Nevada Social Work CE Requirement Statutes

This information below has been obtained directly from the Nevada Board of Social Work Website and is current as of January 2025. Please visit here for full information and details.

Nevada Social Work Continuing Education Statutes and Rules:

NAC 641B.187 Continuing education requirements for reporting period; waivers; grounds for disciplinary action. (NRS 641B.160, 641B.280)

1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, during each reporting period:

(a) A licensee who is a licensed associate in social work or a licensed social worker must complete at least 30 continuing education hours, of which:

(1) Four hours must relate to ethics in the practice of social work, including, without limitation, issues addressing professional boundaries, confidentiality, dual relationships, documentation, billing, fraud, telehealth, supervision, social media, sexual harassment, exploitation of clients, managing job stress, social work laws and regulations, cultural competency and racial biases, risk management, mandated reporting, certifications for an emergency admission, release from an emergency admission or involuntary court-ordered admission described in NRS 433A.170, 433A.195 and 433A.200, scope of practice, professional conduct, standards of care or impaired professionals, or any combination thereof;

(2) Two hours must relate to evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness or another course of instruction on suicide prevention and awareness that has been approved by the Board, and must be completed every 2 years as required pursuant to NRS 641B.280; and

(3) Unless otherwise approved by the Board, 10 hours must be in the field of practice of the licensee; and

(b) A licensee who is a licensed clinical social worker or licensed independent social worker must complete at least 36 hours of continuing education, of which:

(1) Four hours must relate to ethics in the practice of social work, including, without limitation, issues addressing professional boundaries, confidentiality, dual relationships, documentation, billing, fraud, telehealth, supervision, social media, sexual harassment, exploitation of clients, managing job stress, social work laws and regulations, cultural competency and racial biases, risk management, mandated reporting, certifications for an emergency admission, release from an emergency admission or involuntary court-ordered admission described in NRS 433A.170, 433A.195 and 433A.200, scope of practice, professional conduct, standards of care or impaired professionals, or any combination thereof;

(2) Two hours must relate to evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness or another course of instruction on suicide prevention and awareness that has been approved by the Board, and must be completed every 2 years as required pursuant to NRS 641B.280; and

(3) Unless otherwise approved by the Board, 12 hours must be in the field of practice of the licensee.

2.  To fulfill the continuing education requirements of this section, the continuing education hours for all classes of licensure must be completed in programs of continuing education approved by the Board that maintain, improve or enhance the knowledge and competency of a licensee in the practice of social work.

3.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6:

(a) Upon the request of the licensee, the Board may waive the continuing education requirements of this section for a licensee who is at least 65 years of age and is retired from the practice of social work.

(b) The Board may waive the continuing education hours required pursuant to subsection 1 for a reporting period if it finds good cause to do so.

(c) The Board may waive the continuing education hours required pursuant to subsection 1 for a reporting period during which a licensee is enrolled in a program leading to:

(1) A baccalaureate or master’s degree in social work from a college or university that is accredited by or is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education; or

(2) A doctoral degree in social work.

Ê If the Board waives the continuing education requirements for a reporting period pursuant to this paragraph, the licensee must submit to the Board proof of such enrollment during the reporting period for which the continuing education requirements are waived.

4.  A licensee may not take a program of continuing education which presents the same material he or she took during the immediately preceding reporting period.

5.  A licensee is subject to disciplinary action if he or she:

(a) Within 30 days after receiving a request from the Board, fails to provide to the Board information of his or her participation in a program of continuing education; or

(b) Submits to the Board false or inaccurate information regarding his or her participation in a program of continuing education.

6.  The Board will not:

(a) Waive the continuing education concerning suicide prevention and awareness which is required pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (a) or subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of subsection 1, as applicable; or

(b) Renew the license of a licensee who has not completed such continuing education.

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Social Workers, eff. 11-28-89; A 5-15-92; 10-25-93; 11-8-95; R113-98, 1-13-99; R112-00, 1-17-2001; R079-02, 1-9-2003; R122-06, 7-14-2006; R142-08, 2-11-2009; R018-16, 6-28-2016, eff. 7-1-2016; R110-17, 2-27-2018; R055-19, 12-30-2019)

NAC 641B.188 Affidavit of completion: Submission; certificate of completion required; verification of authenticity. (NRS 641B.160, 641B.280)

1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 of NAC 641B.187, beginning with a licensee’s second application for renewal of his or her license, and every 2 years thereafter, the licensee’s application for renewal must be accompanied by:

(a) An affidavit evidencing the completion of the continuing education hours required pursuant to NAC 641B.187 during the reporting period immediately preceding the date of the application; and

(b) The certificate provided to the licensee pursuant to NAC 641B.194 evidencing the completion of the continuing education hours required pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (a) or subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of subsection 1, as applicable, of NAC 641B.187 during the 2 years immediately preceding the date by which the license is required to be renewed and an affidavit evidencing the completion of such continuing education.

