1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Approved programs” means programs that are presented by professionals who are qualified in the content area with education as the focus and that:

      1. (a) Are offered or provided under the auspices of an authorized sponsor; or
      2. (b) Are offered or approved by the Board.
   2. (2) “Authorized sponsor” means an individual, agency, or organization that is authorized to provide continuing education programs and to offer under its auspices programs as set forth in Regulation .05 of this chapter.
   3. (3) “Board” means the Board of Social Work Examiners.
   4. (4) “Category I” means activities that are formally organized face-to-face, or live, real time interactive learning experiences provided authorized sponsors as set forth in Regulation .04 of this chapter.
   5. (5) “Category II” means learning experiences as set forth in Regulation .04 of this chapter.
   6. (6) “Committee” means the Continuing Education Committee appointed by the Board.

   7. (7) “Continuing education” means completing approved programs designed to provide:

      1. (a) Enhancement of professional social work practice, values, skills, and knowledge; and
      2. (b) Enrichment of professional social work services and competence.
   8. (8) “Continuing education unit” means 1 hour (60 minutes) of an approved program as set forth in Regulation .04 of this chapter.
   9. (9) “County” means a county of Maryland and, unless expressly provided otherwise, Baltimore City.
   10. (10) “Exception” means a deviation or departure from the continuing education requirements for circumstances set forth in Regulation .11 of this chapter that is granted at the discretion of the Board.
   11. (11) “Extension” means a period of time, not to exceed 6 months for renewal, that the Board authorizes to permit additional time for a social worker with an active license to obtain the required continuing education units needed for renewal of a license as set forth in Regulation .10 of this chapter.
   12. (12) “Nonprofit organization” means an organization that is tax exempt under 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3)—(4).
   13. (13) “Renewal date” means the date the license expires, as specified in the notice sent to the social worker by the Board in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §19-308(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.
   14. (14) “Renewal period” means the period from the date the license was issued or November 1 of the renewal year to October 31 of the expiration year.

   15. (15) “State” means:

       1. (a) A state, possession, or territory of the United States;
       2. (b) The District of Columbia; or
       3. (c) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§1-101(b) and (j), 19-205 and 19-308, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.07 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 22, 1994 (21:8 Md. R. 666); adopted permanently effective September 12, 1994 (21:18 Md. R. 1509)

Regulation .04A amended effective August 12, 1996 (23:16 Md. R. 1176)

Regulations .01—.06 repealed and new Regulations .01—.12 adopted effective November 1, 2003 (29:9 Md. R. 745)

Regulation .11 repealed and Regulation .12 recodified to be Regulation .11 effective January 1, 2007 (33:26 Md. R. 1997)

Regulations .01—.11 repealed and new Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective March 22, 2010 (37:6 Md. R. 478)

Regulation .02B amended as an emergency provision effective July 8, 2015 (42:16 Md. R. 1053); amended permanently effective September 28, 2015 (42:19 Md. R. 1228)

Regulation .03A amended as an emergency provision effective July 8, 2015 (42:16 Md. R. 1053); amended permanently effective September 28, 2015 (42:19 Md. R. 1228); July 31, 2017 (44:15 Md. R. 760)

Regulation .04D, E amended as an emergency provision effective July 8, 2015 (42:16 Md. R. 1053); amended permanently effective September 28, 2015 (42:19 Md. R. 1228)

Regulation .06A amended effective July 31, 2017 (44:15 Md. R. 760)

Regulation .06D adopted effective July 31, 2017 (44:15 Md. R. 760)

Regulation .07E amended as an emergency provision effective July 8, 2015 (42:16 Md. R. 1053); amended permanently effective September 28, 2015 (42:19 Md. R. 1228)

Regulation .07F amended effective July 31, 2017 (44:15 Md. R. 760)

Regulation .08 amended as an emergency provision effective July 8, 2015 (42:16 Md. R. 1053); amended permanently effective September 28, 2015 (42:19 Md. R. 1228)

Regulation .08C amended effective July 31, 2017 (44:15 Md. R. 760)

Regulation .10B amended as an emergency provision effective July 8, 2015 (42:16 Md. R. 1053); amended permanently effective September 28, 2015 (42:19 Md. R. 1228)

Regulation .11B amended as an emergency provision effective July 8, 2015 (42:16 Md. R. 1053); amended permanently effective September 28, 2015 (42:19 Md. R. 1228)

Chapter revised effective May 20, 2019 (46:10 Md. R. 490)

Regulation .02B amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042); April 28, 2025 (52:8 Md. R. 358)

Regulation .03A amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042)

Regulation .05 amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042); April 28, 2025 (52:8 Md. R. 358)

Regulation .06 amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042)

Regulation .07 amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042)

Regulation .08 amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042)

Regulation .09 amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042)

Regulation .10 amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042)

Regulation .11 amended effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1042)