(a) The board shall adopt continuing education requirements for persons licensed under this chapter. Continuing education requirements that must be satisfied before the first biennial renewal of a person's license must include a minimum of 45 hours of education or training with a minimum of three hours in professional ethics, six hours in substance abuse, and six hours in cross-cultural education that includes issues relating to Alaska Natives. After the first biennial renewal of a license, continuing education requirements for that person's license renewal must include three hours in professional ethics, six hours in substance abuse, and six hours in cross-cultural education, three hours of which must include issues relating to Alaska Natives.
(b) The board shall appoint three persons licensed under this chapter to serve as a continuing education committee. The committee shall advise the board on matters related to continuing education for clinical social workers. One person appointed to the committee must be familiar with social problems in the rural areas of the state.