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| For information about the registration requirements for representatives appointed after December 31, 2006 to receive direct payment of fees, click here.
The CE requirements for the Demonstration Project have changed. Please see the CE page of our website for the updated requirements.
IMPORTANT! KEEP YOUR CONTACT and INSURANCE INFORMATION UP TO DATE!
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Education and Equivalent Qualifications
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A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of
higher education has been established as a prerequisite for participating in the
demonstration project. However, applicants
who do not have a bachelor's degree may satisfy this prerequisite based
on combinations of training and work experience that the Commissioner
determines to be equivalent to a bachelor's degree. We have determined
that any of the following combinations of education and experience
shall be equivalent to having a bachelor's degree:
- If the applicant does not have a bachelor's degree, but
has three years or more of undergraduate study at an accredited
institution of higher learning, the applicant must have at least one
year of relevant professional experience (as defined below), at least
six months of which must have involved claims for
benefits under title II or title XVI of the Act;
- If the applicant has at least two, but less than three
years of undergraduate study at an accredited institution of higher
learning, the applicant must have at least two years of relevant
professional experience, at least one year of which must have involved
claims for benefits under title II or title XVI of the Act;
- If the applicant has at least one, but less than two years
of undergraduate study at an accredited institution of higher learning,
the applicant must have at least three years of relevant professional
experience, at least two years of which must have involved claims for
benefits under title II or XVI of the Act; or
- If the applicant has less than one year of undergraduate
study at an accredited institution of higher learning, or no
undergraduate education, the applicant must have received a high school
diploma or GED certificate and have at least four years of relevant
professional experience, at least two years of which must have involved
claims for benefits under title II or title XVI of the Act.
Relevant professional experience (for purposes of establishing
qualifications equivalent to a bachelor's degree) is work through which
the applicant has demonstrated familiarity with medical reports and an
ability to describe and assess mental and/or physical limitations. Such
experience may be from the fields of: Teaching, counseling or guidance,
social work, personnel management, public employment service, and/or
nursing or other health care professional services.
Any professional work involving
claims for benefits under title II or title XVI of the Act shall also
be defined as relevant professional experience.
An applicant who fails to submit proof of a bachelor's degree or
equivalent qualifications before the application period closes shall be
precluded from establishing, based on his or her current application,
eligibility to take the examination and to participate in the
demonstration project. However, the applicant may re-apply to
participate in the demonstration project during a subsequent
application period.
An applicant may possess a law degree (e.g., juris doctor);
however, attorneys who already qualify to have their approved
representatives' fees paid directly from their clients' past-due
benefits pursuant to sections 206 and 1631(d)(2) of the Act will be
ineligible to participate in this demonstration project. In addition,
attorneys who are suspended or disbarred by a State or
Federal court or representatives who are disqualified, suspended or are under investigation
for disqualification or suspension from appearing before any Federal agency or
participating in any Federal program
will be ineligible to participate in this demonstration project.
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