Sec. 10.42.06.06. Reporting, Documenting, and Auditing Compliance with Continuing Education Requirements

A. A social worker who has completed the continuing education requirements shall attest to that on a form supplied by the Board as part of the application for license renewal, reinstatement, or reactivation.

B. The Board shall audit a percentage of social workers, to be selected by the Board, for each renewal period.

C. On request by the Board, a social worker shall provide full documentation of the continuing education units completed in accordance with the requirements of §D of this regulation.

D. Documentation. A social worker shall provide to the Board:

(1) A social worker shall provide to the Board:

(a) An official transcript for continuing education units earned in a course taken for credit;

(b) A certificate of completion for approved programs;

(c) If a certificate of completion is not available, the following documentation, which may earn Category II continuing education units:

(i) Date, location, and proof of attendance of the program presented;

(ii) Names and credentials of the presenters;

(iii) Agenda, learning objectives, and topics presented; and

(iv) An outline of the presentation;

(d) A reprint of the social worker's completed publication;

(e) If a certificate of completion is not available for an audiovisual instructional program or a home study course, proof of completion of the program or course, such as a post-test passing score or other satisfactory proof as determined by the Board;

(f) Proof of presentations made; and

(g) Topics, dates, times, and names of participants in structured peer-case conferences and journal club activities.

(2) If a certificate of completion as required by §D(1) of this regulation is not available, the social worker may not earn Category I continuing education units.

E. Record Retention for Active, Expired, or Inactive License.

(1) Active Licenses.

(a) A social worker with an active license shall retain records documenting completion of continuing education requirements for 3 years after the licensing renewal date for which the report of continuing education was submitted to the Board.

(b) The documentation required in §E(1)(a) of this regulation may be requested by the Board at any time within that 3-year period.

(2) Expired Licenses. A social worker with an expired, non-renewed license shall:

(a) Retain records documenting completion of continuing education requirements for each 2-year period that the license was expired, up to a maximum of 40 (30 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) continuing education units; and

(b) File with the Board documentation of completion of continuing education units at the time of reinstatement or submit a written request for an extension of time in order to obtain the required credit hours.

(3) Inactive Licenses. A social worker with an inactive license shall:

(a) Retain records documenting completion of continuing education requirements for the 3 years immediately preceding reactivation; and

(b) File with the Board documentation of completion of continuing education units at the time of reactivation or submit a written request for an extension of time in order to obtain the required credit units.

F. Responsibility for Conducting the Audits.

(1) The Board staff shall:

(a) Review and evaluate the documentation submitted for the purpose of the audits; and

(b) Report the findings to the Board.

(2) The Board may require a social worker to submit a copy of the purpose, objectives, and content areas from the continuing education program.

(3) The Board may require a social worker to obtain additional continuing education units if a program is disapproved as a result of a review and evaluation.

(4) The Board may take disciplinary action under COMAR 10.42.04 against any social worker who fraudulently attests to or does not submit continuing education documentation.

(5) A licensee who fails to complete the continuing education requirements within the time frame specified under Regulation .03 of this chapter may be subject to informal or formal discipline for failure to meet the requirements.