Certain Professionals Must Complete Training by April 1
Members are reminded of an upcoming due date of April 1, 2025, for certain professionals to complete a two-hour training requirement or request exemption of the training. To be clear, the requirement is a condition for licensure or certification for the PROFESSIONAL. Nonetheless, we want members to be aware given that you employ many people within these roles.
As we previously reported, NYS has updated the Mandated Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment/Neglect coursework, required for certain professionals including, but not limited to, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and social workers (a full list of roles can be found at the end of this article). The law requires that mandated reporters, including those who have previously undergone the current training, complete the updated training curriculum by April 1, 2025. Click here for more background.
The law exempts from the training an individual who can document, to the satisfaction of the Department, that there is no need for the training based on the nature of his or her practice. You may be eligible for an exemption if the nature of your practice is such that you do not have professional contact with persons under the age of 18 years AND you do not have contact with persons 18 years of age or older with a handicapping condition, who reside in a residential care school or facility. The professional must submit an exemption application to be considered for this exception to the requirement.
Training
The additional training includes protocols to reduce implicit bias in decision-making processes, strategies for identifying adverse childhood experiences, and guidelines to assist in recognizing signs of abuse or maltreatment. The list of training providers on the NYSED website is arranged alphabetically by provider name. You may wish to contact several providers before deciding on the offering that best meets your needs and schedule. Please note that some training providers will be offering training that exceeds the two-hour minimum established in law. Also, fees will vary from provider to provider. OCFS offers a free training.
Documentation
Documentation in the form of an authorized Certification of Completion must be submitted to NYSED at the time of reregistration or initial application for licensure, certification, or a limited permit. Within 10 days of coursework completion, the approved provider from whom you obtain the training is required to issue you two copies of the Certification form.
Submitting a Certification of Completion or Certificate of Exemption Form
Applicants for NYS Licensure can upload a completed form on the Office of the Professions’ website at https://eservices.nysed.gov/professions/addl-doc/.
Current Licensees can upload a completed form on the Office of the Professions’ website at https://eservices.nysed.gov/professions/wf/licensee-doc-upload/.
If you have any questions about the submission of documentation or checking on the status of such a submission for the Child Abuse/Infection Control requirement, you can submit a request to the Office of the Professions.
Full list of professions requirement applies to:
• Certified Behavior Analyst Assistants
• Chiropractors
• Creative Arts Therapists
• Dental Hygienists
• Dentists
• Licensed Behavior Analysts
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers
• Licensed Master Social Workers
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Mental Health Counselors
• Optometrists
• Physicians
• Podiatrists
• Psychoanalysts
• Psychologists
• Registered Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners