Certified Social Work (CSW) RequirementsCertified social workers provide the professional application of social work values, knowledge, principles, and methods in all areas of social work practice. Certified social workers can not practice privately, or independently, or autonomously. (Continued Description)
Applications
CSW description continued....
Be advised that if you plan to provide mental health services you must be:
- Licensed as a Mental Health Practitioner;
- Meet one of the exceptions delineated in statute (
exceptions); or
- Under supervision of a licensed mental health practitioner, licensed psychologist, or qualified physician and be in the process of obtaining the required post-master's experience (you must hold a provisional license in order to gain the post-masters experience towards licensure (provisional license page).
Certification Requirements and Application Process
Initial Certification: See
To apply for an initial CSW you must complete the
Licensing & Regulatory Affairs
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986Reciprocity: See
To apply for a certificate by reciprocity you must complete the
Licensing & Regulatory Affairs
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Issuance and Processing Time
If the
If you meet all the requirements for a certificate within 90 days prior to the biennial renewal date, you may:
- Request that the Department delay the processing of the application and the issuance of the certificate until the biennial renewal date and pay only the fee for initial certification (you would not be able to represent yourself as a social worker until the renewal date); or
- Request that a certificate be issued immediately (which will be valid until the current renewal date) and pay the fee for initial certification and an additional fee of one-fourth of the biennial renewal fee.
Certificate Expiration: All certificates as a Certified Social Worker expire 9/1 of even-numbered years.
These forms may be completed online, however, they cannot be submitted via e-mail due to the fact that all applications and forms require original signatures. If you complete the form online, you must print the form and mail it to the address listed.
All materials shall be submitted to Licensing & Regulatory Affairs with fee payable to the "Licensing & Regulatory Affairs".
Licensing & Regulatory Affairs
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Misdemeanor/Felony Convictions or Licensure Discipline
If you had a misdemeanor or felony conviction (other than a minor traffic violation) or had your license in any health care profession in another state revoked, suspended, limited or disciplined in any manner, you must request the following documents be sent directly to this office:
- Official Court Record, which includes charges and disposition;
- If the conviction involved a drug and/or alcohol related offense, all addiction/mental health evaluations and proof of treatment (if treatment was obtained and/or required);
- If you are currently on probation, a letter from your probation officer addressing probationary conditions and your current status; and
- If your license in health care in another state has been revoked, suspended, limited or disciplined in any way, an official copy of the disciplinary action, including charges and disposition.
NOTE: If you have any criminal charges or license disciplinary actions pending that results in conviction or license discipline, you are required to report such actions to this department within 30 days.
Expiration Date: All certificates as a social worker expire 9/1, of each even-numbered year.
Renewal Process: Notice of renewal is sent to each certificate holder approximately 90 days prior to the expiration date. It is important that your address is current with our office in order to assure delivery of the renewal notice. To renew a certificate, you must:
- Document 32 hours of approved continuing education (on the renewal form), earned within the renewal period.
- Inform the Department of any misdemeanor/felony convictions or disciplinary actions pending or taken in another state. For information relating to the documentation that must be submitted, click here.
- Pay the renewal fee of $27.00.
Final Notice: Renewals not postmarked or received by 9/1 will be sent a final notice. All final notices will be assessed a $25.00 late fee.
Revocation: Renewals not postmarked or received by 10/1 will be sent a notice of revocation.
Continuing Education Waiver: The Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure, Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Division, on the recommendation of the Board of Mental Health Practice may waive the continuing education requirements, in part or in total, for any two-year certification period when a certificate holder submits documentation that circumstances beyond his or her control prevented completion of such requirements. Such circumstances shall include situations in which:
- The certificate holder holds a Nebraska certificate but is not practicing his or her profession in Nebraska;
- The certificate holder has served in the regular armed forces of the United States during part of the 24 months immediately preceding the certificate renewal date;
- The certificate holder has submitted proof that he or she was suffering from a serious or disabling illness or physical disability which prevented completion of the required number of continuing education hours during the 24 months immediately preceding the certificate renewal date; and
- The certificate holder was first certified within the 24 months immediately proceeding the certificate renewal date.
Inactive or Lapsed Status: A certificate holder may request that his/her certificate be placed on inactive or lapsed status (this request can only occur at the time of renewal). If you choose either inactive or lapsed status, you can not represent yourself as a social worker.
- Inactive status means the voluntary termination of the right or privilege to represent oneself as a social worker, but retains the right to represent himself or herself as holding an inactive certificate as a social worker. A $35.00 fee is required for this status.
- Lapsed status means the voluntary termination of the right or privilege to represent oneself as a social worker. No fee is required.
Additional Information: Click
Continuing Education
On or before 9/1 of each even-numbered year, each certified social worker who is in active practice in the State of Nebraska shall complete 32 hours of approved continuing education during the proceeding 24-month period.
Hours earned prior to this date will be not be acceptable; and hours earned in excess of the requirement may not be carried over for the next renewal.
The following sets out the hours that can be gained through academic credit, home study, publications, dissertations, and by educational/training videos.
- Academic Credit:
- 1 semester hour = 5 c.e. hours;
- 1 quarter hour = 2/3 the weight of a semester credit;
- A certificate holder may earn up to 30 of the 32 continuing education hours through formal college/university credits within a biennial renewal period; and
- An individual teaching a college/university course may also earn up to 30 of the 32 continuing education hours within a biennial renewal period.
- Home Study Programs may accumulate up to 15 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal period;
- Publications may accumulate up to 20 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal period;
- Educational/Training Videos: may accumulate up to 10 hours of continuing education within a biennial renewal period utilizing educational/training videos;
- Practicum Supervision: may accumulate up to 6 hours of continuing education within a biennial renewal period by supervising a social work practicum; and
- Workshop/Seminar/Lecture, etc: 1 continuing education hour or credit means 60 minutes of participation.
Effective 9/1/96, the Board of Mental Health Practice no longer approves continuing education offerings, but may accept as continuing education for certification renewal, learning experiences, provided they are planned and conducted for social workers and if they are related to social work. Click
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