April 8, 2022.
NAMFT members:
At this time I am aware there are questions regarding licensure renewal and CE requirements. The following is from the Credentialing Department.
Anne Buettner, Legislative/Advocacy Chair
The Licensure Unit has received several questions relating to Governor’s Executive Order 22-02 and carry-over CE hours, please see questions/answers below:
Question:
What does this mean for mental health related professions renewing on/before 9.1.2022?
Answer:
Continuing education is not required to renew the license/certificate; but the questions relating to continuing education will still be included on the on-line/paper renewal for licenses that expire 9.1.2022 with the following disclaimer: ‘The Continuing Competency/Education questions remain on the renewal application and will be processed regardless of how you answer the questions’.
Question:
With the executive order suspending the CE requirement for the 9.1.2022 renewal, for those who have already completed the CE requirements, will those be able to be counted towards the next renewal in 2024?
Answer:
The Executive Order issued by the Governor suspends certain statutes and implementing regulations, however, it did not include a provision to carry-over continuing education/competency hours completed from 9.1.2020 to 9.1.2022 to the next renewal.
Question:
What is the total number of CE hours required for the 9.1.2024 renewal?
Answer:
32 hours will be required for the 2024 renewal (earned 9.1.2022 to 9.1.2024), which includes the following:
(A) All license and certificate holders must complete at least 4 hours of continuing education in ethics.
(B) All licensed independent mental health practitioners must complete at least 6 hours of continuing education relating to diagnosis and treatment of major mental disorders.
I am also providing the background information regarding the Executive Order 22-02.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has issued Executive Order 22-02 to expire on September 30, 2022 which continues waivers to facilitate hospital planning and ensure additional healthcare workforce capacity. This Executive Order extends Executive Orders 21-12 and 21-15, which were due to expire on March 31, 2022 per Executive Order 21-18. The identical statutory waivers and conditions contained in Executive Order Nos. 21-12 and 21-15 relating to the mental health professions will continue through September 30, 2022.
Section 3 of EO 21-12 (included as part of EO 22-02) suspends continuing competency/education requirements for several professions. LIMHP, LMHP, CMSW, and CSW are included under the practice area of mental health (see language below).
3. The provisions of Neb. Rev. Stats.§ 38-134 through § 38-136, § 38-142, § 38-145 though§ 38-147, § 38-616, § 38-708, § 38-2026, § 38-2032, § 38-1217, § 38-2223, § 38-2318, § 38-2859, § 38-2873, § 38- 3211, § )8-3212, § 38-1,116, §38-315, and §38-316 and their implementing regulations, are temporarily suspended, in part, in order to suspend continuing competency requirements for the following practice areas: medicine and surgery (MDs ), advanced practice nursing, emergency medical services, mental health, drug and alcohol counselors, nursing, osteopathy, pharmacy, perfusion, psychology, respiratory care, and surgical assistance
Below are the links to the Executive Orders:
EO 22-02: http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/docs/pilot/pubs/eofiles/22-02.pdf
EO 21-12: http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/docs/pilot/pubs/eofiles/21-12.pdf
EO 21-15: http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/docs/pilot/pubs/eofiles/21-15.pdf