CEU Information

NYSSSWAisApprovedProvider

NYSSSWA is an approved NYSED CE/CEU Provider. When registering for a Conference, remember to provide your license number for proper CE/CEU credit assignments.

New York State School Social Workers’ Association is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0057

NYSED Continuing Education Requirements

What are the Continuing Education requirements for “Social Workers”?

“New York State Education Law requires each licensed master social worker (LMSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) to complete 36 hours of acceptable formal continuing education during each three-year registration period. ”

“Some regulations restrict licensees to a certain percentage of self-study for continuing education requirements.”

New NYSED Ethics Requirement:  

“A licensed psychologist, social worker or mental health practitioner required to complete continuing education must complete 3 hours of acceptable course work in appropriate professional boundaries, in each 3-year registration period starting April 1, 2023.”

28. Are courses limited to a traditional “classroom setting” in which I am in the same room with the instructor?

 

Self-study courses are acceptable. They are structured study, offered by a Department-approved provider that are based on audio, audio-visual, written, on-line and other media. Self-study courses do not include live instruction (transmitted in person or otherwise) during which the student may communicate and interact with the instructor and other students. Please note that there is a limitation of 12 continuing education hours in a 36-month registration period, or one-third of the hours for a registration period other than 36 months, for self-study courses as described above.
29. Can I complete more hours of on-line continuing education if the course includes live interaction with the instructor and other students?

Yes. There is no limit on the number of hours of acceptable continuing education you may take on-line through a Department-approved provider, when the course includes live interaction with the instructor and other students.

 

Questions About CE/CEU Requirements?

What is the Difference Between CEUs and CEs?

“A minimum of 50 minutes equals one Continuing Education hour of credit. However, some courses may be given in continuing education units. One continuing education unit (CEU) equals 10 continuing education hours. Therefore, 0.1 CEU equals one continuing education hour, 0.2 CEUs equals two continuing education hours, and so on. ” NYSSSWA will begin noting the number of “CEs” being provided to be in compliance with NYSED’s language.

I just got my license.  When do I start collecting CEs/CEUs?

“You are not required to complete continuing education during your initial three-year registration period.”

All licensees in their first 3-year registration period are EXEMPT from doing CEs during that period. They must begin accruing CE hours in their second registration period, which is the start of their fourth year as a licensee.  Only CEs obtained in the registration period it is needed for (your 4th year) , is acceptable.

For General Information from NYSED regarding Continuing Education, click here.

Still have questions?  Please go to the NYSED webpage for their Question and Answer section.

Source for the above information:  http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/swcefaq.htm

How Do I Obtain NYSSSWA CE hours?

The provision of Continuing Education hours is a multi-step manual process. Nothing is automated so please allow time for processing all components.  In order to receive your CEU certificate, you must have the following:

  • Register for a NYSSSWA Event on line.
  • Successful payment of Registration Fees.  Purchase Orders:  If you are submitting a purchase order, be sure to provide a copy of your invoice to your district’s accounts payable department for payment.  See Tutorials:
  • Complete the sign-in/sign-out sheets or get scanned in and out for EACH Workshop/Keynote Speaker session attended.
  • Complete ALL online surveys after the conference has ended. NYSED requires evaluations for ALL Workshops/Keynote Sessions you attend.  (Find links on respective conference web pages.)
  • Certificates may need to be manually and individually released so will not be able to be accessed until all requirements are verified. Once all steps are completed and confirmed, you will be able to access.
    • See Tutorials for assistance depending on your NYSSSWA membership status.
  • NYSSSWA CE Certificates will be stored and available for attendees to print as needed via their NYSSSWA member account.
  • If you have completed all components and after 3 weeks are still not able to access your certificate, please contact member.services@nyssswa.org  

Mandatory Continuing Education Requirement History

WorkshopThe Board of Regents met in April 2014 regarding the proposed rule to implement mandatory continuing education (CEs) for licensed master social workers (LMSWs) and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs). The rule was approved and took effect on May 14th, 2014.  Each LMSW/ LCSW will be required to complete 36 hours of acceptable continuing education in each triennial registration period, effective January 1, 2015.

For more specific information, please view the April 2014 memorandum from the New York State Education Department. Download here (30 pages). The last few pages of the memorandum address specific comments/questions that were made during the open comment period regarding CEs.

NYSUT Education and Learning Trust (ELT) professional development programs are modeled on best practices, current research-based strategies, real-life applications – and are built on the principle of “members teaching members”.