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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 10.42.06.04" title_num="10" subtitle_num="42" chapter_num="06" heading="Continuing Education Learning Activities.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>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.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>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.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Continuing Education Unit.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Category I Activities. Of the 40 (30 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) required continuing education units:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A minimum of 20 (15 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) shall be earned; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>All may be earned from one or any combination of the following Category I activities provided by a Board-authorized sponsor:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>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;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>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;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>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;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A symposium including, but not limited to, a presentation or presentations by professional specialists on a particular subject;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A conference including, but not limited to, sessions of 1 or more days duration designed to explore a central theme; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Attendance at programs offered at professional or scientific meetings of local, State, regional, national, and international professional or scientific organizations.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>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:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Peer case conferences among licensed social workers and licensed health care professionals designed to promote more effective interventions and advanced practice;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>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;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>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;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>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;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>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;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Teaching a social work related course in an academic setting up to a maximum of 12 units per license renewal period;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Online learning provided by a Board-authorized sponsor, such as:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Digital seminar;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Webinar, pre-recorded and non-interactive;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Online course;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Distance learning; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Home study course;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>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</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>