2.  The Board will randomly select affidavits and request proof from the affiant of the authenticity of the information contained therein.

3.  Each licensee shall maintain sufficient documentation which verifies the information set forth in the affidavit for at least 3 years. Such documentation may be maintained electronically. The inability to provide evidence supporting the information in the affidavit subjects the licensee to disciplinary action.

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Social Workers, eff. 11-28-89; A 10-25-93; R142-08, 2-11-2009; R018-16, 6-28-2016, eff. 7-1-2016; R110-17, 2-27-2018)

NAC 641B.189 Approval of program by Board; acceptable forms of program; certain courses and programs deemed approved; unacceptable courses and programs. (NRS 641B.160, 641B.280)

1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, a program of continuing education that demonstrates the knowledge and competency of a licensee must be approved by the Board. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, to obtain the approval of the Board, a continuing education program must provide independent verification that the licensee has successfully completed the program. A continuing education program may be in the form of:

(a) Workshops or conferences, including, without limitation, live or recorded presentations delivered using electronic means or telecommunication technologies;

(b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of subsection 4, online learning courses;

(c) Publication of an article or paper by the licensee in a professional journal or other publication that is approved by the Board, not to exceed 15 hours;

(d) A one-time presentation, not to exceed 15 hours, of an academic course, in-service training workshop or seminar by the licensee;

(e) Successful completion of an academic course of instruction at a regionally accredited college or university;

(f) Attendance by the licensee at a meeting, workshop or public hearing conducted by the Board, not to exceed 4 hours towards the ethics requirement; or

(g) Any other kind of program or course if the Board has, at the request of the licensee wishing to take the program or course as continuing education, approved the program or course as a program of continuing education.

2.  A licensee may complete the required hours of continuing education with any combination of the actions set forth in paragraphs (a) to (g), inclusive, of subsection 1.

3.  A course or program that has been approved by the National Association for Social Workers or the Association of Social Work Boards shall be deemed approved by the Board and is not required to be submitted to the Board by the provider or participant for approval pursuant to NAC 641B.190, 641B.191 or 641B.192.

4.  The following courses and programs will be deemed unacceptable as a program of continuing education:

(a) An orientation program for new employees.

(b) An on-the-job training program presented by an agency whose primary purpose is to disseminate information on the policy or procedure of the agency.

(c) A program for self-improvement.

(d) An online learning course which does not require participants to complete an examination after completing the course and for which there is no independent verification of successful completion.

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Social Workers, eff. 11-28-89; A by R113-98, 1-13-99; R079-02, 1-9-2003; R122-06, 7-14-2006; R142-08, 2-11-2009; R018-16, 6-28-2016, eff. 1-1-2017; R110-17, 2-27-2018)

NAC 641B.190 Approval: General requirements. (NRS 641B.160, 641B.280)

1.  Before the Board approves a course or program, the Board must be satisfied that the course or program:

(a) Will be taught by a competent instructor as demonstrated by his or her educational, professional and teaching experience;

(b) Contains current and relevant educational material concerning social work, is applicable to the practice of social work, and will enhance the knowledge and competency of a licensee in the practice of social work;

(c) Is of professional quality;

(d) Is appropriately designed for instructional purposes;

(e) Is supported by evidence that is based on research; and

(f) Includes a written evaluation of the content and presentation of the course or program and its relevance to the practice of social work for each licensee to complete.

2.  A course or program presented in the form of lectures, seminars, workshops, academic courses at an institution of higher education, online learning courses through an accredited college or university which do not lead to a degree, and on-the-job training programs offered by an agency shall be deemed “appropriately designed for instructional purposes,” as that term is used in subsection 1. The provider is responsible for the format and presentation of the courses or programs and may restrict the format in which the material is presented unless otherwise required by the Board.

