Instructions

Application to the ACE Program includes the Pre-application Interview and submission of the following documents: Part 1, Part 2, andPart 2 §C. Course Sample Review(this document).
Course Sample
Submit a sample of one course in each course format for which approval is requested. Complete this document for each course sample submitted.
Conference Session Sample
Complete this document for one session submitted with the application. Submit promotional and evaluation materials with Part 3 Conference.
For more information contact ACE staff at or 800-829-6880 ext. 3027.

§C.I.Applicant Information

1.Organization:

2.ACE Provider # (if assigned):

§C.II. Course/SessionOverview

1.Course/Session Title:

2.Select the approval formats associated with this course (or session):More than one may apply

A.☐Face to face course:

1.☐Workshop, seminar, lecture
2.☐In-service
3.☐Semester course
4.☐Other, describe below:

B.☐Conference session:

1.☐Workshop
2.☐Lecture/discussion
3.☐Case study
4.☐Keynote presenter
5.☐Panel discussion
6.☐Poster session
7.☐Scientific paper
8.☐Multimedia presentation
9.☐Other, describe below:
/

C.☐Distance learning course:

1.☐Audio/visual conference
2.☐Home study

3.☐Online activity

4.☐Teleconference

5.☐Webinar/web conference

6.☐Other, describe below:

D.☐Co-sponsored course

E.☐Social work ethics course

F.☐Other, describe below:

3.CE hours and credits

A.Total learning hours:

B.Total credits awarded:

4.Audience Composition Use total numbers and not percentages

A.Total participants:

B.Total social workers:

5.Course or session developers must determine the level at which the content and materials are developed. See below for more information and review the ACE resource Course Levels/Targeted Practice Levels.

At which level is the course materials presented?

A.☐Beginning level

B.☐Intermediate level

C.☐Advanced level

Beginner level course / Intermediate level course / Advanced level course
Levels
(development focus) / Introduction to content area; may include providing information about a particular condition, treatment method, or issue.
Outcomes: learning and comprehending content / Information builds on knowledge that practitioners with some experience already have. Focus on skill-building or adding knowledge; possibly with a brief overview of basic information.
Outcomes: using information in concrete situations and understanding the underlying structure of the material. / Content for people who have been working in this area and have a clear understanding of the issues. Covers complexities involved in the work and means to address them.
Outcomes: synthesizing material to create new patterns or structures or evaluating material for a specific purpose.

§C.III. Course Promotional Materials

Section Instructions

Review the ACE resourcePromotion and Advertising to ensure an understanding of ACE standards and requirements regarding promotional materials.

Course Sample

If completing this application for a course

Submit a copy of all materials used to advertise the course, in paper and electronically.

Review the ACE resource Promotion and Advertising to ensure an understanding of ACE requirements regarding promotional materials.

The information listed below is required in course promotional materials.

Check each item to indicate the information is included in promotional materials.

Highlight each item in the promotional materials attached to this application to help reviewers find it.

Contact ACE if you have questions about a particular requirement or if the requirement represents a new area of program administration for the organization.

Conference Session Sample

If completing this application for a conference session:

Attach promotional materials for the overall conference

Attach promotional materials (paper & electronic) for each session

Complete and submit Part 3 Conference

The information listed below is required in promotional materials.

1.☐Contact information for the organization responsible for the course

2.☐Course fees, including what is covered, and deadlines for cancellations and refunds

3.☐Course syllabus, outline or agenda

4.☐Continuing education hours offered

5.☐Where both educational and non-educational sessions are offered, the courses for credit must be clearly identified

6.☐Course completion requirements e.g. completing the course evaluation, participating in all sessions, etc.

7.☐Statement of when and how certificate of credit will be awarded

8.☐Instructions for addressing grievances, including contact information

9.☐Instructions for requesting accommodations for individuals with disabilities

10.☐ACE provider number, approval statement and expiration date, and/or other approver information

11.☐Information about approvals by other approvers, and ACE (include ACE provider name, number, and expiration date when applicable)

12.☐Instructors and their qualifications (include brief bio)

13.☐Course delivery method and format; Distance learning interactivity is clearly indicated and described.

14.☐Specific learning outcomes for the course are identified:

A.☐Each learning outcome is measurable and/or observable

B.☐Each learning outcome illustrates knowledge or a skill that a participant will be able to demonstrate after completing the course

C.☐Each learning outcome is stated identically in the course promotional materials, course content and course evaluation.

