CEU Information

The OSW-C Competencies identify the immense diversity of knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the oncology social worker. To evidence acquisition of continued education across the spectrum of the role, CEUs from a non-duplicative variety of content areas across the OSW-C Competencies are required. CEUs may NOT be:

  • All/most from the same content area/on the same topic (such as submitting 3-4 programs on dementia or substance abuse disorder); or
  • From the same/overly repetitious training program from two different dates/years that has the same/overly similar content for each implementation.

Completion of multiple learning activities on the same topic/competency area does not effectively fulfill the purpose of the continuing education requirement and not all will be accepted. Questions regarding CEU acceptability may be sent to [email protected].

CEUs must meet the following criteria to be claimed for OSW-CTM Initial or Renewal of Certification:

  • Must be accredited social work CEUs. Accreditation ensures the quality and credibility of the education completed and is relied upon by BOSWC in making decisions regarding initial and renewal of certification. The requirement of accredited CEUs helps maintain the credibility of the OSW-CTM certification. NOTE: BOSWC requirements regarding CEU accreditation may differ from your state’s licensing board requirements.
  • Must be on topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains completed within the two (2) years prior to application.
  • Must be from a non-duplicative variety of content areas across the OSW-C Competencies.
  • Activities used for Demonstrated Practice requirement may NOT be claimed for CEU requirement.
  • For Initial Certification:
    • Ten (10) hours of accredited social work CEUs on topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains must be completed.
    • A minimum of two (2) hours must be on content in Domain 1: Clinical Assessment and Intervention Knowledge and Practice.
    • CME, Nursing, and APA CEUs are not accepted for initial certification.
  • For Renewal of Certification:
    • Twenty (20) hours of accredited social work CEUs on topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains must be completed.
    • A minimum of eight (8) hours must be on content in Domain 1: Clinical Assessment and Intervention Knowledge and Practice.
    • A maximum of two (2) CME, Nursing, and APA CEUs may be claimed for renewal so long as the content address is from the OSW-CTM Competency Domains. DO NOT enter more than 2 hours of CEUs categorized as “CME, Nursing, or APA” in your CEU entry or the renewal application will NOT be activated.

CEUs may be obtained in the following ways:

  • Attending at a professional workshop/conference which provides approved social work CEUs with documented content and learning objectives related to topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains.
  • Earning Nursing, APA, and AMA oncology focused CEUs may be considered for acceptance for Renewal (not initial application) if documentation is provided to show sufficient relevance to social work practice with documented content and/or learning objectives related to topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains.
  • Completing approved social work CEU online lectures, webinars, and trainings which have documented content and learning objectives related to topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains.
  • Teaching a social work course in a CSWE-approved school of social work which has oncology, palliative care or end of life focus. For each credit hour of the class, two (2) CEUs will be awarded. For example, a three-credit course would be awarded six CEUs.
  • Publishing an article in a peer-reviewed professional journal or a chapter in a peer-reviewed professional textbook relevant to topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains. Publications must have been completed in the two years prior to initial application or within the two-year renewal period. For each publication, five (5) CEUs can be awarded. A maximum of 10 (10) CEUs can be claimed for publications for initial or renewal application.
  • Presenting a newly developed social work CEU-approved presentation focused on topics listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains. For every approved social work CEU awarded to the attendees, the presenter will be credited double CEU credit. For example, a presentation offering three (3) approved social work CEUs would result in six (6) CEUs for the presenter. The presentation will qualify for CEUs only for the first time it is presented, and the presentation must occur in the two years prior to initial application or during the two-year certification period for renewal application.
  • Public speaking, community presentations, and any other lectures which do not provide approved social work CEUs DO NOT meet OSW-C continuing education criteria. These activities can be counted toward required Demonstrated Practice requirements so long as the topics are listed in the OSW-CTM Competency Domains and the presentations are on content grounded in the oncology social work practice setting.
  • Attending annual hospital safety programs, Tumor Boards, journal clubs, care conferences, staff meetings, team meetings, Rounds (including Schwartz Rounds and/or Cancer Committee meetings) DO NOT count towards CEU requirements unless accredited Social Work CEUs have been approved for the presentation.
  • Accredited CEUs can be obtained from, but not limited to, AOSW, ACCC, ACS, APOS, APOSW, ASWB, CSWE, Cancer Care, NHPCO, NASW, and ONS. CEUs may be earned in person or online.

Documentation of Required CEUs

Copies of approved social work CEU Certificates from workshops, presentations, webinars, etc., in English must be attached with the renewal application and are the only acceptable documentation to verify required CEU criteria for educational events.
  • Copies of published articles or book chapters or a notification of publication acceptance must be provided for CEUs related to publications.
  • Copy of course syllabus, including course readings, learning objectives and content, must be provided for CEUs related to teaching a course.
  • Copy of presentation, learning objectives and verification of approved social work CEUs must be provided for CEUs related to presentations.
  • Sign-in sheets, certificates of attendance, or any other non-CEU documentation ARE NOT accepted for CEU credit for presentations, lectures, workshops, etc.

OSW-CTM Competencies for CEs at Conferences

Continuing education from the following conferences may be used for OSW-C Initial and Renewal application requirements. Click on an event year to see the list of sessions, CE hours, and OSW-CTM Competency Domains. Some sessions may be claimed for more than one Domain and you may split the hours as needed for your application requirements. However, session hours may not be claimed more than once.