§7060. Expiration and renewals

A license renewal fee as set under section 7056 must be paid by the licensee. Licenses expire biennially on December 31st or at such other times as the Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation may designate. Each renewal is contingent upon evidence of participation in a continuing professional education course or program as approved by the board. A license may be renewed up to 90 days after the date of expiration upon payment of a late fee in addition to the renewal fee as set under section 7056. Any person who submits an application for renewal more than 90 days after the renewal date is subject to all requirements governing new applicants under this chapter, except that the board may in its discretion, giving due consideration to the protection of the public, waive examination if the renewal application is received, together with the late fee and renewal fee, within 2 years from the date of the expiration.   [PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. V, §15 (AMD).]

Beginning January 1, 2020, an applicant for license renewal shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board a one-time successful completion of a minimum of 12 hours of course work in family or intimate partner violence, including course work in spousal or partner abuse that addresses screening, referral and intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics. An applicant may fulfill this requirement through course work provided through contact hours, Internet hours or distance learning programs, as evidenced by certification from an accredited educational institution or equivalent teaching or practice experience. The board may accept equivalent courses in family or intimate partner violence screening and referral and intervention strategies or equivalent teaching or practice experience completed prior to January 1, 2020 in satisfaction of this requirement. Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this paragraph may be used to satisfy the licensee's required hours of continuing education.   [PL 2013, c. 262, §4 (NEW).]

A licensee who is no longer actively practicing social work may apply for an inactive status license pursuant to Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A, paragraph D, subparagraph (5). The holder of an inactive status license may not practice social work in the State. The fee for inactive status licensure is set under section 7056. The holder of an inactive status license is required to renew the license annually and pay the renewal fee as set under section 7056, but is not required to meet the continuing education requirement of this chapter and the rules adopted under it.   [PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. V, §15 (NEW).]

In addition to the other requirements of this section, a licensed social worker must:   [PL 2003, c. 429, §6 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 429, §7 (AFF).]

1.  Not employee of Department of Health and Human Services.  If not employed by the Department of Health and Human Services, provide documentation of 96 hours of consultation as determined by the board during the first 3,200 hours of social work employment in a period of not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years. For purposes of fulfilling the requirement of 96 hours of consultation during the first 3,200 hours of social work employment, a licensed social worker who practiced social work and obtained social work consultation hours in a long-term care setting and who held a valid license as of September 13, 2003 may count consultation hours that were obtained prior to August 3, 2004, whether the consultation hours were obtained in individual or group settings, if the consultation was provided by a licensed social worker, regardless of the group size and the eligibility requirements of the consulting licensed social worker; or

[PL 2005, c. 173, §2 (AMD).]

2.  Employee of Department of Health and Human Services.  If employed by the Department of Health and Human Services, provide documentation of either:

A. A minimum of 96 hours of consultation with a licensed social worker who has been licensed for at least 4 years or a licensed master social worker. This consultation must be concurrent with the first 3,200 hours of social work employment occurring in a period of not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years; or   [PL 2003, c. 429, §6 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 429, §7 (AFF).]

B. A minimum of 96 hours of consultation concurrent with the person's first 3,200 hours of social work employment occurring in a period of not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years with a licensed social worker who has been licensed for at least 2 years, has been designated by the department as a supervisor trainee and is concurrently receiving 48 hours of consultation with a licensed master social worker.   [PL 2003, c. 429, §6 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 429, §7 (AFF).]

[PL 2003, c. 429, §6 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 429, §7 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1977, c. 673, §3 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 204, §13 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 413, §§230,231 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 736, §19 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 113, §3 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 395, §B19 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 769, §A122 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 659, §A8 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 316, §5 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 429, §6 (RPR). PL 2003, c. 429, §7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 689, §B6 (REV). PL 2005, c. 173, §2 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. V, §15 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 262, §4 (AMD).