2020 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions And Occupations
Article 245. Mental Health
Section 12-245-410. Continuing professional competency - rules - definition.
(1) (a) In accordance with section 12-245-404, the board issues a license to practice as a clinical social worker or a social worker based on whether the applicant satisfies minimum educational and experience requirements that demonstrate professional competency to practice as a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed social worker, respectively. After a license is issued to an applicant, the licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker shall maintain continuing professional competency to practice as a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker, respectively.
(b) The board shall adopt rules establishing a continuing professional competency program that includes, at a minimum, the following elements:
A self-assessment of the knowledge and skills of a licensed clinical social worker orlicensed social worker seeking to renew or reinstate a license;
Development, execution, and documentation of a learning plan based on the assessment; and
Periodic demonstration of knowledge and skills through documentation of activitiesnecessary to ensure at least minimal ability to safely practice the profession. Course work provided by an accredited educational institution or a nationally or regionally recognized professional organization is only one of a number of continuing professional competency activities that may satisfy the full continuing competency requirement. Nothing in this subsection (1)(b)(III) shall require a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed social worker to retake any examination required pursuant to section 12-245-404 in connection with initial licensure.
(c) The board shall establish that a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker is deemed to satisfy the continuing competency requirements of this section if the licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker meets the continued professional competence requirements of one of the following entities:
(I) A state department, including continued professional competence requirements imposed through a contractual arrangement with a provider; (II) An accrediting body recognized by the board; or (III) An entity approved by the board.
(d) (I) After the program is established, licensed clinical social workers and licensed social workers shall satisfy the requirements of the program in order to renew or reinstate a license to practice as a licensed clinical social worker or as a licensed social worker in Colorado. (II) The requirements of this section apply to individual licensed clinical social workers or licensed social workers who are licensed pursuant to this part 4, and nothing in this section shall be construed to require a person who employs or contracts with a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker to comply with the requirements of this section.
(2) (a) Records of assessments or other documentation developed or submitted in connection with the continuing professional competency program are confidential and not subject to inspection by the public or discovery in connection with a civil action against a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed social worker. The records or documents shall be used only by the board for purposes of determining whether a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker is maintaining continuing professional competency to engage in the profession.
(b) Subject to the requirements of subsection (2)(a) of this section, nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the discovery of information or documents that are otherwise discoverable under the Colorado rules of civil procedure in connection with a civil action against a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker.
(3) As used in this section, "continuing professional competency" means the ongoing ability of a licensee to learn, integrate, and apply the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practice as a licensed clinical social worker or as a licensed social worker, as applicable, according to generally accepted industry standards and professional ethical standards in a designated role and setting.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1274, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1)(b)(III) amended, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, p. 1533, § 21, effective July 14.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43-411 as it existed prior to 2019.
