Pennsylvania Social Work CE Requirement Statutes

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

§ 47.33. Acceptable continuing education courses and programs.

(a)  Only courses or programs offered by Board approved providers will be accepted for continuing education credit, except as provided in §  47.36a (relating to other sources of continuing education).

(b)  For renewal of a social worker’s license or a clinical social worker’s license, continuing education courses and programs must be appropriate for the master’s level practitioner and pertain to the practice of social work or clinical social work as defined in section 3 of the act (63 P.S. §  1903).

(c)  For renewal of a bachelor social worker’s license, continuing education courses and programs must pertain to the practice of bachelor social work as defined in section 3 of the act or contribute to the professional development of the licensed bachelor social worker. Nothing in this subsection should be construed as expanding the scope of practice of a licensed bachelor social worker.

(d)  The Board will not approve courses or programs in office management or in practice building.

(e)  A licensee may accrue up to 20 of the required clock hours in home study courses offered by approved providers if the home study course has specific learning objectives which the provider evaluates to assure that learning has taken place. Home study courses must be indicated as such on the certificates of attendance.

Authority

The provisions of this §  47.33 amended under sections 6 and 18(c) of the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act (63 P.S. § §  1906 and 1918(c)); and section 9 of the act of October 22, 2014 (P.L. 2884, No. 179).

Source

The provisions of this §  47.33 amended December 22, 2006, effective December 23, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 7841; amended August 28, 2020, effective August 29, 2020, 50 Pa.B. 4389. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (358303).

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code §  47.31 (relating to definitions).

§ 47.36. Preapproved providers of continuing education courses and programs for licensing social workers, licensed clinical social workers and licensed bachelor social workers.

(a)  In addition to providers approved under §  47.34 (relating to registration of continuing education providers who offer one course or program), the Board finds the following entities have currently met the standards in §  47.35 (relating to standards for courses and programs). Accordingly, the following are approved providers:

(1)  Graduate and undergraduate programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

(2)  The Association of Social Work Boards.

(3)  Accredited colleges and universities (graduate level and continuing education programs).

(4)  Graduate and postgraduate training programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

(5)  Graduate programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

(6)  The following groups and the providers, courses or workshops approved by them:

(i)   The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and its state and local affiliates.

(ii)   The Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA) and its state and local affiliates.

(iii)   The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC).

(iv)   The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).

(v)   The Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).

(vi)   The American Art Therapy Association (AATA).

(vii)   The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA).

(viii)   The National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT).

(ix)   The American Psychological Association (APA).

(x)   The Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program developed by the Association of Social Work Boards.

(xi)   The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

(7)  The following groups and their regional, state and local affiliates:

(i)   The Child Welfare League of America.

(ii)   The National Association of Black Social Workers.

(iii)   The Family Service Association of America.

(iv)   The Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA).

(v)   The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

(vi)   The American Family Therapy Association (AFTA).

(vii)   The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).

(viii)   The Council of Nephrology Social Workers.

(ix)   The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT).

(x)   The American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC).

(xi)   The American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

(xii)   The American Counseling Association (ACA).

(xiii)   The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA).

(xiv)   The National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA).

(b)  The Board will consider for approval, as preapproved providers, other organizations who offer multiple courses and programs for licensed bachelor social workers, licensed social workers and licensed clinical social workers. The request for approval shall be submitted to the Board in writing and accompanied by a $65 fee, along with a rationale as to why the organization should be included as a preapproved provider with specific reference to the standards in §  47.35.

(c)  The approval given to providers is subject to reevaluation; however, a rescission of approval will be made only in accordance with 1 Pa. Code Part II (relating to General Rules of Administrative Practice and Procedure).

(d)  The Board may approve participation in other continuing education courses or programs for credit so long as the licensee submits, prior to attendance, an application for program approval and supporting documentation provided in §  47.35, and upon completion of the course or program submits verification of attendance.

Authority

The provisions of this §  47.36 amended under sections 6 and 18(c) of the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act (63 P.S. § §  1906 and 1918(c)); and section 9 of the act of October 22, 2014 (P.L. 2884, No. 179).

Source

The provisions of this §  47.36 amended December 22, 2006, effective December 23, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 7841; amended August 28, 2020, effective August 29, 2020, 50 Pa.B. 4389. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (332394) and (369761) to (369762).

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code §  47.31 (relating to definitions); and 49 Pa. Code §  47.37 (relating to reporting by licensee of hours spent in continuing education; continuing education audit and enforcement).