Renewal Information for California Social Workers, Counselors & MFTs

Dec. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- California-licensed Social Workers, Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists (MFTs) are required to renew their licenses every 2 years from the date of issue.

36 hours of continuing education (CE) are required to renew. Of those, 6 hours must pertain to law and ethics each renewal. The following courses are required for the first renewal only:

• 3 hours on aging/long-term care - all licensees are required to complete a three-hour continuing education course in aging and long- term care. The course could include, but is not limited to, the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging.

• 7 hours on spousal/partner abuse - all licensees are required to complete a seven-hour one-time course in spousal/partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention strategies including community resources, cultural factors, and same gender abuse dynamics.

• 7 hours on HIV/AIDS - all licensees are required to complete a course at least seven hours in length and cover the characteristics and method of assessment and treatment of people who live with HIV/AIDS.

Initial licensees are required to complete only 18 hours of CE for their first license renewal. Your license is termed an “initial license” when it has been issued to you for the first time and you have not yet renewed it.

CE must be taken from acceptable providers. A provider that is board-approved must advertise its provider approval number (PCExxxx). All 36 hours may be earned through electronic means (online courses) that are offered by a board-approved provider.

{Effective February 1, 2003, licensees may obtain all of their hours of required continuing education through interactive, electronic means. This includes online, teleconferencing and videotape viewing.}

You need to keep proof of your completed coursework (certificates, transcripts, etc.) for at least four years after the license renewal for which you took the course. Do not submit your course certificates with your renewal application.

The board conducts audits of licensee’s continuing education. If you are audited, you will be notified in writing to submit copies of your CE certificates or course documentation as proof of compliance with the board’s Licensing Laws and Regulations. If you are audited, a prompt response is necessary. Failure to comply with the board’s audit may result in disciplinary action against your license.

Professional Development Resources is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (Approval #PCE1625). Over 100 online courses are available at: http://www.pdresources.org/Index.aspx

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Professional Development Resources, Inc. is a nonprofit educational corporation organized in 1992. Our mission is to provide healthcare professionals with accredited continuing education courses on topics that are vital to contemporary clinical practice.