Provisional certification recognizes those who have met certification policy requirements and earned a passing score on the CWPI or CWCM exam. Provisional certification is a mark of early competency and denotes those who are eligible to work under intensive supervision while developing competencies on the job.
After completing competency demonstration requirements, provisionally certified professionals apply for an upgrade to the CWPI, CWCM, or CWLC credential. This section of the website focuses on provisional application and award. See Upgrade to Full Certification for information about requirements and award.
Applicant Eligibility: All child welfare certification applicants must be employed by a FCB recognized employer in an eligible position at the time of application and credential award. Continued employment is not required to maintain and renew certification.
Effective 7-1-2022, the FCB has opened application for provisional certification to eligible persons who hold management or leadership positions at an FCB recognized child welfare employer, and are tasked with duties typically performed by certified supervisors, investigators, case managers, or licensing counselors. Applicants earn provisional certification for a 12-month period. During that time, provisionally certified management and leadership staff complete the Certified Child Welfare Supervisor requirements, upgrading to the CCWS before the provisional period expires.
Point of Contact Information
Each FCB recognized child welfare employer has identified one or more people to serve as the certification Point of Contact, who serve as the liaison between the FCB and certification applicants. The Point of Contact will work with each employer to assure that electronic and/or hard copy applications, supporting documents, and fee payments are submitted to the FCB in a timely and complete manner.
When a Point of Contact changes, the information must be provided to the FCB using the CWAC Contact Update Form. Submit complete forms to the attention of LaShanda Jones at ljones@flcertificationboard.org
Provisional Application Process
Applicants must complete the following:
- Create an online account with FCB.
- Create an online provisional application for certification with FCB (from your account).
- Pay the certification application fee (unless paid by the employer).
Single Points of Contact must ensure applicant tasks are complete and submit the following for each individual seeking certification:
- Applicant Registration Form
- WAIVER Applicant Registration Form
- Level 2 Background Eligibility Form
- Formal Education/Degree Verification Form
- Exam Confidentiality Agreement Form
- Preservice Training Verification Form – INDIVIDUAL Applicant
- Preservice Training Verification Form – BATCH Applicant
- CWP Retest Registration Form
Test Preparation
When a passing score is earned on the exam, the FCB will issue the provisional credential. A provisional credential’s effective date is the day the exam was passed. The expiration date is 12-months after the exam was passed.
During the provisional period, certified individuals must complete the additional On-the-Job requirements and submit an application to upgrade to the full credential before the provisional credential expires.
Provisional Extension
A provisional credential cannot be renewed. However, the expiration date of a provisional credential may be eligible for a one-time extension for cause (additional extensions will only be approved pending extraordinary circumstances). Each request is evaluated on its own merits. Please carefully review this document for policy and use the attached application.
Already Provisionally Certified?
Click the link below for further information regarding how to upgrade your provisional credential to a full credential.