUs are live real-time interactive transactions between presenters, trainers, and social workers (including face-to-face and interactive technology). Category I CEUs must be provided by Board Authorized Sponsors.
Category II CEUs can be fulfilled through self-study trainings and other non-interactive activities. We have written an article which goes into greater detail on the difference between Category I and Category II CEUs for Maryland Social Workers.
What type of CE credits does Elevate CE offer Maryland Social Workers?
Elevate CE provides both Category I and Category II CEUs valid for Maryland Social Workers. Our Category I courses (Live Webinars) are Live,Real-Time, Interactive Online Trainings (Synchronous Training). We also offer Category II trainings (Recorded Webinars) which are pre-recorded self-study courses (Asynchronous Training).
Elevate Continuing Education is a Board Authorized Sponsor through the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners and is an ASWB ACE provider which furthers our designation as a Board Authorized Sponsor.
How many of the required renewal credits for Maryland Social Workers must be Category I vs. Category II?
Maryland Social Workers must complete at least 20 credits (15 for LBSW) as Category 1 (Live Interactive Synchronous Style Learning) but may complete all 40 in this way. Maryland Social Workers may complete 20 (15 for LBSW) credits per renewal cycle as Category II (pre-recorded asynchronous). In addition, Maryland Social Workers may complete their Ethics requirement (3 Hours) and/or their Supervisor renewal requirement (3 Hours - only required for Board Approved Supervisors) as Category II CEUs.
Can Maryland Social Workers complete their Ethics Requirement as Category II CEUs?
YES - Maryland Social Workers can complete their 3 Ethics CEUs as Category II CEUs! This new rule allowing for Category II Ethics CEUs became effective November 1, 2017 and more information can be found in the statues below or on the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners website.
View our Recorded Webinars page to see our Category II Ethics courses.
Can Maryland Social Workers who are approved supervisors complete their 3 Hour Supervisor Requirement as Category II CEUs?
YES - Maryland Social Workers who are board approved supervisors can complete their 3 supervision CEUs for renewal as Category II CEUs!
View our Recorded Webinars page to see our Category II supervision courses.
Maryland Social Work CE Requirement Statutes
The below information below has been obtained directly from the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners website and is current as of August 2024. Please visit the Maryland BSWE website and/or the MD BSWE CE Requirements for more information.
10.42.06 - Section 03 Continuing Education Requirements.
A. The Board shall renew a license for an additional 2-year period if the social worker: (1) Completes 40 (30 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) continuing education units within the renewal period, of which a minimum of: (a) 20 (15 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) continuing education units shall be obtained from approved programs which are Category I; (b) 3 of the required Category I or Category II continuing education units shall have a content area focusing on ethics and professional conduct, including boundary issues, or pertaining to the standards of practice and laws governing the profession of social work in Maryland; (c) For registered and Board-approved supervisors, 3 of the required Category I or Category II continuing education units shall have a content area focusing on supervision as stipulated in COMAR 10.42.08.04B(3); and (d) 3 of the required Category I continuing education units shall have anti-oppressive social work practice content focusing on race, culture, or equity, and include one or more of the following topics: (i) Cultural humility; (ii) Social justice; (iii) Racial equity; (iv) Implicit bias; or (v) Anti-racism practices; (2) Submits an application as set forth in COMAR 10.42.01 attesting to completion of the required continuing education units in approved programs; and (3) Completes the required continuing education units within a 2-year period as set forth in §B of this regulation. B. Time Frame. (1) Renewed licenses are valid for a 2-year period from November 1 through and including October 31, during which time continuing education units may be earned. (2) Continuing education units obtained in one renewal period may not be carried over to the next renewal period. .04 Continuing Education Learning Activities. 3 A. The social worker shall complete continuing education units relating to the practice of social work that foster improvement, advancement, and extension of the social worker's professional skill, knowledge, and competence. B. Documentation shall be provided for the continuing education units listed in §§C—F of this regulation as set forth in Regulation .07 of this chapter. C. Continuing Education Unit. (1) In an academic classroom setting in an accredited academic institution, if a course is taken for academic credit, 1 academic credit is equal to 5 continuing education units. (2) In an academic classroom setting in an accredited academic institution, if a course is audited, 1 academic credit is equal to 3 continuing education units. (3) Programs may include the terms "contact hour", "CEU", "clock hour", and "hour" in the description of the course. Any program described with these terms that lasts 60 minutes provides 1 continuing education unit. D. Category I Activities. Of the 40 (30 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) required continuing education units: (1) A minimum of 20 (15 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) shall be earned; and (2) All may be earned from one or any combination of the following Category I activities provided by a Board-authorized sponsor: (a) A course including, but not limited to, a series of learning