2021 New York Laws
EDN - Education
Title 8 - The Professions
Article 154 - Social Work
7710 - Mandatory Continuing Education.

§  7710.  Mandatory  continuing education. 1. (a) Each licensed master
social worker or licensed clinical social  worker  required  under  this
article  to register triennially with the department to practice in this
state,  shall  comply  with  the  provisions  of  mandatory   continuing
education  requirements  prescribed  in subdivision two of this section,
except as set forth in paragraphs  (b)  and  (c)  of  this  subdivision.
Licensed  master  social workers or licensed clinical social workers who
do not satisfy the mandatory continuing education requirements shall not
practice until they have met such requirements and they have been issued
a registration certificate, except that a licensed master social  worker
or  licensed clinical social worker may practice without having met such
requirements  if  he  or  she  is  issued  a  conditional   registration
certificate pursuant to subdivision three of this section.
  (b)  Each  licensed  master  social worker or licensed clinical social
worker  shall  be  exempt  from  the  mandatory   continuing   education
requirements for the triennial registration period during which they are
first   licensed.  In  accordance  with  the  intent  of  this  section,
adjustment to the mandatory  continuing  education  requirement  may  be
granted by the department for reasons of health that are certified by an
appropriate  health care professional, for extended active duty with the
armed forces of the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to
the department which may prevent compliance.
  (c) A licensed master social worker  or  a  licensed  clinical  social
worker  not  engaged in practice, as determined by the department, shall
be exempt from the mandatory continuing education requirement  upon  the
filing  of  a  statement  with the department declaring such status. Any
licensee who returns to the practice of social work during the triennial
registration period shall notify the department prior to reentering  the
profession and shall meet such mandatory education requirements as shall
be prescribed by regulations of the commissioner.
  (d)  A  licensed  clinical  social  worker  who  is  also licensed and
registered to practice as a licensed master social worker  in  the  same
triennial  registration  period,  shall not be required to complete more
than  thirty-six  hours  of  continuing  education  in   the   triennial
registration  period,  or  one  hour per month for a registration period
other than thirty-six months.
  2.  During  each  triennial  registration  period  an  applicant   for
registration  as  a  licensed  master social worker or licensed clinical
social worker shall complete a minimum of thirty-six hours of acceptable
formal continuing  education.  Any  licensed  master  social  worker  or
licensed  clinical social worker whose first registration date following
the effective date of this section occurs less  than  three  years  from
such  effective  date,  but  on  or  after  January  first, two thousand
fifteen, shall complete continuing education hours on a  prorated  basis
at  the  rate  of  one  hour  per month for the period beginning January
first,  two  thousand  fifteen  up  to  the  first   registration   date
thereafter.  A  licensee  who has not satisfied the mandatory continuing
education requirement shall  not  be  issued  a  triennial  registration
certificate  by the department and shall not practice unless and until a
conditional registration is issued as provided for in subdivision  three
of  this  section. Continuing education hours taken during one triennium
may not be transferred to the subsequent triennium.
  3. (a) The department, in its  discretion,  may  issue  a  conditional
registration  to  a  licensee who fails to meet the continuing education
requirements established in subdivision two  of  this  section  but  who
agrees to make up any deficiencies and complete any additional education
which  the  department  may  require.  The  fee  for  such a conditional
registration shall be the same as, and in addition to, the fee  for  the

triennial  registration.  The  duration of such conditional registration
shall be determined by the department but shall not exceed one year. Any
licensee who is notified of the denial of registration  for  failure  to
submit  evidence, satisfactory to the department, of required continuing
education and who practices without such registration may be subject  to
disciplinary  proceedings  pursuant to section sixty-five hundred ten of
this title.
  (b) For purposes of this section "acceptable formal  education"  shall
mean  formal  courses  of  learning  which  contribute  to  professional
practice in social work and  which  meet  the  standards  prescribed  by
regulations  of  the commissioner. Such formal courses of learning shall
include, but not be limited to, collegiate level credit  and  non-credit
courses,   professional  development  programs  and  technical  sessions
offered by national, state and local professional associations and other
organizations acceptable to the  department,  and  any  other  organized
educational   and  technical  programs  acceptable  to  the  department.
Continuing education courses must be taken from a provider who has  been
approved  by the department, based upon an application and fee, pursuant
to the regulations of the  commissioner.  The  department  may,  in  its
discretion  and as needed to contribute to the health and welfare of the
public, require  the  completion  of  continuing  education  courses  in
specific   subjects  to  fulfill  this  mandatory  continuing  education
requirement. Licensed master social workers or licensed clinical  social
workers   shall   maintain   adequate  documentation  of  completion  of
acceptable  formal  continuing  education   and   shall   provide   such
documentation  at the request of the department. Failure to provide such
documentation upon the request of the department  shall  be  an  act  of
misconduct  subject  to  disciplinary  proceedings  pursuant  to section
sixty-five hundred ten of this title.
  (c) The mandatory continuing education fee shall be determined by  the
department. Such fee shall be payable on or before the first day of each
triennial  registration  period,  and  shall  be paid in addition to the
triennial registration fee required by paragraph (g) of subdivision  one
and  paragraph  (g)  of subdivision two of section seventy-seven hundred
four of this article.