Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Special Requirements
Requirements for licensure by examination
Submit in one package to the board office, not less than 90 days prior to the date of the written examination:
a. A completed notarized application;
b. Documentation, on the appropriate forms, of the successful completion of the supervised experience requirements along with documentation of the supervisor’s out-of-state license where applicable.
c. The application fee
d. Official transcript or transcripts in the original sealed envelope submitted from the appropriate institutions of higher education directly to the applicant; and
e. Documentation of applicant’s out-of-state licensure where applicable.
Requirements for licensure by endorsement
Every applicant for licensure by endorsement shall submit in one package:
1. A completed application and the application fee
2. Documentation of social work licensure in good standing
3. Verification of a passing score as established by the board on a board-approved national exam.
4. Official transcript or transcripts in the school’s original sealed envelope.
5. Verification of active practice in another jurisdiction for 36 out of the past 60 months.
6. Certification that the applicant is not the respondent in any pending or unresolved board action in another jurisdiction or in a malpractice claim.
Education and experience requirements for licensed social worker
Submit in one package to the board office, not less than 90 days prior to the date of the written examination:
a. A completed notarized application;
b. Documentation, on the appropriate forms, of the successful completion of the supervised experience requirements along with documentation of the supervisor’s out-of-state license where applicable.
c. The application fee
d. Official transcript or transcripts in the original sealed envelope submitted from the appropriate institutions of higher education directly to the applicant; and
e. Documentation of applicant’s out-of-state licensure where applicable.
Requirements for licensure by endorsement
Every applicant for licensure by endorsement shall submit in one package:
1. A completed application and the application fee
2. Documentation of social work licensure in good standing
3. Verification of a passing score as established by the board on a board-approved national exam.
4. Official transcript or transcripts in the school’s original sealed envelope.
5. Verification of active practice in another jurisdiction for 36 out of the past 60 months.
6. Certification that the applicant is not the respondent in any pending or unresolved board action in another jurisdiction or in a malpractice claim.
Education and experience requirements for licensed social worker
A. Education. The applicant shall hold a minimum of a master's degree from an accredited school of social work. Graduates of foreign institutions shall establish the equivalency of their education to this requirement through the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council of Social Work Education.
1. The degree program shall have included a graduate clinical course of study; or
2. The applicant shall provide documentation of having completed specialized experience, course work or training acceptable to the board as equivalent to a clinical course of study.
B. Supervised experience. Supervised experience in all settings obtained in Virginia without prior written board approval will not be accepted toward licensure. Supervision begun before November 26, 2008, that met the requirements of this section in effect prior to that date will be accepted until November 26, 2012.
1. Registration. An individual who proposes to obtain supervised post-master's degree experience in Virginia shall, prior to the onset of such supervision:
a. Register on a form provided by the board and completed by the supervisor and the supervised individual; and
b. Pay the registration of supervision fee
2. Hours. The applicant shall have completed a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised post-master's degree experience in the delivery of clinical social work services. A minimum of one hour of face-to-face supervision shall be provided each week for a total of at least 100 hours. No more than 50 of the 100 hours may be obtained in group supervision, nor shall there be more than six persons being supervised in a group unless approved in advance by the board. The board may consider alternatives to face-to-face supervision if the applicant can demonstrate an undue burden due to hardship, disability or geography.
a. Experience shall be acquired in no less than two or more than four years.
b. Supervisees shall average no less than 15 hours per week in face-to-face client contact for a minimum of 1,380 hours. The remaining hours may be spent in ancillary duties and activities supporting the delivery of clinical services.
3. An individual who does not complete the supervision requirement after four years of supervised experience shall submit evidence to the board showing why the training should be allowed to continue.
C. Requirements for supervisors.
1. The supervisor shall hold an active, unrestricted license as a licensed clinical social worker in the jurisdiction in which the clinical services are being rendered with at least three years of post-licensure clinical social work experience. The board may consider supervisors with commensurate qualifications if the applicant can demonstrate an undue burden due to geography or disability.
2. The supervisor shall have received professional training in supervision, consisting of a three credit-hour graduate course in supervision or at least 14 hours of continuing education. The graduate course or hours of continuing education in supervision shall be obtained by a supervisor within five years immediately preceding registration of supervision.
3. The supervisor shall not provide supervision for a member of his immediate family or provide supervision for anyone with whom he has a dual relationship.
Examinations:
A. An applicant for licensure by the board as a social worker or clinical social worker shall pass a written examination prescribed by the board.
B. The board shall establish passing scores on the written examination.
A. An applicant for licensure by the board as a social worker or clinical social worker shall pass a written examination prescribed by the board.