experiences with a specific content and offered for credit, noncredit, or audit by an accredited educational institution; (b) A workshop including, but not limited to, a session designed to bring together individuals around a common theme to solve problems and gain new knowledge, skills, and attitudes, with ample opportunity to interact; (c) A seminar including, but not limited to, a group of social workers who meet under expert leadership or a resource individual who conducts a discussion on a specific topic; (d) A symposium including, but not limited to, a presentation or presentations by professional specialists on a particular subject; (e) A conference including, but not limited to, sessions of 1 or more days duration designed to explore a central theme; and (f) Attendance at programs offered at professional or scientific meetings of local, State, regional, national, and international professional or scientific organizations. E. Category II Activities. Of the 40 (30 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) required continuing education units, a maximum of 20 (15 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) continuing education units may be earned from one or any combination of the following Category II activities: (1) Peer case conferences among licensed social workers and licensed health care professionals designed to promote more effective interventions and advanced practice; (2) Journal or clinical book clubs that meet for at least 1 hour and are organized for the purpose of examining the literature and incorporating in the discussion the application of current literature to social work practice; 4 (3) Preparing and presenting approved face-to-face programs of instruction with 1 hour of preparation or presentation equal to 1 continuing education unit up to a maximum of 12 units per license renewal period; (4) Preparing and presenting a scientific or professional paper at a meeting of a professional or scientific organization with 1 hour of preparation or presentation equal to 1 continuing education unit up to a maximum of 12 units per license renewal period; (5) Authoring a professional publication (including peer-reviewed journals, books, and other professional publications) with 1 hour of authoring equal to 1 continuing education unit earned at the time the publication is published up to a maximum of 12 units per license renewal period; (6) Teaching a social work related course in an academic setting up to a maximum of 12 units per license renewal period; (7) Online learning provided by a Board-authorized sponsor, such as: (a) Digital seminar; (b) Webinar, pre-recorded and non-interactive; (c) Online course; (d) Distance learning; and (e) Home study course; (8) Attending a foreign or sign language course intended to enhance the delivery of social work services up to a maximum of 6 units per license renewal period; and (9) Attending in-service staff development, professional training, and invited in-house speaker sessions including, but not limited to, an educational program planned by an agency to assist employees in becoming knowledgeable of and competent in professional social work practice. .05 Authorization of Sponsors and Approval of Continuing Education Programs. A. Authorized Sponsors. (1) Authorized sponsors shall offer continuing education programs that meet the objectives set forth in Regulations .01B and .04 of this chapter. (2) The following are authorized sponsors: (a) National, regional, or State accredited academic institutions offering academic courses or programs recognized as acceptable social work curriculum subject areas by the Council on Social Work Education; (b) National, regional, or State social work associations including, but not limited to: (i) Social work licensing boards; (ii) The Association of Social Work Boards; (iii) The National Association of Social Workers; and (iv) Non-social-work professional membership organizations providing programs that are relevant to the professional development of social workers; and (c) International social work associations and accredited academic institutions including, but not limited to: 5 (i) Social work licensing boards which provide programs that foster improvement, advancement, and extension of the social worker’s professional skill, knowledge, and competence; and (ii) Non-social-work organizations providing programs that are relevant to the professional development of social workers. (3) An authorized sponsor shall: (a) Include the following in the program announcement, flyer, or brochure: (i) The date, title, location, objectives, and content of the program; (ii) The number of continuing education units that will be awarded by the sponsor on a certificate awarded to the social worker on completion of the program; (iii) A statement that the named sponsor is authorized by the Board; and (iv) A statement that the named sponsor maintains responsibility for the program; (b) Ensure that a program certificate or letter of completion is provided on official letterhead and includes the following: (i) The name of the social worker; (ii) The date, title, and location of the program; (iii) The number of continuing education units that are being awarded to the social worker on completion of the program only for actual time in attendance; (iv) An authorizing name, signature, and contact information for the person responsible for awarding the certificate or letter of completion; (v) A statement that the named sponsor is authorized by the Board; and (vi) A statement that the named sponsor maintains responsibility for the program; and (c) Maintain documentation of continuing education activity for 4 years, which may include pretests and post-tests, but shall include: (i) Registration and attendance records; (ii) Stated purpose; (iii) Content of presentation; (iv) Time and length of activity; and (v) Participant evaluations. (4) The Board may audit authorized sponsors’ continuing education programs and activities at any time