65-6306. Qualifications for licensure; baccalaureate social worker; master social worker; specialist clinical social worker; practice of licensed specialist clinical social worker; approval of colleges or universities, criteria. (a) The board shall issue a license as a baccalaureate social worker to an applicant who:

(1) Has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, including completion of a social work program recognized and approved by the board, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board;

(2) has passed an examination approved by the board for this purpose; and

(3) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust.

(b) The board shall issue a license as a master social worker to an applicant who:

(1) Has a master's degree from an accredited college or university, including completion of a social work program recognized and approved by the board, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board;

(2) has passed an examination approved by the board for this purpose; and

(3) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust.

(c) The board shall issue a license in one of the social work specialties to an applicant who:

(1) Has a master's or doctor's degree from an accredited graduate school of social work, including completion of a social work program recognized and approved by the board, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board;

(2) has had two years of full-time post-master's or post-doctor's degree experience under the supervision of a licensed social worker in the area of the specialty in which such applicant seeks to be licensed;

(3) has passed an examination approved by the board for this purpose; and

(4) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust.

(d) (1) The board shall issue a license as a specialist clinical social worker to an applicant who:

(A) Has met the requirements of subsection (c);

(B) has completed 15 credit hours as part of or in addition to the requirements under subsection (c) supporting diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association's diagnostic and statistical manual, through identifiable study of the following content areas: Psychopathology, diagnostic assessment, interdisciplinary referral and collaboration, treatment approaches and professional ethics;

(C) has completed a graduate level supervised clinical practicum of supervised professional experience including psychotherapy and assessment, integrating diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association's diagnostic and statistical manual, with not less than 350 hours of direct client contact or additional postgraduate supervised experience as determined by the board;

(D) has completed as part of or in addition to the requirements of subsection (c) not less than two years of postgraduate supervised professional experience in accordance with a clinical supervision plan approved by the board of not less than 4,000 hours of supervised professional experience including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact conducting psychotherapy and assessments with individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 150 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than 75 hours of person-to-person individual supervision, integrating diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association's diagnostic and statistical manual;

(E) for persons earning a degree under subsection (c) prior to July 1, 2003, in lieu of the education and training requirements under parts (B) and (C) of this subsection, has completed the education requirements for licensure as a specialist clinical social worker in effect on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act;

(F) for persons who apply for and are eligible for a temporary license to practice as a specialist clinical social worker on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act, in lieu of the education and training requirements under parts (B), (C) and (D) of this subsection, has completed the education and training requirements for licensure as a specialist clinical social worker in effect on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act;

(G) has passed an examination approved by the board; and

(H) has paid the application fee.

(2) A licensed specialist clinical social worker may engage in the social work practice and is authorized to diagnose and treat mental disorders specified in the edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association designated by the board by rules and regulations. When a client has symptoms of a mental disorder, a licensed specialist clinical social worker shall consult with the client's primary care physician or psychiatrist to determine if there may be a medical condition or medication that may be causing or contributing to the client's symptoms of a mental disorder. A client may request in writing that such consultation be waived and such request shall be made a part of the client's record. A licensed specialist clinical social worker may continue to evaluate and treat the client until such time that the medical consultation is obtained or waived.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a licensed master social worker who has provided to the board an acceptable clinical supervision plan for licensure as a specialist clinical social worker prior to the effective date of this act shall be licensed as a specialist clinical social worker under this act upon completion of the requirements in effect for licensure as a specialist clinical social worker at the time the acceptable training plan is submitted to the board.

(4) A person licensed as a specialist clinical social worker on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act shall be deemed to be a licensed specialist clinical social worker under this act. Such person shall not be required to file an original application for licensure as a specialist clinical social worker under this act.

(e) The board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing the criteria which a social work program of a college or university shall satisfy to be recognized and approved by the board under this section. The board may send a questionnaire developed by the board to any college or university conducting a social work program for which the board does not have sufficient information to determine whether the program should be recognized and approved by the board and whether the program meets the rules and regulations adopted under this section. The questionnaire providing the necessary information shall be completed and returned to the board in order for the program to be considered for recognition and approval. The board may contract with investigative agencies, commissions or consultants to assist the board in obtaining information about a social work program of a college or university. In entering such contracts the authority to recognize and approve a social work program of a college or university shall remain solely with the board.

History: L. 1974, ch. 372, § 6; L. 1980, ch. 242, § 17; L. 1981, ch. 352, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 243, § 17; L. 1989, ch. 276, § 3; L. 1994, ch. 164, § 2; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 12; July 1, 2000.