As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of Maine, it is your responsibility to adhere to continuing education requirements each period in order to renew your license. Beyond license renewal being key to you maintaining your practice, continuing education is essential to stay abreast of what is happening in your field – something your clients will always appreciate you taking seriously. Education is how we all continue to learn and further hone our skills and expertise, so it’s certainly something to be celebrated. Though education is fantastic, keeping on track with the many hours you need to fulfill can be a challenge. Thankfully, there is a fantastic resource available to help you with that. Before we dive into the resource, let’s start by outlining what is required of Maine LCSWs in order to renew their license.
Licensee Requirements for Maine Licensed Social Workers
Clinical social workers that are licensed in Maine are required to complete 25 hours of continuing education every two years. Of the required 25 hours, four must be in ethics and a maximum of 10 can be earned through self-study. Additionally, as of January 2020, licensees have a one-time requirement to complete 12 hours of continuing education in family or domestic partner violence.
The Board does not require proof of completion with renewal applications, and they do not provide licensees with a list of approved courses or programs. Instead, licensees can use their professional discretion to decide what topics or activities would be best for their development. Note that activities such as computer training, business meetings, peer supervisory sessions, time management, etc. are not acceptable. The topics should directly relate to social work. Additionally, the Board recommends licensees not only maintain their completion certificates, but also descriptions and agendas of completed courses/programs in the event of an audit.
Key Takeaways:
- Maine LCSWs must complete 25 hours of continuing education every two years
- Four hours must be in ethics and no more than 10 can be earned through self-study
Given licensed social workers are likely to achieve their continuing education certificates in increments, from various workshops, conventions, agencies, and institutions, there is a lot of documentation to keep track of (potentially 25 or more certificates throughout the course of two years). As proof is required if you are selected for an audit, it’s imperative you keep all of those certificates in a safe place – easily accessible and easy to track your progress. CE Hub is the safe place you need to work through your continuing education with ease.
What is CE Hub?
CE Hub is an app built specifically for social workers. Recognizing the difficulty that is storing continuing education certificates and keeping track of your hours, CE Hub was created to take the stress out of continuing education requirements. Instead of worrying throughout the period that you may not be on track, or perhaps that you may have lost a document or two, CE Hub provides you the peace of mind you need to enjoy the learning process. Using the platform is simple: you sign up, upload your continuing education certificates as you obtain them, then CE Hub handles the rest. All of your continuing education credits are tracked for you, and you even receive a reminder when it’s time to renew your license. Alleviate the stress of continuing education requirements by taking advantage of CE Hub today!
Disclaimer: this content is for informational purposes only. Licensees should always confirm their continuing education requirements with their respective governing agency. In the state of Maine, LCSWs can clarify anything about their license by contacting the Department of Professional & Financial Regulation at the number (207) 624-8500.
Reference Links:
