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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The Interim Director of the Department of Health, pursuant to the authority set forth under § 302(14) of the District of Columbia Health Occupation Revision Act of 1985 (Act), effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1203.02(14) (2007 Repl.)), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998, hereby gives notice of his intent to take final rulemaking action to adopt the following amendments to Chapter 70 of Title 17 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.
The purpose of the amendments is to clarify that in 17 DCMR § 7004.2, an “accredited program” means a Council on Social Work Education accredited program; to provide applicants that are already working toward licensure, but do not meet the requirement set forth in 17 DCMR § 7004.2 with two (2) limited exceptions by which to qualify to take the Advanced (Independent clinical social worker) exam; to properly identify the “Independent social worker” level of the national examination as the “Advanced Generalist” exam; and to properly identify the “Independent clinical social worker” level of the national examination as the “Advanced Clinical” exam; to rescind the Mandatory DC Social Work Laws and Regulations Review Course; to clarify that licensees who have been selected in the Board’s random continuing education audit to submit proof of completing the required continuing education credits within thirty (30) days after being deemed served notice of being audited; to clarify that the Board will approve continuing education credits developed and taught by individual with demonstrated qualifications in the topic; and to clarify that an applicant or social worker must first be licensed in the District of Columbia before he or she can engage in the supervised practice of social work.
Chapter 70, SOCIAL WORK, of Title 17, BUSINESS, OCCUPATIONS, AND PROFESSIONS, is amended as follows:
Section 7004, NATIONAL EXAMINATION, is amended as follows:
Subsections 7004.2 through 7004.4 are amended to read as follows:
7004.2 Beginning January 1, 2013, an applicant seeking to take the Advanced Clinical (Independent clinical social worker) level of the national examination clinical examination shall have completed twelve (12) academic credits of clinical course work from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program with a minimum of six (6) of the twelve (12) academic credits having been obtained in a Master's of Social Work program.
7004.3 Notwithstanding Subsection 7004.2, effective from the date of publication of this regulation until January 1, 2015, an applicant that does not meet the requirements set forth in Subsection 7004.2, may apply to take the Advanced Clinical (Independent clinical social worker) level of the national examination clinical examination if the applicant:
(a) Has completed six (6) or more academic credits of clinical course work from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program;
(b) Has completed a Board-approved post-graduate clinical training program; and
(c) Has completed an additional five hundred (500) hours of supervised practice hours in a clinical setting beyond the required three thousand (3000) hours of post-master’s or postdoctoral experience. For purposes of this section only, the additional five hundred (500) hours may have been obtained over a period of more than four (4) consecutive years but shall not exceed five (5) consecutive years.
7004.4 Notwithstanding Subsection 7004.2, effective from the date of publication of this regulation until January 1, 2015, an applicant that has completed less than six (6) academic credits of clinical course work from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program, may apply to take the Advanced Clinical (Independent clinical social worker) level of the national examination clinical examination if the applicant:
(a) Has completed a Board-approved post-graduate clinical training program; and
(b) Has completed an additional one thousand (1000) hours of supervised practice hours in a clinical setting beyond the required three thousand (3000) hours of post-master’s or postdoctoral experience. For purposes of this section only, the additional one thousand (1000) hours may have been obtained over a period of more than four (4) consecutive years but shall not exceed six (6) consecutive years.
The current Sections 7004.3-7004.4 are renumbered as 7004.5-7004.6.
Subsections 7004.7 through 7004.8 are amended to read as follows:
7004.7 The passing score on the Advanced Generalist (Independent social worker) level
of the national examination shall be seventy-five (75).
7004.8 The passing score on the Advanced Clinical (Independent clinical social worker)
level of the national examination shall be seventy-five (75).
The current Sections 7004.7-7004.10 are renumbered as 7004.9-7004.12.
A new Subsection 7004.13 is added to read as follows:
7004.13 The Board shall not accept any review courses or supervised practice hours completed prior to the date of the last failed examination in satisfaction of the requirements set forth in § 7004.11 and 7004.12.
Section 7008, CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, is amended as follows:
Subsection 7008.4 is amended to read as follows:
7008.4 Except as provided in 7008.2, beginning with the renewal period ending July 2015, all applicants for renewal of a license shall have completed forty (40) hours of approved continuing education credit during the two (2)-year period preceding the date the license expires, which shall include:
(a) A minimum of six (6) hours of continuing education credits in live, in-person face-to-face ethics course(s) in which the participant and presenter are physically present in the same room;
(b) A minimum of three (3) hours of continuing education credits in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) training or other Board-mandated topic as specified by the Board, which the Board shall give notice of at least twelve (12) months in advance of the renewal date; and
(c) A maximum of twelve (12) continuing education hours in independent home studies, distance learning continuing education activities, or internet courses.
Subsection 7008.6 is amended to read as follows:
7008.6 A licensee who is selected to participate in the Board’s continuing education audit
shall, within thirty (30) days after being deemed served notice of the selection,
submit proof pursuant to § 7008.13 of having completed the required approved
continuing education credits during the two (2)-year period immediately
preceding the date the license expires.
Section 7009, APPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, is amended as follows:
Subsection 7009.6(b) is amended to read as follows:
7009.6(b) Be developed and taught by individuals with demonstrated qualifications in the
topic in consultation with a licensed social worker; and
Section 7012, SUPERVISION OF PRACTICE, is amended as follows:
Subsections 7012.4 through 7012.13 are amended to read as follows:
7012.4 An applicant or social worker must first obtain licensure under the Act at the level of
licensure for which he or she is qualified, in order to engage in supervised
practice within the District.
The current Subsections 7012.4-7012.13 are renumbered as 7012.5-7012.14.
All persons desiring to comment on the subject matter of this proposed rulemaking action shall submit written comments, not later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register, to Kenneth Campbell, General Counsel, Department of Health, Office of the General Counsel, 899 North Capitol Street, N.E., 5th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20002. Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the address listed above, or by contacting Angli Black, Administrative Assistant, at Angli.Black@dc.gov or (202) 442-5977.
