Are you a social worker in Alaska looking to renew your license? It’s crucial to stay on top of your continuing education (CE) requirements to maintain your license and ensure you're providing the best care for your clients. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about the CE requirements in Alaska.
Understanding the Basics
All licensed social workers in Alaska must complete 45 contact hours of continuing education during the biennial licensing period. This education must be relevant to social work practice and can come from various sources, such as seminars, conferences, university classes, or even audio or videotapes.
Special Requirements for Different Licensing Periods
Depending on how long you've been licensed, the CE requirements can vary. Here’s a quick overview:
Less Than 12 Months
If you've been licensed for less than 12 months, you need to complete 21 contact hours of CE, including:
- Six contact hours in substance abuse education
- Six contact hours in cross-cultural education relating to Alaska Natives
- Three contact hours in professional ethics
- Three contact hours in teletherapy practice
- Three contact hours in suicide education
First Biennial Renewal
If you've been licensed for at least 12 months but are renewing for the first time, you need 45 contact hours, including:
- Six contact hours in substance abuse education
- Six contact hours in cross-cultural education relating to Alaska Natives
- Three contact hours in professional ethics
- Three contact hours in teletherapy practice
- Three contact hours in suicide education
Subsequent Renewals
For renewals after your first biennial period, you must complete 45 contact hours, including:
- Six contact hours in substance abuse education
- Six contact hours in cross-cultural education, with three hours specifically related to Alaska Natives
- Three contact hours in professional ethics
- Three contact hours in teletherapy practice
- Three contact hours in suicide education
Important Points to Remember
- Only actual hours of attendance where instruction was given count towards your CE hours.
- You can’t complete more than 12 contact hours in one day.
- You can receive up to three hours of professional ethics credit once every biennial licensing period for attending 150 minutes of a regularly scheduled board meeting.
- One "contact hour" equals a minimum of 50 minutes of classroom instruction.
- One academic semester credit equals 15 contact hours, and one academic quarter credit equals 10 contact hours.
Why It Matters
Continuing education is not just a box to check off; it’s a way to stay current with the latest practices, ensure ethical standards, and better serve your clients. Especially with the rise of teletherapy, staying updated is more important than ever.
Final Thoughts
Meeting your CE requirements might seem daunting, but it's an essential part of your professional development. Make sure to plan ahead and utilize the various resources available to you, such as the NASW Alaska Chapter’s continuing education events.For more information, please follow this
link.
