.04 Continuing Education Learning Activities.

A. 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.

B. 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.

C. Continuing Education Unit.

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

D. Category I Activities. Of the 40 (30 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) required continuing education units:

(1) A minimum of 20 (15 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) shall be earned; and

(2) All may be earned from one or any combination of the following Category I activities provided by a Board-authorized sponsor:

(a) 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;

(b) 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;

(c) 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;

(d) A symposium including, but not limited to, a presentation or presentations by professional specialists on a particular subject;

(e) A conference including, but not limited to, sessions of 1 or more days duration designed to explore a central theme; and

(f) Attendance at programs offered at professional or scientific meetings of local, State, regional, national, and international professional or scientific organizations.

E. 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:

(1) Peer case conferences among licensed social workers and licensed health care professionals designed to promote more effective interventions and advanced practice;

(2) 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;

(3) 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;

(4) 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;

(5) 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;

(6) Teaching a social work related course in an academic setting up to a maximum of 12 units per license renewal period;

(7) Online learning provided by a Board-authorized sponsor, such as:

(a) Digital seminar;

(b) Webinar, pre-recorded and non-interactive;

(c) Online course;

(d) Distance learning; and

(e) Home study course;

(8) 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

(9) 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.