(1) Certification renewal is a condition of continued employment for positions requiring certification.
    (2) In order to be eligible for certification renewal, a certified Child Welfare Professional must continue to fulfill his or her job requirements and participate in a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education every two (2) years from the date of his or her most recent certification. Unless accommodations are made by the Third Party Credentialing Entity to address an individual’s special circumstances, an individual must be removed from a position requiring certification if certification renewal is not achieved within two (2) years.
    (3) Multiple Certifications.
    (a) An individual may renew his or her certification in multiple classifications or certification designations as long as he or she holds or has held the position classification or certification designation for which he or she is being renewed;
    (b) There is no limit to the length of time an individual may hold multiple Child Welfare certifications, as long as the individual continues to meet the certification renewal requirements.
    (4) An individual’s certification can be renewed for a position classification or certification designation if he or she meets the following requirements:
    (a) Achieved initial certification in each of the position classifications or certification designations as indicated by possession of a valid certification issued by a Third Party Credentialing Entity;
    (b) Is currently employed in a Florida child welfare position in good standing;
    (c) Has not had his or her certification revoked for cause in any position requiring certification; and,
    (d) Participates in and maintains his or her own documentation of a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education every two (2) years.
    (5) When a certified individual has a break in service of less than one (1) year and can meet the requirements for renewal as stated in subsection (6), above, his or her certification can be renewed.
    (6) Continuing education must meet the requirements set by the Third Party Credentialing Entity and shall include a wide variety of core competency elements (e.g., interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, law and policy issues, cultural diversity, and investigative and casework related processes) in order to help expand the knowledge, proficiency and awareness of each certified Child Welfare Professional. In addition, continuing education shall be administered by qualified providers approved by the Third Party Credentialing Entity.
Rulemaking Authority 402.40 FS. Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 402.40. History-New 10-14-10, Amended 12-24-15.