2013 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 37 - Professions and Occupations
RS 37:2714 - Continuing education and license, certificate, and registration renewal

§2714. Continuing education and license, certificate, and registration renewal

A.(1) The board shall have authority to establish and promulgate continuing education requirements which are to be fulfilled prior to the renewal of any license, certificate, or registration issued under this Chapter.

(2) Twenty clock hours of continuing education in programs approved by the board shall be obtained prior to each renewal date, including three hours of ethics every two years. In addition, for renewal of a licensed clinical social work license, no less than ten clock hours of the continuing education requirement shall be clinical content including diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Failure to fulfill these requirements shall cause the license, certificate, or registration to lapse, and any application for renewal will be declined until the continuing education requirements have been met.

(3) Documentation in a form acceptable to the board, demonstrating compliance with the continuing education requirements, shall accompany the application for the renewal of the license, certificate, or registration.

B. In addition to the continuing education requirements set out in Subsection A of this Section, each license, certificate, provisional certificate, or registration issued under the provisions of this Chapter shall be renewed annually except as otherwise provided. On or before July first of each year, the board shall mail an application for renewal of a license, certificate, or registration to each person to whom a license, certificate, or registration was issued or renewed during the current year, which application shall be mailed to the most recent address of said person as it appears on the records of the board. Such person shall complete the renewal application and return it to the board accompanied by such renewal fee as is required by the board before August thirty-first of the year in which said application was received. Upon receipt of any application and fee, the board shall verify the accuracy of such application and issue to the applicant a notice of renewal of the license, certificate, or registration for the current year, beginning September first and expiring August thirty-first.

C. If any person fails to renew his or her license, certificate, or registration by August thirty-first, such license, certificate, or registration shall lapse. Failure to fulfill these requirements shall cause the license, certificate, or registration to lapse, and any application for renewal will be declined until the continuing education requirements have been met. If a social worker fails to complete the continuing education requirements by June thirtieth of each year, at the licensed, certified registered level, he may not practice social work. Renewal of a license, certificate, or registration which has lapsed for three months or less may be effected upon submission to the board of a renewal application accompanied by such renewal fee as is required by the board. Renewal of a license, certificate, or registration which has lapsed for a period in excess of three months but less than six months may be effected upon submission to the board of a renewal application accompanied by a fee which shall be twice the amount of the normal renewal fee specified by the board. If a license, certificate, or registration is allowed to lapse for six months or longer, the applicant for the license, certificate, or registration shall be considered a new applicant subject to appropriate provisions of this Chapter.

D. The board shall have the authority to grant continuing education waivers for declared emergencies. In response to a disaster or emergency declared by the governor of the state of Louisiana, continuing education units required for renewal of a license may be waived by the board.

E. The board shall have the authority to grant continuing education extensions for extenuating circumstances. In response to an extenuating circumstance, the time frame mandated to complete continuing education units required for renewal of a license may be extended by the board.

Acts 1990, No. 785, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1309, §7, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2010, No. 880, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.