CHAPTER 316
H.P. 768 - L.D. 987
An Act to Change Certain Educational Requirements for Licensed Social Workers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §7001-A, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 736, §2, is amended to read:
8. Licensed social worker. A "licensed social worker" is a person who has received a license as a licensed social worker from the board. In accordance with the provisions of section 7053, subsection 3-A, "licensed social worker" includes a person who has received a conditional license as a licensed social worker.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §7053, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 1989, c. 682, is amended to read:
3. Requirements to be a licensed social worker on or before June 30, 2002. To be qualified to be licensed as a social worker an applicant must meet one of the following requirements. On or before June 30, 2002, the board may issue a license to an applicant who meets at least one of the requirements set out in this subsection:
A. The applicant must have received a bachelor's degree in social work or social welfare from an accredited educational institution; demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board adherence to the ethics of the social worker profession; and successfully completed the examination prescribed by the board.; or
B. The applicant must have received a bachelor's degree in a related field from an institution that, at the time the degree was received, did not have a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education but subsequently offered such a program; demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board adherence to the ethics of the social worker profession; and successfully completed the examination prescribed by the board.
The board shall issue rules, in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, by which an individual who has a bachelor's degree that does not qualify under paragraph A or B may be eligible for a license.
The board may not issue a licensed social worker conditional license under this subsection after June 30, 2002. Individuals who have met the requirements of this subsection and have a licensed social worker conditional license issued prior to June 30, 2002, may continue to work towards full licensure as a licensed social worker under this subsection.
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §7053, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:
3-A. Requirements for licensed social worker after June 30, 2002. Except for those who meet the requirements for licensure as a social worker under section 7053, subsection 3, after June 30, 2002, the board may issue a conditional license or a license to an applicant who meets the requirements set out in this subsection.
A. Requirements for a conditional license for a licensed bachelor social worker include:
(1) Documented proof of a bachelor's degree in social work or social welfare from an institution in candidacy for accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education or a successor organization;
(2) Three letters of professional recommendation written within one year of receipt by the board, 2 of which are provided by licensed social workers from any state;
(3) Evidence of employment in a social service delivery field;
(4) Evidence of an arrangement of consultation to be provided by one of the following:
(a) A licensed social worker with at least 5 years' experience;
(b) A licensed master social worker;
(c) A licensed clinical social worker; or
(d) A certified social worker - independent practice.
(5) Payment of the application and license fee; and
(6) Demonstration to the satisfaction of the board adherence to the ethics of the social worker profession.
B. Requirements for a licensed social worker after June 30, 2002 include:
(1) Documented proof of a bachelor's degree in social work or social welfare from an accredited educational institution. If an applicant provides documented proof of a bachelor's degree in social work or social welfare from a program in candidacy for accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education or a successor organization, then the applicant must provide documented proof of 96 hours of consultation provided by a licensed social worker with at least 2 years' experience, a licensed master social worker, a licensed clinical social worker or a certified social worker - independent practice. This consultation must be concurrent with 3,200 hours of social work employment occurring in a period not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years;
(2) An applicant with less than 2 years of social work employment must provide evidence of an arrangement of consultation provided by:
(a) A licensed social worker with at least 2 years' experience;
(b) A licensed master social worker;
(c) A licensed clinical social worker; or
(d) A certified social worker - independent practice;
(3) Documentation of successfully passing the required examination;
(4) Three letters of professional recommendation written within one year of receipt by the board of which 2 are provided by social workers licensed in any state. If the applicant is conditionally licensed as a licensed social worker, one recommendation must be from the consultant to the applicant's conditional license;
(5) Evidence of employment in a social service delivery field;
(6) Payment of the application and license fee; and
(7) Demonstration to the satisfaction of the board adherence to the ethics of the social worker profession.
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §7053-A, sub-§4, ¶E, as amended by PL 1989, c. 296, §1, is further amended to read:
E. Participate in training and education of social work students from an accredited institution or an educational institution in candidacy for accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education or a successor organization and supervise other licensed social workers.
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §7060, as amended by PL 1993, c. 659, Pt. A, §8, is further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:
In addition to the other requirements of this section, a licensed social worker must provide documentation of 96 hours of consultation during the first 3,200 hours of social work employment in a period not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years.
Effective September 21, 2001, unless otherwise indicated.
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