RELATES TO: KRS 161.020, 161.028, 161.030
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 161.020 and 161.030 require that a teacher and other professional school personnel hold a certificate of legal qualifications for the respective position to be issued upon completion of a program of preparation prescribed by the Education Professional Standards Board. KRS 161.028(1)(a) requires the Education Professional Standards Board to establish the standards for obtaining and maintaining a teaching certificate. KRS 161.028(1)(b) requires an educator preparation institution be approved for offering the preparation program corresponding to a particular certificate on the basis of standards and procedures established by the Educational Professional Standards Board. KRS 161.028(1)(f) requires the Education Professional Standards Board to issue and renew any certificate. This administrative regulation establishes the provisional and probationary certificates for school social worker and the requirements for obtaining and maintaining these certificates.
Section 1.(1) The provisional certificate for school social worker shall be issued to an applicant who has: (a) Completed a Master's of Social Work (MSW) degree:1. With: a. A cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale; or b. A minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale on the last sixty (60) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework; and2. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education;(b) An offer of employment from a Kentucky school district or accredited nonpublic school as a school social worker; and(c) Enrolled in an approved program of preparation for school social worker.(2) The initial provisional certificate for school social worker shall be issued for a validity period of one (1) year.(3) The first renewal of the provisional certificate for school social worker shall be for one (1) year based upon successful completion of the following requirements: (a) Evidence of employment in a Kentucky school district or nonpublic school as a school social worker; and(b) Completion of at least six (6) semester hours or its equivalent from the approved program of preparation for school social worker as indicated on the applicant's curriculum contract.(4) Subsequent one (1) year renewals of the provisional certificate for school social worker shall require at least six (6) semester hours or its equivalent of additional credit from the approved program of preparation for school social worker as indicated on the applicant's curriculum contract.(5) Upon successful completion of all program requirements for the program of preparation for school social worker, a professional certificate for school social worker established in 16 KAR 2:070 and valid for five (5) years shall be issued.(6) Compliance with the requirement established in subsection (1)(c) of this section shall be verified by submission of a curriculum contract completed by the educator preparation institution with the approved program of preparation for school social worker.(7) To apply for the provisional certificate for school social worker, the applicant shall submit a completed Form TC-1 to the Education Professional Standards Board.(8) The provisional certificate for school social worker shall be valid for providing school social work services for all grade levels in the public schools or an accredited nonpublic school.Section 2.(1) The probationary certificate for school social worker shall be issued to an applicant who has: (a) Completed a Bachelor's of Social Work (BSW) degree:1. With: a. A cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale; or b. A minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale on the last sixty (60) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework; and2. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education;(b) An offer of employment from a Kentucky school district or accredited nonpublic school as a school social worker;(c) Completed at least one (1) year of experience as a social worker in the last five (5) years; and(d) Enrolled in the Master's of Social Work (MSW) approved program of preparation for school social worker.(2) The initial probationary certificate for school social worker shall be issued for a validity period of one (1) year.(3) The first renewal of the probationary certificate for school social worker shall be for one (1) year based upon successful completion of the following requirements: (a) Evidence of employment in a Kentucky school district or nonpublic school as a school social worker; and(b) Completion of at least six (6) semester hours or its equivalent from the Master's of Social Work (MSW) approved program of preparation for school social worker as indicated on the applicant's curriculum contract.(4) Subsequent one (1) year renewals of the probationary certificate for school social worker shall require at least six (6) semester hours or its equivalent of additional credit from the Master's of Social Work (MSW) approved program of preparation for school social worker as indicated on the applicant's curriculum contract.(5) Upon successful completion of all program requirements for the Master's of Social Work (MSW) program of preparation for school social worker, a professional certificate for school social worker established in 16 KAR 2:070 and valid for five (5) years shall be issued.(6) Compliance with the requirement established in subsection (1)(c) of this section shall be verified by submission of a letter of recommendation from the applicant's employer during the one (1) year of social worker experience.(7) Compliance with the requirement established in subsection (1)(d) of this section shall be verified by submission of a curriculum contract completed by the educator preparation institution with the Master's of Social Worker (MSW) approved program of preparation for school social worker.(8) To apply for the probationary certificate for school social worker, the applicant shall submit a completed Form TC-1 to the Education Professional Standards Board.(9) The probationary certificate for school social worker shall be valid for providing school social work services for all grade levels in the public schools or an accredited nonpublic school.Section 3.(1) The approved program of preparation shall be based upon the Standards for School Social Work Services established by the National Association of Social Workers.(2)(a) The program of preparation shall be submitted to the Education Professional Standards Board for approval pursuant to the requirements established in 16 KAR 5:010.(b) The program of preparation shall be submitted through the institutional unit for educator preparation.Section 4. Incorporation by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:(a) Form TC-1, rev. 10/02, Education Professional Standards Board; and(b) National Association of Social Workers Standards for School Social Work Services, June 18, 1992.(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Education Professional Standards Board, 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.SBE 42.590; 1 Ky.R. 503; eff. 3-12-75; Am. 3 Ky.R. 546; eff. 3-2-77; 5 Ky.R. 614; eff. 3-7-79; Recodified from 704 KAR 20:195, 7-2-2002; 29 Ky.R. 1858, 2270; eff. 3-19-03; Crt eff. 2-27-2020.STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 161.028, 161.030