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    Emeritus Active License Status for Retired Licensees

    Requirements
    At the time of license renewal, you may apply for an emeritus active license if you are retired from social work practice except for the limited practice outlined below. This license status limits the type of practice in which you may engage, and is a two-year renewable license status requiring one-half the renewal fee and one-half the number of CE hours at time of renewal. Find complete requirements under Minnesota Statutes section 148E.0753.
     

    Limited Authorized Practice:

    The emeritus active license provides the opportunity for retired licensed social workers to engage in limited practice including only:
    • While on emeritus active license: 
      • Limit on Authorized Practice: You must practice and present yourself as only authorized to engage in only pro bono or unpaid social work practice, or paid social work practice for the exclusive purpose of the areas noted above 
      • Representation: You must include “emeritus active” in any use of the license credential LSW, LGSW, LISW, or LICSW 
    • Continuing education (CE) requirements and supervised practice (if applicable) for the last license renewal term (when your license was active) must be reported at the time you apply for emeritus active license status 
    • The Board may take disciplinary or corrective action against your license based on violations of applicable law or regulations of the Board
     

    Application Process and Fee

    You may apply for an emeritus active license only at the time of license renewal:
     
    • Submit application and fee
      • Apply online: Apply and pay using the Board’s online services
      • Apply by mail: Download the Application for License Renewal and Status Change and submit via mail with check or money order 
      • Select “Emeritus Active” as renewal status 
      • Fee is half the amount as 24-month active license renewal fee for your license type 
    • Report CE hours for last license renewal term: 
      • When you apply for Emeritus Active license status, you must report CE requirements for active license status (40 CE hours for two-year license renewal term) for the last license renewal term when your license status was active 
      • Reduced CE hours begin only at first renewal after Emeritus Active license status is effective
     

    Renewal

    Emeritus Active license status must be renewed every two years by your regularly scheduled license renewal date. If not renewed, your license will automatically expire. Refer to renewal process and deadlines on the License Renewal page.

    CE requirements:

    • Emeritus Active license status renewal CE requirement is half of CE hours required for active license status (20 CE hours for two-year emeritus active license status renewal term), which must include: 
      • 2 CE hours in social work ethics
      • 2 CE hours in cultural responsiveness
      • For LICSW licensees, at least 6 CE hours in clinical content
      • If providing licensing supervision, at least 3 CE hours of supervision content 
    • Up to half (50%) of the 20 total hours may be completed via CE independent learning 
     

    Renewal fee: 

    • Half the amount as 24-month license renewal fee for active license
     

    Reactivation 

    Reactivating to active status from emeritus active:

    • You may reactivate your license at any time if the emeritus active license status is current, or within one year of the expiration date if expired
    • Go to the Reactivating a License page for complete reactivation requirements from emeritus active license status or expired 
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