3.  The subject matter of a course or program which addresses one or more of the following areas:

(a) Theories or concepts of human behavior and the social environment;

(b) Social work methods of intervention and delivery of services;

(c) Social work research, including, without limitation, the evaluation of programs or practices;

(d) Management, administration or social policy;

(e) Social work ethics and professional behavior;

(f) Services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate;

(g) Social work theories or concepts of addictions in the social environment;

(h) Evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness;

(i) Advanced human rights and social, economic and environmental justice; or

(j) Other areas directly related to the field of practice of the licensee,

Ê shall be deemed to reflect “current and relevant educational material concerning social work” and be “applicable to the practice of social work,” as those terms are used in subsection 1.

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Social Workers, eff. 11-28-89; A by R113-98, 1-13-99; R112-00, 1-17-2001; R079-02, 1-9-2003; R122-06, 7-14-2006; R142-08, 2-11-2009; R018-16, 6-28-2016; R110-17, 2-27-2018; R055-19, 12-30-2019)

NAC 641B.191 Approval: Application by provider; action by Board; request for reconsideration of denial. (NRS 641B.160, 641B.280)

1.  Unless a provider has achieved the status as an approved provider of continuing education pursuant to subsection 2, a provider requesting approval of a course or program must, for each course or program, submit to the Board an application containing the information required by the Board. The Board will notify the provider whether the course or program has been approved or denied within 30 days after receipt of the completed application for approval by the Board. If the Board approves the course or program, the notice of approval will state the number of continuing education hours for which the course or program is approved. Approval of the course or program will:

(a) Be given for a particular presentation or series of presentations; or

(b) Expire on a specific date set forth in the notice of approval.

2.  A provider may apply to the Board for status as an approved provider of continuing education. Upon receipt of sufficient evidence that the provider possesses the consistent ability to provide professional-quality programs of continuing education and that it employs or consults with a social worker who is licensed in any jurisdiction and has at least 3 years’ experience to review each course or program that will be provided by the approved provider for its compliance with NAC 641B.190, the Board will grant status as an approved provider of continuing education. The Board may withdraw the status of a provider as an approved provider of continuing education if the Board determines that the provider no longer possesses the qualifications of this subsection and gives the provider 30 days’ notice. A provider may reapply for status as an approved provider of continuing education at any time.

3.  If the Board denies approval of a course or program or denies or withdraws status as an approved provider of continuing education, the applicant may, within 30 days after receiving notice of the denial or withdrawal, request in writing that the Board reconsider its decision.

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Social Workers, eff. 11-28-89; A 5-15-92; 10-25-93; R113-98, 1-13-99; R112-00, 1-17-2001; R079-02, 1-9-2003; R110-17, 2-27-2018)

NAC 641B.192 Approval: Application by licensee. (NRS 641B.160, 641B.280) A licensee may request the approval of a course or program which has not been:

1.  Submitted for approval by a provider; or

2.  Approved by the National Association for Social Workers or the Association of Social Work Boards,

Ê by submitting to the Board an application containing the information required by the Board for its review pursuant to NAC 641B.190. The course or program is subject to the same criteria used to evaluate the course or program submitted by a provider seeking approval.

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Social Workers, eff. 11-28-89; A 11-9-92; R113-98, 1-13-99; R112-00, 1-17-2001; R079-02, 1-9-2003; R110-17, 2-27-2018)

NAC 641B.193 Complaint regarding program of continuing education or provider: Investigation by Board; denial or withdrawal of approval. (NRS 641B.160, 641B.280)

1.  If the Board receives a complaint regarding a course or program of continuing education or a provider, the Board will investigate the complaint. The investigation may include, without limitation:

(a) Requesting a written response from the provider; and

(b) Reviewing all relevant documents.

2.  If a provider does not submit a response to a request made pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 1, the Board may deny approval of any future programs submitted by the provider.

3.  As a result of a complaint regarding a program of continuing education or a provider or on its own motion, the Board will deny or withdraw approval of the course or program if it finds that:

(a) The course or program of continuing education is not in the best interest of the licensee; or

(b) The provider of the course or program:

(1) Fails to furnish any material as advertised;

(2) Engages in any misleading, deceptive or unethical business or professional practice;

(3) Fails to furnish any material required by law; or

(4) Fails to comply with any provision of chapter 641B of NRS or any regulation adopted pursuant to that chapter.

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Social Workers, eff. 11-28-89; A 5-15-92; 10-25-93; R113-98, 1-13-99; R112-00, 1-17-2001; R079-02, 1-9-2003; R142-08, 2-11-2009)

NAC 641B.194 Providers: Maintenance of records; issuance of certificates of completion. (NRS 641B.160, 641B.280) Each provider shall: