GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Jamie Langlois, LMSW
(Special thanks to Dr. Shelley Schuurman, LMSW for
her contributions to this presentation)
Social Work Licensing
Information Session
1
March 14, 2013
Public Health Code
P.A. 61 of 2004
(and associated Administrative Rules)
O Went into effect July 1, 2005
O Caused significant changes to the regulations of
the social work profession
2
A National Model for
Social Work Licensing
O No Exceptions: Everyone must be licensed to
practice social work
O Two designations for MSW –
macro & clinical
O All Direct Practice is Clinical
Title Provided by the Law
O Licensed Master’s Social Worker
O Limited Licensed Master’s Social Worker
O Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker
O Limited Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker
O Social Service Technician
O Limited Social Service Technician
4
Limited License
Master’s Social Worker
Qualifications:
O MSW from a CSWE accredited School of Social
Work
O Must be supervised by a Licensed Master’s
Social Worker from their area of practice
O http://www7.dleg.state.mi.us/free/
O A limited license shall be issued for 1 year and
may be renewed for not more than 6 years
Licensed Master’s Social Worker
Qualifications:
O 4,000 hours of supervised experience in either clinical
or macro practice over a two year period
O 100 hours of supervision from a Licensed Master’s
Social Worker in their area of practice which may be a
combination of individual and group (4 hours a month)
O 4 hours per month with at least 1 hour being conducted
between the applicant and the supervisor on an individual
basis
O Verification and recommendation from LMSW
supervisor
O Clinical must pass the Clinical Social Work Exam
(ASWB)
O Macro must pass the Advanced Generalist Exam
(ASWB)
Licensed Master’s Social Worker
Qualifications for Macro & Clinical:
O One qualifies in one area of practice or
the other including passing the test
O Has additional 2,000 hours of
experience under LMSW supervision
O 50 hours of supervision by a Licensed
Master’s Social Worker in that area of
practice
O Additional testing is NOT required
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Scope of Practice for
Macro Social Work
O Advanced application of macro SW processes &
systems to improve the social or health services of
communities, groups, or organizations through
planned interventions.
O Includes, but is not limited to, community organizing;
program planning and development; administration of
community programs; assessment of client needs for
community programs; coordination & evaluation of
programs; advocacy; analysis & development of social
welfare policy; organizational analysis; & provision of
training about community needs/problems
8
Scope of Practice for
Clinical Social Work
O Use of assessment, treatment, & intervention
methods that utilize a specialized, & formal
interaction between a social worker & an individual,
couple, family, or group where a professional
relationship is established.
O Includes one or more of the following: advocating for
care; protection of the vulnerable; forensic practice;
increasing social well-being; education; case
management for complex & high risk cases;
psychotherapy; community committees; supervision;
& administration of clinical programs
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“Psychotherapy”
O The assessment, diagnosis or treatment of
mental, emotional, or behavior disorders,
conditions, addictions, or other biopsychosocial problems and may include the
involvement of the intrapsychic, intrapersonal,
or psychosocial dynamics of individuals,
couples, families, or groups
Limited License
Bachelor’s Social Work
Qualifications:
O BSW degree from a CSWE accredited School of
Social Work
O Supervision must be provided by a Licensed
Master’s Social Worker
O A limited license shall be issued for 1 year and
may be renewed for not more than 6 years
Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker
Qualifications:
O 4,000 hours of supervised experience over a two
year period
O 100 hours of supervision by a Licensed Master’s
Social Worker which may be a combination of
individual and group (4 hours a month)
O 4 hours per month with at least 1 hour being
conducted between the applicant and the
supervisor on an individual basis
O Verification and recommendation from LMSW
supervisor
O Pass the Bachelor’s Examination (ASWB)
License Bachelor’s Social Work
Scope of Practice
O Social casework, assessment, planning, and interventions
O
O
O
O
with individuals, couples, families, or groups, to enhance
or restore the capacity for social functioning and
developing solutions for interpersonal or community
problems
Case management of health and human services
Information about and referral of individuals to resources
Planning and collaboration with communities,
organizations, or groups to improve their social or health
services
Establishing a professional helping relationship with an
Individual, couple, family, or group to assist them in
accessing services, solving problems, and making
decisions about personal, health, social, educational,
vocational, financial, and other concerns
Scope of Practice Grid
O The grid clearly delineates which Social Work task or
function is typically performed at the different levels of
Social Work Licensure
O Note the distinctions made between Clinical and Macro
practice at the MSW level
O Scope of Practice Grid
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Application Process
O The application packet and additional information
about licensure can be found at the State of Michigan
Department of Community Health’s web site at:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-13227417_27529_27554---,00.html
(or search: michigan.gov LARA and social work)
O The packet contains many forms, however to apply for
a LLBSW or a LLMSW you only need to be concerned
with the
O Application Form (2 pgs) and
O the Certification of Social Work Form (2 pgs) and
O the Criminal Background Check and Fingerprint Request
Forms
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Overview of the Process
Instructions:
Application, submitted
2.
Fingerprinting & Criminal Background
Check
3.
Certification of Education
4.
You will be sent a letter that says you’re
eligible to take the Exam
Is everything in my file complete? How can I
find out what is missing?
1.
Criminal Background Check
Fingerprint Scan
O 1.Complete the Form
O 2./ 3. Schedule an Appointment
O With L-1 Identity Solutions
O 1-866-226-2952
O NO Other background check works
O 4. You must bring:
Completed Form
Driver’s License
Money Order $62.75
Application Form
O Be sure to check Limited BSW or MSW License
O MSW must check Macro or Clinical
O Note Questions 1-8 to which you must check
Yes or No and include an explanation for any
answer checked Yes
O You must be absolutely honest
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Certification of Social Work
Education Form
O You complete Section One and then give
it along with Section Two to your schools
Program Director and/or the Registrar
(At GVSU, you give it to Esther Visser)
O Section Two needs to be completed by a
school official and they must send in this
form along with a copy of your transcript.
19
Supervision Verification Form
O Once you begin employment, this is the form
your Supervisor will use to verify your
completed hours of supervision
O LLBSW AND LLMSW must be supervised by
a LMSW
O Volunteer hours can count toward
supervision work
Continuing Education
Requirements
O You DO NOT have to earn Continuing Education
Credits while you are a LLBSW or LLMSW and
working toward full licensure
O You certainly can attend trainings
O www.gvsu.edu/swce or
O http://www.socialworkcec.com/CE/showcourse
s.php
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The EXAM
After you have mailed in the Application Form and the
School of Social Work has mailed in the Certification of
SW Ed form, (within 4-6 weeks) you will receive your Limited
License and a letter informing you that you are eligible to
take the Licensure Exam and need to register at ASWB in
order to do so.
O You can take this exam right away
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When should I take the Exam?
O You can take the exam anytime after you receive
your Limited License and have registered
O The current cost of the exam is
Bachelors or Masters exam registration:
$230
Advanced Generalist or Clinical exam
registration: $260
O A passing score is 75
O If you don’t pass the first time you can retake
the exam.
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Where do I take the exam?
O Register for the appropriate ASWB examination
O Associate,
O Bachelors,
O Masters,
O Advanced Generalist
O Or Clinical
O by calling 1-888-579-3926, by fax, mail or online. Pay exam fee,
notify the ASWB representative of any special testing
arrangements you may have requested.
O Exams are given year round
O Multiple versions of the test are given throughout the year and
at any given site
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Association of Social Work Boards
O http://www.aswb.org/
Lots of great information
O http://www.aswb.org/pdfs/handbook.pdf
Candidate Handbook
4/13/2015
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How do I prepare for the exam?
O The good news is that you have learned
what you need to know in class. (ASWB lists
text books that have exam content)
O You still need to know test taking strategies
O Purchase exam prep materials and/or take
an exam prep class
O Develop a study plan and/or form a study
group
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Exam Prep. Courses
O SW 680-04 “Social Work Clinical Licensing Exam
Preparation” 1-credit course (April 5 & 6)
Space is still available for Winter 2013
Registration is still possible on Banner
O The Book is a separate Expense
O
O Attend our exam prep course June 7 & 8 at GVSU –Early
bird rate for alumni $275 (register by May 1) download the
brochure and registration form. http://www.gvsu.edu/ssw/module-newsview.htm?newsId=9B6D2752-07CA-130B-38E58A902A3DA8BB
O Training includes exam prep materials
O MSU School of Social Work also has exam prep courses
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Exam Web Resources
O Association of Social Work Board
www.aswb.org
O Study Guides are $30 (not recommended)
O Good information on test taking strategies
and a practice test
O No study material on content areas
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Exam Web Resources
O Social Work Examination Services
www.SWES.net
These materials are no longer recommended.
They were the materials used until 2011 but
are out of date.
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Web Resources
O LEAP-Lead ExAm Prep www.licensingprep.com
O GVSU Coupon 20% off coupon for students and
alumni. They will need to enter the code at the time
of order GVSU20
O Price: Bachelor (ASWB National exam): $99.50
Masters or Clinical (ASWB National Exam): $129.50
O 2012 LEAP Online Practice Exams: $59 all levels
O 94% Pass rate for study guides
4/13/2015
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Thank you
Time for Questions?????
“Never doubt
that a small group of
thoughtful
committed citizens
can change the world.
Indeed
it is the only thing
that ever has.”
Margaret Mead