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Statute changes proposed for a House Bill to update Chapter 4757 and other parts of the Ohio Revised Code that apply to the Board's licensees

Representative Sears has a new draft bill that will make substantive changes to the Board's authorizing Chapter 4757 of the Revised Code. See link below for the 3/15/2013 draft of the Bill with a cover page explaining what changes are included - this is not all changes, but a good summary.

See this link for Draft House Bill as drafted by LSC for Rep. Sears: Link.
We requested several changes to the draft, which you can see at this: Link
We expect a new draft next week, hopefully by May 2nd, and the bill being introduced shortly thereafter.

Five Year Rule Review Completed

The board final filed the Five Year Rule Review, which are now effective. The rules include 4757-01-01, 4757-01-03, 4757-01-06, 4757-05-01, 4757-05-02, 4757-05-03, 4757-05-04, 4757-05-05, 4757-05-06, 4757-05-07, 4757-05-08, 4757-05-09, 4757-05-12, 4757-05-13, 4757-09-02, 4757-09-03, 4757-11-03, 4757-11-04, 4757-13-01, 4757-13-02, 4757-13-03, 4757-13-05, 4757-13-06, 4757-13-07, 4757-13-08, 4757-15-01, 4757-15-02, 4757-17-01, 4757-19-01, 4757-19-02, 4757-19-03, 4757-19-07, 4757-19-08, 4757-21-01, 4757-21-02, 4757-21-03, and 4757-23-01 of the Ohio Administrative Code. See the current rules in link at top of the page. The amended rules, except 4757-9-04 and 4757-9-05, became effective 1/1/2013. These two rules will be reviewed at the January 19 & 20, 2013 board meetings.

Rule Changes Effective January 1, 2013

Filed Rules with significant changes - this is a list of the significant changes made to eight rules. See the full rules at link at top of page.

Rule Changes Effective April 1, 2012

Rule 4757-1-05 Adds three new fees: $15 for replacement wall certificates; $30 fee for annual CE programs; and $125 for CE Provider status. See this link for new forms: Link

Rule 4757-9-05 Adds sub-paragraphs to CE program and CE provider applications to include required fee. Adds new paragraph (D), which requires CE program advertising to include the target audience and if program includes ethics or supervision the # of hours of each and target audience.

See this link for filed rules details: Link.
See this link for complete current laws and rules file: Link.

Rule Changes Effective September 1, 2011

Rule 4757-9-03 Modifies renewal for new LSW who previously held related degree licensee; and adds diversity as a subject under ethics for LISWs, LSWs and SWAs toward the 3 hours of ethics CEUs.

Rule 4757-13-03 Removes supervision from prior to 1998 from acceptable experience toward PCC licensure since that experience is so far in the past.

Rule 4757-17-01 The PCC-S supervisor shall sign off on all diagnosis, change in diagnosis, ISPs, Treatment plans, and correspondence to any third party outside of the agency.

Rule 4757-19-01 Removes requirement for previously licensed LSW to have 400 hour field work course.

Rule 4757-23-01 Documents better the requirement that LSW supervised practice shall be provided by a licensed independent social worker with supervision designation, which has been in place since September 1, 2008.

See this link for complete laws and rules file: Link.

Rule Changes Effective April 1, 2011

Rule 4757-9-04 includes changes, which allows licensees to bank up to 12 hours of CEUs in excess of 30 hours of CEUs from the immediately prior renewal period, if any.

If you are audited using up to 12 hours of prior CEUs, a licensee will be audited for that period and the prior period and will have to show at least 60 hours of CEUs. For example, a licensee earned 42 hours of CEUs from May 20, 2008 to May 20, 2010. That licensee may use up to twelve hours of CEUs from the May 20, 2010 renewal toward the renewal due in May 20, 2012. If audited, the licensee shall provide proof of at least 60 total hours: 42 hours of CEUs (or 30 plus whatever number are being banked) from May 20, 2008 to May 20, 2010; and at least 18 CEUs (or the remainder needed to equal a total of 30 hours) from May 20, 2010 through May 20, 2012.

4757-1-07 Discipline actions that may include fines.
4757-3-01 Change to definition of accepted CSWE MSW degrees in paragraph (M).
4757-5-02 Responsibility to clients/consumers of services as to competency in supervision. New paragraph (I) in rule.
4757-5-03 Removes bartering from Standards of ethical practice and professional conduct: multiple relationships.
4757-5-08 Removes bartering from Standards of ethical practice and professional conduct: payment for services.
4757-5-09 Adds a requirement for independent practitioners to identify a keeper of records in the event of their untimely ability to take care of the records themselves.
4757-6-01 Provides more detailed guidance when a licensee with a client involved in a custody, visitation and/or guardianship case is forced into court.
4757-9-05 Changes the continuing education provider section for university programs in counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy to align with other providers.
4757-13-07 Removes inappropriate reference to CACREP accreditation standards in the rule.
4757-25-02 Defines the examination requirement for a lapsed Marriage and Family Therapist or Independent Marriage and Family Therapist licensee applying for a new license.
See this link for complete laws and rules file: Link.

