Maryland Administrative Code

.05 Relationships. A. The licensee may not enter into a dual relationship with a client or an individual with whom the client has a close personal relationship. B. Adoption of a Former Client. The Board may make an exception to §A of this regulation in the case of a licensee seek…

.06 Standards of Practice. A. Professional Competence. The licensee shall: (1) Limit practice to the areas in which the licensee has gained proficiency through education, training, and experience; (2) Acquire specialized education and training in order to provide the client with …

.07 Sanctions. A. The licensee who engages in ethical misconduct is subject to sanctions by the Board. B. The Board shall notify the National Practitioner Data Bank of any formal sanction of a licensee on the grounds of ethical misconduct. C. The licensee may not prohibit the cli…

.01 Scope. This chapter governs procedures for disciplinary matters and hearings before the State Board of Social Work Examiners.

.02 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Administrative law judge” means the hearing officer assigned to preside over a hearing in a case the Board has delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings. (2) “Adm…

.03 Confidentiality of Proceedings. A. Except as otherwise provided by law, the proceedings of the Board are confidential. The parties may not waive the confidentiality provided by this section. B. The Office of Administrative Hearings' proceedings involving the adjudication of a…

.04 Representation by Counsel. A. A respondent may be represented by counsel in any matter before the Board and at any stage of the proceedings. B. If the matter goes to a hearing, the respondent shall be represented in proper person or by an attorney who has been admitted to the…

.05 Proceedings under Health Occupations Article, §19-311, Annotated Code of Maryland. A. Investigation of Complaints. (1) The Board may: (a) Make a preliminary review of each complaint; and (b) Recommend that cases involving complaints over which the Board lacks jurisdiction be …

.06 Sanctions, Hearings, and Final Order. A. Surrender of License. (1) The Board may require conditions for surrender of a license, including: (a) An admission of a violation of the Maryland Social Workers Act; (b) An admission of facts; (c) A statement of the circumstances under…

.07 Summary Suspension of a License. A. Pursuant to its authority under State Government Article, §10-226(c)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland, the Board shall order the summary suspension of a license if the Board determines that there is a substantial likelihood that a licensee po…

.08 Probation and Violation of Probation Proceedings. A. If the Board imposes a period of probation as a sanction, the Board may impose conditions of probation which the Board considers appropriate, including: (1) Reeducation or completion of approved courses; (2) Payment of a fi…

.09 Restoration of a License. A. Reinstatement. (1) A licensee shall petition the Board for a termination of a suspension of a license or a reinstatement after revocation or surrender of a license. (2) A licensee that petitions the Board for reinstatement under the terms and cond…

.10 Judicial Review. A final order of the Board is subject to judicial review as provided in Health Occupations Article, §19-313 and State Government Article, §10-222, Annotated Code of Maryland.

.11 Fines. A. After a hearing under Health Occupations Article, §19-312, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 10.42.04, the Board may impose a fine, in addition to, or instead of: (1) Reprimanding a licensee; (2) Placing a licensee on probation; or (3) Suspending or revoking a l…

.12 Cost Recovery. If after a hearing, a licensee is found to have violated any of the provisions of Health Occupations Article, §19-311, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of costs by the licensee including any or all of the following items:…

.01 Scope. This chapter governs all persons licensed as social workers in the State and all persons, agencies, institutions, or organizations seeking to provide continuing education programs who submit applications to the Board for sponsorship authorization and program approval u…

.02 Fees. A. The following fees are established by the Board: (1) Application processing fee — $100; (2) Initial license fee — $75; (3) License renewal fee: (a) Bachelor level — $100; (b) Graduate level — $200; (c) Certified level — $275; (d) Certified-clinical level — $275; (4) …

.03 Change of Fees. A. Fees are subject to change by action of the State Board of Social Work Examiners. B. The Board shall give notice of a change in fees to licensees and applicants by any reasonable means.

.04 Maryland Health Care Commission Assessment for Health Care Practitioners. At the time of license renewal of a certified social worker—clinical, certified social worker, and a graduate social worker, an applicant shall pay to the Board a user fee assessed by the Maryland Healt…

.01 Scope and Objectives. A. This chapter establishes continuing education requirements for licensed social workers in the State. B. The objectives of this chapter include: (1) Maintenance and enhancement of professional competence; (2) Ongoing improvement of professional skills …

.02 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Approved programs” means programs that are presented by professionals who are qualified in the content area with education as the focus and that: (a) Are offered or provid…

.03 Continuing Education Requirements. A. The Board shall renew a license for an additional 2-year period if the social worker: (1) Completes 40 (30 for Licensed Bachelor Social Workers) continuing education units within the renewal period, of which a minimum of: (a) 20 (15 for L…

.04 Continuing Education Learning Activities. A. The social worker shall complete continuing education units relating to the practice of social work that foster improvement, advancement, and extension of the social worker's professional skill, knowledge, and competence. B. Docume…

