What is continuing education?

Education and training oriented toward maintenance, improvement or enhancement of social work practice is considered Continuing Education (CE).  The State of Michigan requires licensed social workers to complete 45 hours of continuing education every three years.

Can I take continuing education courses from any provider?

No.  Continuing education courses must be pre-approved.  The Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative has been designated by the Michigan Board of Social Work as the authorizing agent for approval of CE providers and courses. You may however, also take courses that have been approved by one of the following organizations: ASWB; ACE; MICEC or by another State's Board of Social Work.

When can I start accumulating my continuing education hours?

You may start accumulating hours based on the renewal date of your license. For example: If you renewed your license 4/30/06 then you were eligible to being accumulating your 45 hours as of May 1, 2006. If, for example, you renew your license on 4/30/07 you cannot start accumulating your 45 hours until May 1, 2007.

Are there specific subject matters that must be covered in the courses that I take?

You are required to take 5 (five) hours of Social Work Ethics and 1 (one) hour of Pain and Pain Symptom Management.  CE hours in Pain and Pain Symptom Management may include, but are not limited to: courses in Behavior Management, Psychology of Pain, Behavior Modification, and Stress Management.

In addition, courses must cover one or more of the following topics:

• Theories and concepts of human behavior in the social environment
• Social work practice, knowledge and skills
• Social work research, program evaluation or practice evaluation
• Social work agency management or administration
• Development, evaluation and/or implementation of social policy
• Social work ethics and standards of professional practice
• Current issues in clinical or macro social work practice

For example, content areas appropriate for continuing education can include

• Methods of intervention, such as individual counseling, psychotherapy, family treatment, group work, and community organization. 
• Supervision, consultation, planning and policy development. 
• Teaching and educational methods, social problems, advocacy, social change. 
• Social action, cultural diversity and specialized services and treatment.

What records do I have to keep?

If you are a licensee attending CE courses, you are required by Michigan law to retain documentation of meeting the CE requirements for a period of four (4) years from the date of application for license renewal or re-licensure.  Although the law does not specify what information the licensee must retain, it is suggested that you keep the following information:

• The title of the course or program and any identification number assigned to it by the provider.
• The number of CE hours completed.
• The provider's name and identifying number.
• Verification of your attendance by the provider.
• The date and location of the course.
• All of this information is likely to be included on a certificate of course attendance that providers will be required to give to all attendees who complete the course.

How does program length relate to continuing education credits?

An instructional hour is defined as a 60 minute hour with no less than 50 minutes of uninterrupted instruction.  Credit can be given in half hour increments (i.e., 30 minutes = 0.5 credits).  When counting hours, the following exclusions apply: travel time, meeting time devoted to business, committee activities, entertainment, or social activities such as coffee hours, luncheons, dinners etc...