15.☐The target audience i.e. who should attend the course. Materials used to advertise a course must communicate to potential attendees the level of practice experience or knowledge for which the course information will be most applicable. See explanation of levels below:

Targeted Practice Levels: / Beginner level course / Intermediate level course / Advanced level course

(The focus of these descriptions is promotional materials)

/ New graduates (BSW or MSW) or individuals who have recently changed fields of practice. / Individualswith a year or more experience in the relevant field of practice. / Individuals with several years of experience in related work. Level of education may be relevant in cases such as advanced clinical skills training.

§C.III. Course/SessionRequired Materials

The materials listed below are required for each course or conference session submitted with this application. Check each item to indicate the required course/session materials have been submitted.

1.☐Course promotional materials (paper & electronic), including hard copy of website (if applicable)

2.☐Pilot test (distance learning)

3.☐Course or session agenda or outline/timeline

4.☐Course or session learning objectives

5.☐Course or session content & materials, including, but not limited to:

A.☐Books, handouts

B.☐Power point slides, articles, presenter notes

C.☐Bibliography, references

6.☐Posttest (distance learning)

7.☐Evaluation for the course/session

8.☐Evaluation summary

9.☐Certificate of completion for the course

§C.IV. Course/Session Content

1.Course (or Session) Description: (50 words or less)

2.List course or session educational outcomes; outcomes must:

  • Be specific, clear and concise
  • Be measurable and/or observable
  • Describe what the participant will be able to demonstrate as an outcome of the learning experience
  • Be stated consistently in promotional materials, content and evaluation

3.Describe how course content reflects current (within the last 5 years) literature, materials and references, and how it relates to one or more of the following social work educational areas.

A.☐Theories and concepts of human behavior in the social environment

B.☐Social work practice, knowledge and skills

a.☐Social work research, programs or practice evaluations
b.☐Social work agency management or administration
c.☐Development, evaluation and/or implementation of social policy
d.☐Social work generalist practice
e.☐Social work clinical practice

C.☐Diversity and social justice

D.☐Social work ethics

E.☐Other, describe below:

Attach the bibliography or list of references for the course.

4.Which of the following practice areas (one or more) are incorporated into the course or session?

A.☐Knowledge base

B.☐Engagement/relationship building

C.☐Assessment

D.☐Planning

E.☐Intervention/treatment

F.☐Evaluation

G.☐Termination of treatment

5.Describe how the practice area(s) indicated in question 5 are addressed in the course content.

6.This course applies to work with: Check all that apply

A.☐Individuals

B.☐Groups

C.☐Organizations

D.☐Communities

E.☐Social Systems

7.Which of the following current issues in social work practice are addressed in the course?

A.☐Diversity, cultural, linguistic competencies, multiculturalism

B.☐Social work values and ethics

C.☐Diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional or behavioral disorder, condition and/or addictions

D.☐Assessment and treatment of specific disorder or population (e.g., relationship issues, HIV/AIDS, aging)

E.☐Other, describe below:

8.Describe course content relating to professional activities involving direct services to clients, and/or social work practice with individuals, families and/or groups. (Direct practice, clinical practice)

9.Indicate which of the following current issues in social work practice are addressed in the course:

Check all that apply

A.☐Non-clinical practice

B.☐Diversity

C.☐Representation to the public

D.☐Use of authority

E.☐Administrative decisions

F.☐Social work values and ethics

G.☐Other, describe below:

10.Describe course content relating to areas of social work practice not involving immediate or personal contact with clients being served, and/or professional activities other than direct practice to individuals, families and/or groups. (Indirect, Non-clinical Practice)

§C.V. Certificate of Course Completion

Section Instructions

The ACE provider must issue a completed and signed certificate verifying attendance and credit awarded to each participant who completes a course, a conference or conference sessions. These certificates may only be provided after the participant has completed the course/conference/conference session and must be provided within 30 days after the event. Duplicate or replacement certificates must be clearly marked as “replacement copy” or “duplicate copy.”
Certificates of completion and credit and/or other means of documenting the credit a participant receives upon completion of a course must include items 1 through 10 listed below.
Check each item below to indicate it is included in the certificate. Include comments after each item if you have questions about a particular requirement or if the requirement represents a new area of program administration for the organization.
Attach a copy of a certificate used for the course sample.
The information below is required in certificates of completion.

1.☐Name of participant

2.☐Participant’s license jurisdiction and social work license/certification/registration number (if required by jurisdiction)

3.☐Title of the course (or conference)

4.☐Location and date(s) of the course (or conference)

5.☐Begin and end time of the course (or conference)

6.☐Amount of credit awarded/clock hours

A.For conferences, the total amount of credit awarded for the conference as well credit awarded for individual conference sessions will be indicated on the course certificate.

