1. (a) Issuance. When the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board determines that all requirements have been met, a license will be issued for a two-year period.

2. (b) Renewal.

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Renewal of a social work license requires thirty (30) hours of social work education (SWCE) to have been completed during the renewal period.
      2. (B) Of the thirty (30) SWCE hours, three (3) hours must be in ethics and no more than fifteen (15) may be independent study.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) A license renewal reminder will be sent to licensees approximately two (2) months prior to the expiration date.
      2. (B) The social worker is responsible for submitting a completed renewal application with the required fee to the board prior to the expiration date.
      3. (C) Renewal applications may be submitted online or on the renewal application approved by the board.
   3. (3) When the board determines that the requirements for license renewal have been met, the licensee will be mailed notification of licensure for the next two-year period.

   4. (4)

      1. (A) If the licensee fails to renew his or her license prior to the expiration date, the license will expire.
      2. (B) Once the license has expired the individual is no longer eligible to practice social work.

   5. (5) A license that has expired for less than three (3) months may be renewed by submitting:

      1. (A) The renewal application;
      2. (B) The required fee;
      3. (C) A late penalty fee;
      4. (D) An attestation form; and
      5. (E) A summary sheet certifying completion of thirty (30) hours of social work continuing education in accordance with continuing education guidelines found in 17 CAR § 100-109, completed during the previous two-year licensure period.

   6. (6)

      1. (A) A license that has expired for three (3) months or longer is not renewable.
      2. (B) The licensee:

3. (i) Shall be considered as a new applicant; and

   1. (ii) Will be subject to all requirements applicable at the time the new application is received.

   2. (7)

      1. (A) Extension requests must be submitted to the board thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of the license.
      2. (B) Extension requests will be reviewed by the board on an individual basis.

      3. (C) An extension request must include the following:

         1. (i) A completed renewal application packet;
         2. (ii) The renewal fee;
         3. (iii) A summary sheet of social work continuing education showing SWCE completed so far during the two-year renewal period;
         4. (iv) A signed attestation form that he or she will not practice social work or represent himself or herself as a social worker after the expiration date unless the extension request has been granted;
         5. (v) A letter requesting an extension with an explanation of the extenuating circumstance which prevented the social worker from obtaining the required hours;
         6. (vi)
4. (a) (a) If the extenuating circumstance is heath related, a letter from the physician should accompany the request.

5. (b) (b) The physician’s letter should indicate:

   1. (1) (1) The time and circumstances under the physician’s care; and

   2. (2) (2) How this prevented the social worker from obtaining their required hours;

      1. (vii) A work history for the renewal period showing any time not worked due to the extenuating circumstances; and

         1. (viii) A plan to complete the additional hours required.
         2. (c) Expiration. The license will be effective from the date issued and shall expire on the last day of the month exactly two (2) years from the date of issuance or, if applicable, the last renewal date.
         3. (d) Reinstatement. A license will be reinstated if an applicant can demonstrate all of the following requirements:
   3. (1) They were previously licensed to practice social work in Arkansas;
   4. (2) They were in good standing when the previous license expired or was not renewed;
   5. (3) Their license was not revoked for an act of bad faith nor for a violation of the laws, rules, or ethical rules that govern social workers;

   6. (4) They were not suspended or placed on probation in any:

      1. (A) State;
      2. (B) District;
      3. (C) Territory;
      4. (D) Jurisdiction; or
      5. (E) Canadian province;
   7. (5) They are sufficiently competent in their field;
   8. (6) They pay the application fee required by law; and
   9. (7) They complete the required background check.
6. (e) Duty to provide accurate information. The licensee has the responsibility to provide and update the board with accurate information of any change in their name or address and must do so within thirty (30) days of the change.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: “(Ark. Code Ann. §17-103-304)”