Continuing Education Accreditation
Scope and Goal of Program
Application Requirements
Application Processing Fees
NASW - Virginia Continuing Education Program Evaluation Criteria
Application Evaluation and Certification Process
Continuing Education Credit Records & Issuance of Certificates
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Online Accreditation Application
Scope and Goal of Program
The NASW - Virginia Continuing Education (CE) Program certifies workshops, conferences seminars and other types of programs that contribute to Social Work knowledge in all areas of practice (health, mental health, child/family services, etc) and methodology (including clinical, administrative, management, policy, etc).
The goal of the program is to encourage the continuing education of all Social Workers throughout the Commonwealth (and beyond), and to establish a professional standard of excellence in those continuing education offerings.
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All providers of social work-relevant continuing education programs may make application for certification. Providers must complete a NASW - Virginia CE Program Application. Applicants will be expected to identify specific program learning objectives, speaker credentials, and site arrangements that are consistent with NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education (NASW, 1982). Applications must also include agendas, timetables, method(s) of instruction, and content outlines designed to meet the identified learning objectives.
Approved providers agree in advance to return the following documents for record to the NASW-Virginia Chapter office within 30 days after the program has concluded:
- A participant sign in/out sheet (for one-day and series programs only)
- Program evaluation summary
- A roster of attendees for the one-day program or workshop series program, OR for the multi-day conference, a roster of attendees for each workshop.
NOTE: Once NASW has sent the appropriate forms along with the approval letter the Sponsor is responsible for those materials. If NASW has to re-copy any forms, there will be a $25.00 charge.
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Application Processing Fees
A nonrefundable fee covering application processing is assessed to providers. The annually reviewed fee structure is:
- One-Day Program Application: $100.00
Any workshop or seminar with a minimum of 2 hours of program time, and does not span more than one calendar day. This workshop or seminar may be repeated up to four times without major changes to content, agenda, and speaker with no additional application fees. Organizers must schedule the repeated classes with in one calendar year of the original application and must notify the Chapter 35 days prior to the scheduled date(s).
- Multi-Day Conference Application: $225.00
Any conference that is greater than one calendar day and has multiple competing workshops. This program cannot be repeated. A new application must be submitted each year for approval.
- Staff Development/Series Program: $65.00 per topic/session in the Series (must be paid in full at the initial application date)
Any workshop series (of two or more) with a general theme, but different topics/speakers for each event. The providing agency will submit one application with goals and objectives for the "Series" and supporting goals and objectives for each "event". Speaker credentials must be submitted at the initial application date OR a minimum of 30 days prior to the event. If speaker credentials are not received a minimum of 30 days prior to the event, that particular event will not be eligible for CE credit. Each event must be a minimum of 2 hours in length. All "events" must take place within one calendar year of the initial application to be considered as part of the series program.
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Application Content
Applications must contain sufficient information for evaluation by the NASW - Virginia Continuing Education Program Certification Committee (hereafter referred to as "the Committee"). If the Committee deems the submitted information insufficient, additional information may be requested from the conference provider before rendering a final decision. Failure to submit such data may serve as the basis for denying approval.
Topic information must relate to one of the following:
1. Social Work practice, theory and/or methodology;
2. Social issues or policy;
3. Administration, planning, and research related to human services.
The implications must be clear, logical, and defendable. This information should be reflected in any promotional material. Specific program learning objectives must be identified and supported with agendas, timetables, and content outlines. Event content must be congruent with the tenets of the NASW Code of Ethics.
Speakers are regarded as qualified to present on a topic based on the following factors:
1. Competence in subject matter (as evidenced by work experience, formal education and training, publishing and/or public speaking history, and/or other recognition by peers including certificates,
licenses, titles, and/or awards);
2. Ability to transmit education to participants;
3. Capacity to evaluate and modify future offerings based on evaluation feedback.
Requests are anticipated from individuals with a diverse array of credentials and experience. Accordingly, a strict standard will not be established solely on the basis of academic degree.
It is recognized that individuals may have become known and accepted as competent within their fields without necessarily having achieved higher academic or professional credentials. These individuals, including well-published authors, have unique contributions to make to our knowledge.
NOTE: It is the singular responsibility of the audience to place speakers’ material in the appropriate context and determine any application of speakers’ material to their practice.
Conference/ arrangements/ organization must be reflected in the application with sufficient logistical planning. Such planning is reflected in completion of the following items:
1. Established site selection;
2. Confirmed speaker selection;
3. Preparation of conference brochures;
4. A system for maintaining and verifying records of each event, including accounting, registrations, attendance records, course outlines, and completed evaluations.
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Each Committee member individually evaluates the application items noted above. The Committee Chair solicits each committee member’s vote; Committee members reviewing the application shall agree before an approval is rendered. The Vice President has final approval.
The Committee shall act on conference application within 35 days of Chapter receipt. Acceptance or rejection notifications or requests for additional information shall be mailed to conference sponsors within 5 working days of the Committee’s evaluation.
Continuing Education Contact hours will be conferred on the basis of the actual time expended in education activities. One hour of instruction equals one contact hour. Accordingly, time allocated for conference registration, meals, snacks, social hours, rest breaks, or similar elements will be disallowed. In the event there is an educational program connected with a meal function, time spent eating is not included, but there may be credit for education portion of that time.
Questions regarding Committee activities or certification decisions may be directed to the Committee Chair. Should further information or actions be desired, inquiries may be directed to the NASW-Virginia Chapter Executive Director.
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Permanent Records
The NASW-Virginia Chapter will maintain records of all applications, approvals, rejections, withdrawals and information requests as well as rosters of those receiving NASW - Virginia CE credit, attendee event evaluation forms, and associated correspondence. Individuals or event sponsors may request copies of their own attendance and certification records by contacting the NASW-Virginia Chapter office. A handling fee of $10 is charged for record copies.
Documentation of Attendance
NASW-Virginia Chapter needs evidence that participants have satisfactorily completed the approved activity before issuing contact hours. Only those who have completed the entire activity will receive the maximum number of approved contact hours. Those participants who do not complete the activity will receive contact hours prorated based upon the percentage of the activity completed. For a one-day program or a series program, it is the responsibility of the program organizer to document that the participant has met this standard.
Sponsoring organizations of one-day programs or series programs must return sign in/sign out sheets to NASW-Virginia within 30 days of program completion. An evaluations summary must also be sent to NASW-Virginia within 30 days after the program has concluded.
Issuance of Certificates
NASW-Virginia will issue certificates to participants who have successfully completed the program and submit a NASW - Virginia Continuing Education Credit Participant Form along with the appropriate certificate fee, $5 for members and $10 for non-members.
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Promoting NASW - Virginia Approval on Your Program Literature:
- Prior to approval: Promotional material must state, "Continuing Education Approval from NASW Virginia Chapter is pending".
- Courses approved by NASW - Virginia: Should have the following information: "This program has been approved by the National Association of Social Workers-Virginia Chapter for ___ contact hours."
Website Advertisement
Approved programs will be listed on the Chapter website in the CE Calendar. The listing will be removed after the date of the conference. If a scheduled repeat of a one-day program is submitted within appropriate time guidelines, it will also be listed.
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Online Accreditation Application
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