(a) Except as
provided in subsection (c), individuals applying to the Board for an initial
license or certificate shall have completed at least 3 hours of training in
child abuse recognition and reporting requirements which has been approved by
the Department of Human Services and the
Bureau, as set forth in §
21.509 (relating to
child abuse
recognition and reporting course approval process). The applicant shall certify
on the application that the applicant has either completed the required
training or has been granted an exemption under subsection (c). The Board will
not issue a license or certificate unless the
Bureau has received an electronic
report from an approved course provider documenting the
attendance/participation by the applicant or the applicant has obtained an
exemption under subsection (c).
(b)
Except as provided in subsection (c), licensees seeking renewal of a license or
certificate issued by the Board shall complete, as a condition of biennial
renewal, at least 2 hours of approved continuing education in
child abuse
recognition and reporting requirements, as a portion of the total continuing
education required for biennial renewal. For credit to be granted, the
continuing education course or program must be approved by the
Bureau, in
consultation with the Department of Human Services, as set forth in §
21.509. The Board will not renew a
license or certificate unless the
Bureau has received an electronic report from
an approved course provider documenting the attendance/participation by the
licensee in an approved course within the applicable 2-year biennial licensure
cycle or the licensee has obtained an exemption under subsection (c). If a
licensee holds more than one license or certificate issued by the Board, or
holds a license issued by another licensing board within the
Bureau that
requires mandatory training in child abuse recognition and reporting, credit
for completion of an approved course will be applied to both
credentials.
(c) An applicant or
licensee may apply in writing for an exemption from the training/continuing
education requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b) provided the
applicant or licensee meets one of the following:
(1) The applicant or licensee submits
documentation demonstrating all of the following:
(i) The applicant or licensee has already
completed
child abuse recognition training as required by section
1205.6 of the Public School Code
of 1949 (
24 P.S. §
12-1205.6).
(ii) The training was approved by the
Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Human
Services.
(iii) The amount of
training received equals or exceeds the amount of training or continuing
education required under subsection (a) or (b), as applicable.
(iv) For purposes of licensure renewal, the
training must have been completed during the relevant biennial renewal
period.
(2) The applicant
or licensee submits documentation demonstrating all of the following:
(i) The applicant or licensee has already
completed child abuse recognition training required under
23 Pa.C.S. §
6383(c) (relating to
education and training).
(ii) The
training was approved by the Department of Human Services.
(iii) The amount of training received equals
or exceeds the amount of training or continuing education required under
subsection (a) or (b), as applicable.
(iv) For purposes of licensure renewal, the
training must have been completed during the relevant biennial renewal
period.
(3) The applicant
or licensee submits documentation acceptable to the Board demonstrating why the
applicant or licensee should not be subject to the training or continuing
education requirement. The Board will not grant an exemption based solely upon
proof that children are not part of the applicant's or licensee's practice.
Each request for an exemption under this paragraph will be considered on a
case-by-case basis. The Board may grant the exemption if it finds that
completion of the training or continuing education requirement is duplicative
or unnecessary under the circumstances.
(d) Exemptions granted under subsection (c)
are applicable only for the biennial renewal period for which the exemption is
requested. If an exemption is granted, the Board will issue or renew the
license/certificate, as applicable. If an exemption is denied, the Board will
e-mail the applicant or licensee a discrepancy notice notifying them of the
need to either complete an approved course or, if warranted, to submit
additional documentation in support of their request for an
exemption.