<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gho" article_name="Health Occupations" number="19-308" title_number="19" title_name="Social Workers" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Licensing">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A license expires on the date set by the Board, unless the license is renewed for an additional term as provided in this section. A license may not be renewed for a term longer than 2 years.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>At least 1 month before the license expires, the Board shall send to the licensee, at the last known electronic or physical address of the licensee, a renewal notice that states:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The date on which the current license expires;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The date by which the renewal application must be received by the Board for the renewal to be issued and mailed before the license expires; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The amount of the renewal fee.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Each licensee shall notify the Board of any change in the address of the licensee within 60 days after the change occurs.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Before the license expires, the licensee periodically may renew it for an additional 2–year term, if the licensee:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Otherwise is entitled to be licensed;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Pays to the Board the appropriate renewal fee specified by this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Submits to the Board:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A renewal application on the form that the Board requires; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Satisfactory evidence of compliance with any continuing education requirement set under this section for license renewal; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Beginning in calendar year 2023 and except as provided in subsection (g)(3) of this section, attests that the licensee has submitted to a State and national criminal history records check in accordance with § 19–302.2 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to subsection (g) of this section, the Board shall renew the license of each licensee who meets the requirements of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Board shall maintain the same information on each licensee.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Board may not renew a bachelor social worker license or a master social worker license of a licensee who holds a baccalaureate degree or master’s degree from a program that was a candidate for accreditation but was denied accreditation.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On receipt of the criminal history record information of an applicant for licensure forwarded to the Board in accordance with § 19–302.2 of this�subtitle, in determining whether disciplinary action should be taken, based on the criminal record information, against a licensee who renewed a license, the Board shall consider:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The age at which the crime was committed;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The nature of the crime;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The circumstances surrounding the crime;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The length of time that has passed since the crime;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Subsequent work history;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Employment and character references; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>Any other evidence that demonstrates whether the applicant poses a threat to the public health or safety.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Board may renew a license only if the licensee attests that the licensee has submitted to a criminal history records check under §�19–302.2 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Unless otherwise required, a renewal applicant who previously has completed the criminal history records check as required for the Board’s license renewal application process does not have to submit to a subsequent criminal history records check for license renewal.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
