What is continuing education?

Continuing education is post-degree training geared toward improvement or enhancement of social work practice. The State of Michigan requires licensed social workers to complete 45 hours of continuing professional education every three years.

Can I take continuing education courses from any continuing education provider and/or sponsor?

No. Continuing education courses must be pre-approved. You may take courses that have been approved by one of the following organizations: NASW-Michigan; ASWB; ACE; 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 4/30/2021 then you were eligible to start accumulating your 45 hours, over the next three years as of May 1, 2021.

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 2 (two) hours of Pain and/or 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 and 2 Hours in Human Trafficking.

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
  • Cultural competence and diversity
  • Pain/Pain Symptom Management
  • Human Trafficking

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 five (5) years from the date of application for license renewal or re-licensure. It is suggested that you keep the following information:

  1. The title of the course or program and any identification number assigned to it by the provider.
  2. The number of CE hours completed.
  3. The provider's name and identifying number.
  4. Verification of your attendance by the provider.
  5. The date and location of the course.
  6. Type of course delivery method

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 training.

How do program lengths relates to continuing education credits?

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

As a provider, how do I renew a CE course previously approved by the Continuing Education Collaborative?

If the program has not been changed in any way (content, format, length, or presenter), submit a Request for Approval application, 30 days prior to expiration, listing the course Title and the original assigned approval number along with the applicable processing fee and supporting documents. If the program has changed in any way, submit a new completed Request for Approval application according to continuing education guidelines along with the appropriate fees.