7.☐If the focus of the course is content that is required by a jurisdiction (clinical, social work ethics, cultural diversity, etc.) the course focus will be indicated on the course certificate.

8.☐Course delivery format

A.For distance learning courses, the course format, and any interactive aspects of the course, will be indicated on the course certificate. If the course is a webinar, “Live” or “Recorded” must be indicated on the certificate.

9.☐Approved provider sponsoring or co-sponsoring the course (Provider name, ACE approval #)

10.☐For conferences, the certificate must list each session attended and the individual number of credits provided for each session: “(Session name): _____ Continuing Education Clock Hours”.

11.☐ACE approval statement

ACE Providers must include the following statement on certificates of completion:
“This organization (Provider Name and ACE Approval Number)is approved as aprovider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program.The (Provider Name) maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: (Insert Dates). Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits. Social workers participating in this course will receive (Insert Number) (Indicate Clinical or Social Work Ethics) continuing education clock hours.”

§C.VI. Evaluation

Section Instructions

Review the ACE resource Evaluationsto ensure an understanding of ACE standards and requirements for evaluation materials.
Course Sample
Evaluation:Attach a copy of the evaluation for the course submitted with the application.
EvaluationSummary: A summary of participant evaluations for a sample course will be required at renewal.
Conference Session Sample

If completing this document for a conference session,additionally complete Part 3 Conference.

Required information: In order to meet ACE Standards, questions 4. A – G must be included and rated in every evaluation. A Likert scale can be used to measure participant response to each statement. Depending on the course format, additional questions from 5, 6 and 7 will be added to the evaluation as needed.

1.How does the organization use participant evaluations to improve courses?

2.How does the organization apply participant course evaluations to develop/modify the overall program?

3.Summarize participant responses in evaluations completed after a presentation of the course. Submit an evaluation summary.

4.In order to meet ACE Standards, questions 5. A – G must be included and rated in every evaluation. A Likert scale can be used to measure participant response to each statement. Depending on the course format, additional questions from 6, 7 and 8 will be added to the evaluation as needed.

A.☐List and rate each learning outcome (objective) as stated in the promotional materials and course materials

B.☐The course material was appropriate to my education, experience and/or licensure level

C.☐The course material was relevant to my practice

D.☐The course material was current

E.☐The course material presented the course content effectively

F.☐The handouts and teaching aids enhanced the content of the course

G.☐Program administration

a.☐Questions or concerns were addressed effectively, and in a timely manner
b.☐The registration process was straightforward
c.☐The instructions for requesting accommodations for a disability were clear

5.Instructor-led course evaluations questions

For courses delivered by an individual (instructor, facilitator or panel), such as workshops, conference sessions, live webinars and synchronous online programs, course evaluations must also include the following questions. Check each item to indicate the information is included in evaluations.

A.☐The instructor was knowledgeable about the content

B.☐The instructor presented the subject matter clearly

C.☐The instructor was responsive to participants

D.☐The instructor used technology effectively

6.Onsite course evaluation questions

For onsite courses (workshops and live webinars, if applicable) and conferences, must also include the following questions. Check each item to indicate the information is included in evaluations. Include comments after an item if you have questions about a particular required question.

A.☐The location was suitable

B.☐The facilities were conducive to learning

7.Self-paced learning evaluations

For asynchronous learning (self-paced home study, asynchronous online and recorded webinars) also include the following questions. Check each item to indicate the information is included in evaluations.

A.☐The technology was user friendly

B.☐The length of time to complete the course matches the number of CE credits awarded for the course

§C.VII. Required Materials

The required materials listed below must be submitted with this application:

1.☐Promotional materials for the course (paper & electronic), including hard copy of website (if applicable)

2.☐Pilot test (distance learning)

3.☐Course or session agenda or outline/timeline

4.☐Course or session learning objectives

5.☐Course or session content & materials, including, but not limited to

A.☐Books, handouts

B.☐Power point slides, articles, presenter notes

C.☐Bibliography, references

6.☐Posttest (distance learning)

7.☐Evaluation for the course/session

8.☐Evaluation summary (due at first renewal)

9.☐Certificate of completion for the course

ASWB ACE Program
Jennifer Ward, ACE Program Coordinator: 800-225-6880 ext. 3027

Donna Edwards, ACE Administrative Assistant: 800-225-6880 ext. 3021

P.O. Box 1508, Culpeper, VA 22701

ASWB ACE App Part 2 Page 1 Revised 06/10/2015 §C. Course Sample Review