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