Frequently
Asked Questions
Act
31 of 2014 – Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Requirements
1. What is Act 31 of 2014 and who is required to comply
with the new law?
Act 31 of 2014 states
that the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA), in conjunction
with the Department of Human Services (DHS) is required to ensure that all
persons applying for issuance of an initial license as a health-related licensee
or funeral director (mandatory reporters under section 6311 of the Child
Protective Services Law (CPSL) (23 P.S.§ 6311)) shall be required to complete 3
hours of DHS-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting
requirements as a condition of licensure.
Additionally,
effective with the first license renewal after January 1, 2015, all health
related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license
issued by the Board are required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved
continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a
condition of renewal.
Act 31 applies to all
health-related licensees (except for licensees of the State Board of Veterinary
Medicine), regardless of whether they are subject to the continuing education
requirements of the applicable Board. For example, although licensed practical
nurses have no independent continuing education requirement at this time, they
are required to complete the Act 31 continuing education in child abuse
recognition and reporting requirements.
2. Where can I obtain a copy of Act 31 of 2014?
Act 31 of 2014 may be viewed
at the following link:
3. Where do I find Act 31 of 2014 approved training from
the Department of Human Service (DHS - formerly Department of Public Welfare)
and or the Department of State?
A
complete list of DOS/Board approved providers can be found on our website at
the link entitled, “Mandated Child Abuse Reporter Training Under Act 31 of 2014.” As additional providers are approved, the DOS/Board
will update this information at www.dos.pa.gov.
A complete list of
DHS approved providers can be found on their website http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov at the link
entitled, “Training for Mandated Reporters.”
The
Board has also been informed that the Department of Human Services, in
conjunction with University of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Child Welfare
Resource Center has developed a 3-hour online training program which is offered free of charge to assist individuals
in complying with the training requirements under Act 31 of 2014.
4. How do I become an approved training provider
by the Department of Human Services (DHS)?
5. How do I become an approved training provider
by the Department of State (DOS)/Board?
Those
organizations, entities and individuals that are seeking “DOS/Board approval”
must submit the required course materials to both DHS and the Department of
State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs as set forth in the “Submission Procedures.” DOS/Board
approved course providers will be provided a secure sFTP site through which to
submit attendance/participation records electronically. Thus, the ability
to report attendance/participation electronically is a condition of DOS/Board approval.
6. How do I determine if a child abuse
recognition and reporting course has been approved?
As courses are
approved by the Department of Human Services and/or the Department of State/Board,
these courses will be listed on the respective Board website. Unless a course is listed as approved by one
or both of these agencies, the course will not be considered acceptable to meet
the requirements for initial licensure or renewal.
7. How many hours of child abuse recognition and
reporting training do I need to obtain “initial licensure”
from the Department
of State?
Under Act
31 of 2014, effective January 1, 2015, applicants for licensure by any of the
health-related licensure Boards and the State Board of Funeral Directors must
demonstrate that they have completed 3 hours of DHS-approved training in child
abuse recognition and reporting. A list of DHS-approved courses is
available at http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/training/index.htm.
8. How many hours of child abuse recognition and
reporting continuing education do I need to “renew” or “reactivate” my license
with the Department of State?
Under Act
31 of 2014 current licensees of the health-related Boards and the State Board of
Funeral Directors must complete 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education
in child abuse recognition and reporting as a condition of renewal of a license
after December 31, 2014. The Department of State/Board will accept at
least 2 hours of Department of Human Services (DHS) approved training to meet
this requirement, as well.
9. Can I “renew” or “reactivate” my license if I have not completed the required child abuse continuing
education?
No – Until electronic
verification is received from the approved course provider and processed by the
Department of State/Board to verify that the licensee is in compliance and has
completed the 2 hours of DHS/DOS approved child abuse recognition and reporting
continuing education, the licensee will not be permitted to renew their
license.
10. Must I complete the child abuse recognition
and reporting continuing education every time I renew my license?
Yes. As a condition of renewal, you must complete
2 hours of Department of State/Board approved continuing education in child
abuse recognition and reporting within the required renewal period (24 month
period).
11. Does the 2 hours of child abuse recognition
and reporting continuing education have to be completed within the biennial
renewal period for which my current license was issued in order to renew the
license for the next biennial renewal period?
Yes. For example, if your license expires on
December 31, 2016, you will be required to complete 2 hours of child abuse
recognition and reporting continuing education between the two year biennial
period for your active license (January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016).
12. Are the 2 hours of child abuse recognition
and reporting continuing education required in addition to the Board’s own
continuing education hours or can they be included as part of the Board’s total
hours required to renew?
The
2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting continuing education hours can
be part of the total hours
required to renew your license. For example:
If you are required to complete 100 hours of continuing education in
order to renew your license, do not need to complete 102 hours in order to
renew.
However,
you cannot substitute the 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting
continuing education hours for any Board specific continuing education (i.e.,
ethics, public health, etc.)
13. Will the 2 hour child abuse recognition and
reporting continuing education count towards my Board required biennial renewal
continuing education requirements?
Yes. For example:
If you are required to complete 30 hours of Board approved/required
continuing education in order to renew your license, the 2 hours of child abuse
recognition and reporting will count towards the total 30 hours required to
renew your license. However, if you take
a 3 hour DHS approved course, the additional 1 hour may or may not be applied
towards the 30 hours of Board required continuing education needed to
renew/reactivate your license (check with the appropriate Board) and cannot be
carried over into the next renewal period to meet the child abuse recognition
and reporting requirement for that renewal period.
14. Currently I do not need to complete any Board
required continuing education to renew my license. Do I need to complete the requirements under
Act 31of 2014?
Act 31 of 2014 (for both
initial licensure and renewal) applies to all health-related licensees and
funeral directors, regardless of whether they are subject to the continuing
education requirements of their applicable Board. Initial licenses will not be issued and a
license will not be renewed until the requirements under Act 31 of 2014 have been met.
15. In the practice of my profession, I do not come
into contact with children. Do I need to
complete this training to obtain a license, reactivate or renew my license?
Yes. The new law applies to all health-related
licensees and funeral directors, regardless of whether they feel that they come
into contact with children in their profession or not. Applicants and licensees must still complete
the requirements under Act 31 of 2014. Requests
for this type of exemption will not be considered a valid reason for exemption.
16. Can I request an exemption from being
required to complete this training/continuing education requirement?
You can submit an
exemption request to the Board; however, prior to submitting a request for an
exemption, please review the exemption criteria on the form carefully to
determine whether or not you meet the specific criteria that would make you
eligible for an exemption. Very few
licensees meet the exemption criteria.