B. The board shall establish passing scores on the written examination.
Licensure renewal:
A. All licensees shall renew their licenses on or before June 30 of each odd - numbered year and pay the renewal fee
B. Beginning with the 2003 renewal, licensees who wish to maintain an active license shall pay the appropriate fee and document on the renewal form compliance with the continued competency requirements. Newly licensed individuals are not required to document continuing education on the first renewal date following initial licensure.
C. A licensee who wishes to place his license in inactive status may do so upon payment of a fee equal to one half of the biennial license renewal fee as indicated on the renewal form. No person shall practice social work or clinical social work in Virginia unless he holds a current active license. A licensee who has placed himself in inactive status may become active by fulfilling the reactivation requirements.
Continued competency requirements for renewal of an active license
A. Licensed clinical social workers shall be required to have completed a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education and licensed social workers shall be required to have completed a minimum of 15 contact hours of continuing education for each biennial licensure renewal. A minimum of two of those hours must pertain to the standards of practice and laws governing the profession of social work in Virginia, or the Code of Ethics of one of the social work professional associations.
B. Hours may be obtained from a combination of board approved activities in the following two categories:
Category I- Formally Organized Learning Activities: A minimum of 20 hours for licensed clinical social workers or 10 hours for licensed social workersshall be documented in this category, which shall include one or more of the following.
Category II- Individual Professional Activities. A maximum of 10 of the required 30 hours for licensed clinical social workers or a maximum of five of the required 15 hours for licensed social workers may be earned in this category.
Late renewal:
A social worker or clinical social worker whose license has expired may renew that license within four years after its expiration date by:
1. Providing evidence of having met all applicable continuing education requirements.
2. Paying the penalty for late renewal and the biennial license fee for each biennium.
Reinstatement:
A social worker or clinical social worker who fails to renew the license for four years or more and who wishes to resume practice shall apply for reinstatement, pay the reinstatement fee and provide documentation of having completed all applicable continued competency hours equal to the number of years the license has lapsed, not to exceed four years.
Reactivation of an Inactive License:
A social worker wishing to reactivate an inactive license shall submit the renewal fee for active licensure minus any fee already paid for inactive licensure renewal, and document completion of continued competency hours equal to the number of years the license has been inactive, not to exceed four years.
Renewal of registration for associate social workers and registered social workers.
The registration of every associate social worker and registered social worker with the former Virginia Board of Registration of Social Workers shall expire on June 30 of each odd - numbered year.
Each registrant shall return the completed application before the expiration date, accompanied by the payment of the renewal fee .
Licensure; general. Licensed social workers may practice in exempt practice settings under appropriate supervision. Only licensed clinical social workers may practice at the autonomous level.
Late renewal:
A social worker or clinical social worker whose license has expired may renew that license within four years after its expiration date by:
1. Providing evidence of having met all applicable continuing education requirements.
2. Paying the penalty for late renewal and the biennial license fee for each biennium.
Reinstatement:
A social worker or clinical social worker who fails to renew the license for four years or more and who wishes to resume practice shall apply for reinstatement, pay the reinstatement fee and provide documentation of having completed all applicable continued competency hours equal to the number of years the license has lapsed, not to exceed four years.
Reactivation of an Inactive License:
A social worker wishing to reactivate an inactive license shall submit the renewal fee for active licensure minus any fee already paid for inactive licensure renewal, and document completion of continued competency hours equal to the number of years the license has been inactive, not to exceed four years.
Renewal of registration for associate social workers and registered social workers.
The registration of every associate social worker and registered social worker with the former Virginia Board of Registration of Social Workers shall expire on June 30 of each odd - numbered year.
Each registrant shall return the completed application before the expiration date, accompanied by the payment of the renewal fee .
Licensure; general. Licensed social workers may practice in exempt practice settings under appropriate supervision. Only licensed clinical social workers may practice at the autonomous level.
Required Fees:
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Registration of supervision
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$25
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Application processing
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$100
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Biennial license renewal
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a. Registered social worker-$35
b. Associate social worker-$35 c. Licensed social worker-$110 d. Licensed clinical social worker-$125 |
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Penalty for late renewal
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$10
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Verification of license to another jurisdiction
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$10
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Additional or replacement licenses
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$10
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Additional or replacement wall certificates
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$15
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Returned check
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$35
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Reinstatement following disciplinary action
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$200
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Fees shall be paid by check or money order made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia and forwarded to the board. All fees are nonrefundable.
Examination fees shall be paid directly to the examination service according to its requirements
For More Information, Contact:
Department Of Health Professions
Board Of Social Work
6603 West Broad St., 5th Floor
Richmond, VA 23230-1712
Phone: 804.662.9914
TTY: 804.662.7197
Fax: 804.662.7250
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/social/
National Association Of Social Workers - Virginia Chapter
1506 Staples Mill Road, Ste. 102
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 804.204.1339
Fax: 804.204.1539
http://naswva.org/default.asp
[email protected]
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research. (Using onet28)