.05 Authorized Sponsors and Approval of Continuing Education Programs. A. Authorized Sponsors. (1) Authorized sponsors shall offer continuing education programs that meet the objectives set forth in Regulations .01B and .04 of this chapter. (2) The following are authorized sponso…

.06 Reporting, Documenting, and Auditing Compliance with Continuing Education Requirements. A. A social worker who has completed the continuing education requirements shall attest to that on a form supplied by the Board as part of the application for license renewal, reinstatemen…

.07 Consequences of Failure to Comply with Continuing Education Requirements. A. The Board shall take disciplinary action under COMAR 10.42.04 against any social worker who fraudulently attests to or does not submit continuing education documentation. B. A social worker who fails…

.08 Reinstatement of Licenses. An individual whose license has not been renewed is entitled to reinstatement within 5 years if the following is completed on or before October 31 of the 5th year after the date the license expired: A. All required documentation is submitted and app…

.09 Reactivation of Licenses. An individual whose license was placed on inactive status is entitled to reactivation within 5 years if the following is completed on or before October 31 of the 5th year after the date the license was placed on inactive status: A. All required docum…

.10 Extension of Time. A. An actively licensed social worker may file a request to extend time and conditionally renew a license. The request shall: (1) Be in writing; (2) Include supporting documentation; and (3) Be filed before October 1 of the renewal year. B. The Board shall …

.11 Exceptions from Certain Requirements. A. Before attending a program, a social worker with an active license requesting an exception from certain requirements of this chapter shall provide: (1) Official documentation that confirms circumstances beyond the control of the social…

.01 Disclosure for Compelling Public Purpose. The custodian of the records may find that a compelling public purpose warrants disclosure of information in a certification, licensing, or investigative file, regardless of whether there has been a request for the information, and ma…

.02 Other Disclosures. This chapter does not prohibit or limit the ability of the Board to disclose general licensing information under General Provisions Article, §4-333, Annotated Code of Maryland, or any information that the Board may otherwise disclose by law.

.01 Scope. A. This chapter establishes qualifications and standards for independent practice, supervision and the responsibilities of supervisors and supervisees in the practice of social work. B. This chapter applies to licensees who practice social work in this State, and indiv…

.02 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Agency” means an entity that employs three or more licensees and for which the licensees practice social work. (2) “Board-approved supervisor” means an LBSW, LCSW, LCSW-C,…

.03 Requirements for a Board-Approved Social Work Supervisor. A. A social worker who intends to provide supervision to a licensed social worker for independent practice: (1) Shall apply to the Board for approval as a Board-approved supervisor; and (2) May continue to provide supe…

.04 Qualifications for a Board-Approved Supervisor. A. License. (1) For social workers licensed by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners a supervisor shall hold an active license as a: (a) Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW); (b) Certified Social Worker (LCSW); (c) Certified Soci…

.05 Registration. A. A supervisor shall: (1) Have filed with the Board the form designated as the supervisory registration form; (2) Have a license that is unencumbered and without restrictions or conditions due to disciplinary action for the 5 years preceding supervisor status; …

.06 Standards for Supervision. A. A supervisor shall: (1) Supervise only in those areas within the supervisor's competence as determined by education, training, and experience; (2) Provide supervision appropriate to the particular level of licensure being applied for or maintaine…

.07 Responsibilities of a Supervisor. A. A social work supervisor shall be Board-approved before providing supervision to licensed social workers for advanced practice or independent practice. B. A Board-approved supervisor shall remain knowledgeable of the statutes and regulatio…

.08 Responsibilities of a Supervisee. A. A supervisee shall: (1) Receive social work supervision for social work practice as set forth in Health Occupations Article, §19-101, Annotated Code of Maryland; (2) Receive a minimum of 3 hours of face-to-face supervision per month or 1 h…

.09 Group Supervision for Advanced Licensure. A. Group supervision is an optional form of supervision and may not be used as the sole form of supervision. B. Only half of the required hours of supervision may be obtained from group supervision. C. The group supervisor shall provi…

.10 Status of Independent Practice. The Board shall maintain an indication that the licensee is approved for independent practice on its roster of licensees on the web site.

.11 Status of Board-Approved Supervisor. The Board shall maintain an indication that the licensee is a Board-approved supervisor on its roster of licensees on the web site.

.01 Scope. This chapter establishes standards for sanctions and monetary penalties not exceeding $10,000 against any social worker in the State if, after a hearing, the Board finds that there are grounds under Health Occupations Article, §19-311.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, to …

.02 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Board” means the State Board of Social Work Examiners. (2) “License” means a license issued by the Board to practice social work. (3) “Licensee” means a social worker who …

.03 Imposition of a Penalty after a Hearing. If, after a hearing under Health Occupations Article, §19-312, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Board finds that there are grounds under Health Occupations Article, §19-311, Annotated Code of Maryland, to suspend or revoke a license, th…

.04 Guidelines for Disciplinary Sanctions and Imposition of Penalties. A. Subject to the provisions of this section, the Board may impose sanctions and penalties for violations of the Maryland Social Workers Act, Health Occupations Article, §19-311, Annotated Code of Maryland, an…