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License Renewal:
All Licensees:
License renewal applications are mailed to the licensee using the address on file sixty (60) to ninety (90) days prior to the month of expiration. The licensee shall complete and sign the renewal application and submit with appropriate fee and accounting of continuing education activity recognized by the Board prior to the expiration of existing license. The licensee shall allow up to fifteen (15) business days to process a renewal.
Post-Expiration Privilege to Renew (applies to Regular and Temporary Licensees only):
West Virginia Code §30-30-10 allows the licensee the privilege of renewing the license for a maximum period of sixty (60) days after license expiration. Date of license expiration is that which is printed on the license. Applications received after the end of this grace period will not be accepted and the licensee will lose the privilege of renewal. All materials, application, and correct fee must be received IN the Board office before the license can be renewed.
Late Fee (applies to Regular and Temporary Licensees only):
For license renewal applications that are received more than thirty days after the day of expiration, the late fee must be included in addition to the standard renewal fee (total $95.00). If the wrong fee is sent, the renewal application will be returned and cause further delay.
License Extensions:
Regular Licenses: Licenses are not extended for any reason.
Temporary Licenses: Under temporary compliance provisions, a mandatory or other extended period may be required for the existing license as determined by the Board. A service fee will be imposed. See the Temporary License section of the Professional Manual for details.
Waiver of Continuing Education (applies to Regular Licensees only):
For regular licensees who have experienced extreme and unusual hardship that resulted in long-term absence from practice or other extreme situation involving illness or family, a waiver of all or part of the required continuing education may be considered and renewal allowed. Submit a detailed written explanation of the extreme and unusual circumstances prior to license expiration. Waivers cannot be granted consecutively. To avoid loss of license, if not practicing for long-term, use the Inactive License Status privilege.
Responsibility of Licensee (applies to all licensees):
It is the responsibility of the licensee to contact the board for renewal information if they have not received their renewal application at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of expiration. In most cases this occurs because an address is no longer valid and the renewal application has been returned to the Board office. Whether or not you receive your renewal application, it is the responsibility of the licensee to obtain a license renewal form and renew the license within the legal time frame.
Notify the Board immediately of any address change at the time it occurs. Use the fax, email, regular mail, or phone message to report a change of address.
Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal:
Regular Licensees: Effective May 1, 2004, there is a new CE Reporting Form process for regular licensees only. The licensee may report WVBSWE approved continuing education activity on a single form provided by the Board or one created by the licensee that includes the exact same information and sworn statement. This form is to be submitted to the Board ONLY after all fifty hours have been met. Regular licensees must earn a total of FIFTY (50) HOURS that include at least thirty (30) hours of Category I West Virginia Board approved programs; and up to twenty (20) hours of Category II self-directed or other Individual Professional Activities. See the section on Continuing Education and the Quick Check Reference Guide of the 2004 Professional Manual for more information.
Temporary Licensees: The Temporary Licensed Social Worker is committed to earning a total of eighty (80) contact hours in the first two-year licensing period; and will renew the license for a final two-year period and earn an additional eighty (80) hours in the same manner as in the first two years. Specifically: at least sixty (60) of the eighty (80) hours must be earned from WV Board Approved or Certified providers (Category I classification); of these 60 hours, the temporary licensee must earn at least eight (8) hours of mandatory Social Work & Professional Ethics continuing education as specified in the Temporary License section of the Professional Manual. There are specific stipulations that apply to an acceptable Ethics training or program included in the Professional Manual. The temporary Licensee may also use up to twenty (20) hours in each two-year period (of the eighty-hours) as "Individual Professional Activities" (Category II classification).
Carry-Over Rule (applies to all licensees):
Any active licensee who has satisfied the total continuing education requirements and has renewed their existing license prior to expiration, may carry over excess hours earned from Board approved programs that they have attended within forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration date on the license. Only training that was not previously reported that is earned during this period may apply to the next renewed license. The “carry-over” date will vary and is determined by the individual’s license expiration date. Carry-over records should not be submitted until after you have renewed your existing license. When submitting programs earned during a “carry-over” period, the licensee should attach a note indicating that the training was earned during the carry-over period and was not used with the previous license renewal. For any license that expires on January 1st, ----, the carry-over date is, and always has been the November 15th prior to license expiration.
Renewal Processing Time (applies to all licensees):
Allow at least ten to fifteen business days following receipt of your renewal application, fee, and continuing education record. If you do not receive a response within three weeks after mailing your application, you should contact the Board by phone, fax, mail, or email. Continuing Education records should be submitted as soon as the fifty hours have been completed or may be sent after completion of each program using the older standard form provided by the Board. Please do not fax and mail records or duplicate reports.
Expired License:
Regular Licensees: Under law, once a license has expired and the grace period has been exhausted, the license cannot be reinstated or renewed. There are no exceptions to this legal provision. Regular licensees who do not intend to renew their license should have applied for Inactive License status to protect the license for future use.
Temporary Licensees: Special mandatory provisions may apply as determined by the Board which are stipulated in the revised language of the Temporary License section of the Professional Manual.
Provisional Permit:
Provisional Permits are not renewable and are not subject to continuing education requirements.