Colorado Social Work CE Requirement Statutes

This information below has been obtained directly from the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners Website and is current as of November 2024. Please visit Colorado Social Work Regulations for full information and details.

1.18 CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE (C.R.S. § 12-245-410)

Pursuant to section 12-245-410, C.R.S., effective January 1, 2011, licensed social workers and licensed clinical social workers shall demonstrate continuing professional competence through participation and compliance with the Continuing Professional Development program in order to renew, reinstate or reactivate a license to practice social work in the state of Colorado.

A. Definitions.

1. Continuing Professional Competence. Continuing Professional Competence (CPC) means the ongoing ability of a licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker to learn, integrate and apply the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practice according to generally accepted industry standards and professional ethical standards in a designated role and setting.

2. Continuing Professional Development. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the program through which a licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker satisfies the Continuing Professional Competence requirements set forth in section 12- 245-410, C.R.S., to renew, reinstate or reactivate a license.

3. Continuing Professional Development Portfolio. The Continuing Professional Development Portfolio (CPD Portfolio) is an instructional guide and workbook for the CPD program.

4. Professional Development Hours. Professional Development Hours (PDH) are the units of measurement of active learning used to accrue credit in the CPD program. PDH are equivalent to clock hours.

5. Professional Development Activities. Professional Development Activities (PDA) are Board approved learning activities undertaken for the purpose of Continuing Professional Development.

6. Professional Practice Rubric. The Professional Practice Rubric (“Rubric”) is a reflective practice tool that identifies the foundational knowledge areas of the profession as well as three levels of practice and skill advancement.

7. Personal Learning Plan. The Personal Learning Plan (“Learning Plan”) is a document used to plan and record learning for each cycle in the CPD program.

B. Requirements.

1. Licensed social workers and licensed clinical social workers shall demonstrate continuing professional competence through participation and compliance with the Continuing Professional Development program in order to renew, reinstate or reactivate a license to practice social work in the state of Colorado.

2. Licensed social workers and licensed clinical social workers must complete the following requirements in accordance with the current CPD Portfolio:

a. Professional Practice Rubric
b. Learning Plan
c. Documentation of their PDA and PDH.
C. Professional Practice Rubric. The Professional Practice Rubric should be completed prior to renewing, reinstating or reactivating a license.
D. Learning Plan. Licensees shall draft a Personal Learning Plan based upon the Professional Practice Rubric. The Learning Plan shall consist of PDA as set forth in Board Rule 1.18(F). Licensees shall execute their Learning Plan by completing all PDA and PDH before the date upon which they renew their license. Changes to the Learning Plan shall not be allowed after renewing, reinstating or reactivating a license.

CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS 4 CCR 726-1

State Board of Social Work Examiners 20

E. Professional Development Hours. Licensed social workers and licensed clinical social workers shall complete forty PDH each renewal cycle in order to renew their license or certification.

1. Licensees shall document their completion of their PDA and PDH according to the guidelines set forth in the current CPD Portfolio. Licensees should be prepared to submit documentation of their CPD compliance upon request by the Board.

2. Course work provided by an accredited educational institution or a nationally or regionally recognized professional organization as a single Professional Development Activity may be credited hour for hour for up to the full 40 hour PDH requirement each renewal cycle.

3. Other than course work as defined in section E(2) of this rule, no more than twenty PDH in a single Professional Development Activity shall be credited and recognized each renewal cycle.

4. Licensees receiving an original, reinstated or reactivated license, during the renewal cycle must accrue one point sixty six (1.66) PDH for each month or portion thereof they are licensed during the current renewal cycle.

5. A maximum of five PDH may be carried from the last renewal cycle to the next renewal cycle if the PDH were earned within six months of license expiration and are in excess of the forty PDH required for the current renewal cycle.

6. Licensees shall retain documentation of their CPD compliance for a minimum of five years from the license expiration date for the renewal cycle during which PDH were accrued. F. Professional Development Activities. To qualify for PDH credit, Licensees must select PDA that are allowed by the Board.

1. The Board allows the following PDA: a. Volunteer Service; b. Consultation; c. Supervision; d. Presenting; e. Coursework; f. Publication; g. Independent Learning.

2. Professional Development Activities develop your professional skill and must be directly relevant to your competence in the social work field. PDAs provide new knowledge, skills or attitudes and sharpen or expand existing skills.

3. It is within the discretion of the Board to deny credit for any PDH that does not meet the criteria set forth in the current CPD Portfolio or the definition of Continuing Professional Competence contained in section 12-245-410(3), C.R.S. CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS 4 CCR 726-1 State Board of Social Work Examiners 21

4. Unacceptable Professional Development Activities. The following types of activities are ineligible for credit: Serving on a federal, state or municipal board or commission.

G. Deem Status.

1. To be eligible for Deem Status pursuant to section 12-245-410(1)(c), C.R.S., a State Department CPC program must satisfy the definition of Continuing Professional Competence pursuant to section 12-245-410(3), C.R.S. Employees and contractors of qualifying programs in State Departments shall be deemed to have met the CPC requirements.

2. Licensees deemed to have met the CPC requirements are subject to an audit. The audit shall review the program for which the Licensee has justified their Deem Status to ensure that it meets the definition of CPC outlined in section 12-245-410(3), C.R.S., and shall verify the Licensee's successful completion of the program. 3. Licensees found to have falsified their Deem Status or who attested their fulfillment of CPC requirements for an unqualified State Department program, are subject to discipline by the Board.

H. Exemptions.

1. Military Active Duty. Licensees may be exempt from licensing requirements as provided in section 12-20-302, C.R.S., including but not limited to, military personnel who have been called to federally funded active duty for more than 120 days for the purpose of serving in a war, emergency, or contingency from the payment of any professional or occupational license, certification or registration fees, including renewal fees, and from continuing professional competency requirements for a renewal cycle that falls within the period of service or within the six months following the completion of service in the war, emergency or contingency.

2. Dual Licensure. The Board may grant an exemption from the CPD requirement if the licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker has fulfilled the CPD requirements set forth in: sections 12-245-506, 12-245-606, or 12-245-806, C.R.S.