Board of Social Work Examiners

Continuing Education Courses

Approved Continuing Education Course List

Search Board-Approved Continuing Education Courses

12 AAC 18.210. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT.

• (a) For the first biennial renewal of a person’s social worker license, an applicant for renewal shall document completion of 45 contact hours of continuing education activities acceptable to the board that were earned during the two years before the expiration date of the person’s license that included a minimum of
  • (1) six contact hours in substance abuse education;
  • (2) six contact hours in cross-cultural education relating to Alaska Natives; and
  • (3) three contact hours in professional ethics.
• (b) After a person’s first biennial renewal of a social worker license, an applicant for renewal shall document completion of 45 contact hours of continuing education activities acceptable to the board that were earned during that licensing period and included a minimum of
  • (1) six contact hours in substance abuse education;
  • (2) six contact hours in cross-cultural education, of which three hours include issues relating to Alaska Natives; and
  • (3) three contact hours in professional ethics.
• (c) For the purposes of this section,
  • (1) one ”contact hour” equals a minimum of 50 minutes of classroom instruction between instructor and participant;
  • (2) one academic semester credit equals 15 contact hours; and
  • (3) one academic quarter credit equals 10 contact hours.
• (d) Only hours of actual attendance during which instruction was given will be accepted as continuing education contact hours earned from an academic course that is audited by the licensee, and the total number of contact hours earned may not exceed the academic credit hours offered for that course.

12 AAC 18.220. APPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.

• (a) To be accepted by the board, continuing education must contribute directly to the professional competency of a social worker and must be directly related to the skills and knowledge required to implement social work principles and methods as defined in AS 08.95.990.
• (b) The following continuing education activities are acceptable if they are related to social work in accordance with (a) of this section:
  • (1) postgraduate courses in social work given by an academic institution, either audited or for credit;
  • (2) courses offered by or certified by the Association of Social Work Boards;
  • (3) courses offered by or certified by the National Association of Social Workers or any state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers;
  • (4) courses offered by a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education;
  • (5) seminars, workshops, or mini-courses offered by professional organizations;
  • (6) cross-disciplinary courses, seminars, or workshops in the fields of medicine, law, behavioral sciences, or other disciplines;
  • (7) other courses not covered under (1) – (6) of this subsection that are specifically preapproved by the board, up to a maximum of 15 contact hours;
  • (8) first-time preparation and presentation of a social work course, seminar, or workshop, up to a maximum of 10 contact hours allocated among all social workers and other professionals involved; and;
  • (9) first-time presentation or publication of an article or book chapter related to the practice of social work that was presented at a state or national association meeting or published by a publisher recognized by the profession, up to a maximum of 10 contact hours allocated among all social workers and other professionals involved.
• (c) Hours spent in job orientation may not be accepted as continuing education contact hours.

Definition:

• (3) “cross-cultural education” means a structured educational experience such as a course, lecture, workshop, or other organized training that focuses on characteristics of and differences among cultures or groups; cross-cultural education is not limited to clinical applications but should be relevant to the practice of social work; topics may include cross-cultural communications, contemporary anthropology, or Alaska Native cultures;