ASWB & NASW CE Approvals

The Social Worker Professional Standards committee (SWPSC) has approved the following continuing education program approval changes. LISWs, LSWs, and SWAs may take any continuing education courses approved by the Association of Social Worker Boards (ASWB) or the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for their renewal requirements.

Any course that is accredited by the ASWB will be accepted by this Board for continuing social work education. If the course materials say “ACE approved” or “approved as a provider for continuing education by the ASWB”, it is acceptable.

Any course that is accredited by the NASW will be accepted by this Board for continuing social work education. If the course materials say “NASW Approved: with a NASW approval number or “NASW State Chapter Approved” with a NASW approval number, it is acceptable.

This change was approved due to the high quality and thoroughness of the approval processes for continuing education programs and providers used by ASWB and NASW. This option by rule change below is available only to national social work associations.
Links to ASWB approval program is here.
Links to ASWB approved providers is here.
Links to NASW approval program and courses are here.

The Board is interested in your input on rules and the rule making process. See the Laws & Regulations link on the front page: Laws & Regs page

Continuing Education Program Survey

The Board has added a new question to the renewals under the "CE's Completed" section of the online renewals. You have the option to complete a short survey on the most recent or other recent continuing education program that you took. You can complete the survey here at anytime: CE Program Survey.

The Board is interested in your input on the CE programs that are offered both good and bad. No CE credits will be taken away because of these reports, but we will look at future offerings based on these comments.

New Licensure Requirement for
PC, PCC, LSW, LISW, SWA, MFT & IMFT Applicants

The Board has added a new licensure requirement (for new applicants), for the licenses listed in the title, which applies to all applications received after 1/1/2010. We have created an online ethics laws and rules exam review and CEU option. You can take the exam here: Exam site.

The Laws & Rules exam is an online review that costs $10 for applicants and $30 for CEUs. You can pay $10 for a laws and rules exam or $30 for a CEU. If you are a PC, LSW or MFT and need CEUs for renewal, you can do that and use that certificate within two years for your PCC, LISW or IMFT laws and rules exam. The instructions are on the page in the link above. You cannot fail. All questions that you miss will come back to be answered until you get them correct. There is a link on each question to the appropriate law or rule. We have had very positive reviews from the exam takers that the exam is a very thorough review of the board's laws and rules.

If you are licensed as a PC, LSW or MFT and need ethics CEU’s to renew your license, you can take the online ethics laws and rules exam. Additionally, if you have completed the ethics laws and rule exam within the past two years, you can use the exam certificate you receive to meet the requirements of the laws and rules exam you would have to take to obtain a PCC, LISW or IMFT. Please forward a copy of the certificate via email to the licensure staff member on the Staff Listing on our web site front page.

New Fees Including Late Renewal Fee

Part of House Bill 153, which is the Ohio budget bill for Fiscal years 2012& 2013 includes language that adds new fees for the board. The new fees will authorize amounts to be established by rule. Rule 4757-1-05 will be filed if the bill passes to add the following new fees:
1. Continuing education program applications may be $30.
2. Continuing education provider applications will be $125.
3. Replacement wall certificates will be $15.
New fees would be effective after Spetember 30, 2011 at the earliest.

Consumer Brochure & Electronic Service Delivery

The board has approved a consumer brochure to explain our board and licensees. Please feel free to use the linked item Link.

The board has approved a consumer statement to explain electronic service delivery including eTherapy, telephone therapy or any other electronic means. Please review this linked item Link.

MFT is in ODMH Matrix as Provider

The Department of Mental Health approved a rule change to add MFTs to the authorization rules for reimbursement by the state. MFTs are eligible to work at mental health agencies reimbursed by the state.

National Provider Identifier Standard (NPI)

The Board has received many calls about the NPI. However, we have no responsibility in this area. Here is a link to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services web site on the NPI: Educational Resources.
Below are the ODMH and ODJFS sites as well.

ODMH info on NPI
ODJFS info on NPI

Renewal Update

Renewals will be mailed Quarterly starting in 2011.
January through March 2011, which were mailed in early November;
April through June were mailed in early February;
July through Septemebr will be mailed in early May; and
October through December will be mailed in early August.
Please make sure we have your current address. Contact the Board if you do not have your form. Please use online renewal we have received rave reviews from over 98% of comments!

License Verification or Lookup System

You can access the Licensee Lookup feature that is updated daily at the following link Licensee Lookup Link.

Newsletter

Want to be a Board member?

Anyone interested in becoming a board member should go to the Governor's web site at this link for an application. Submit a complete application to the address at that web site. Several Board members' appointments expire 10/10/2011. While a position for which you are eligible may not be immediately available submitting an application gets you on the list for consideration in the future.