(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.