Social Work Licensure in Georgia:
Overview of Laws & Rules & the
LMSW - Exam
Ed Risler, Ph.D.
The University of Georgia
School of Social Work
Why Licensure?
• To protect the public - “The activities of
certain persons who utilize certain titles
relating to or who practice professional
counseling, social work, and marriage &
family therapy be regulated to ensure the
protection of the health, safety, and
welfare of the people of this state” (4310A-2)
The Law - What is Social Work?
• Social Work - “means that specialty
which helps individuals, marriages,
families, couples, groups, or communities
to enhance or restore their capacity for
functioning.”
• By title, the license identifies you as a
professional in the practice of social
work.
Title & Practice Protection
• A person who is not licensed shall not
practice social work, nor advertise the
performance of such practice, nor use the
title “Social Worker”, nor use any words,
letters, titles, or figures indicating or
implying that the person is a professional
social worker. (43-10A-7)
Exemptions
• Persons licensed to practice medicine or
psychology
• Employees of state or federal agency's,
hospital or care facility
• Employees of community service boards
• Students recognized as interns or trainees
• Members of religious ministries and
clergy (43-10A-7)
The Law - Social Work Practice
• By assisting in obtaining tangible social &
health services, providing psychosocial
evaluations, the in-depth assessment &
analysis of emotional, cognitive, mental,
behavioral, and interpersonal problems;
through, counseling, psychotherapy,
casework, advocacy, in a variety of
settings.
Eligibility for Licensure
• Having met the educational, training, and
experience requirements regarding that
specialty.
• Having successfully passed the
examination for that specialty.
• Having paid the licensing fee.
Social Work Licenses
• LMSW - Licensed Master of Social Work
• LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Each license has requirements that
authorize the performance of a specific
level of social work services
Licensed Master of Social Work
• LMSW - A masters degree from an
accredited program (CSWE).
• Authorized - May render to individuals,
marriages, couples, families, groups,
organizations, or the general public service
which is guided by knowledge of , social
resources, systems,and human behavior.
May provide counseling, prevention,
intervention, consultation, education or
research.
(135-5-.03)
Licensure Rules - LCSW
• Three years post masters work experience
under supervision.
• 120 hours of documented supervision over
the 3 year period.
• Work experience means 1000 hours in no
less than 12 & no more than 36 months.
(135-5-.03)
Rules - Licensure by Definition
• Direction - ongoing administrative
oversight by a director of the work of a
social worker.
• Director - the person who provides direction
& is either the employer or the superior of
the social worker.
• Supervision - the direct clinical review to
promote the development of clinical skills.
• Supervisor - the individual who promotes
the development of clinical skills (LCSW)
Steps To Licensure
• Graduate
• Send Application to the Georgia Licensing
Board.
• Receive approval to contact ASWB
• Apply to take test through ASWB
• Pass the test
• Frame License
The License Test
• Bachelors, Masters – (Intermediate),
Advanced Generalist, Clinical.
• 170 multiple choice questions (20 are not
scored) and you have 4 hours to complete
the computerized exam.
• A passing score is how many questions you
answer correctly.
The Masters Exam
• Human development, Diversity & Behavior in
the environment – 28%
• Assessment & Inter. Planning – 24%
• Direct and Indirect Practice – 21%
• Prof. Relationship, Values & Ethics - 27%
Human development, Diversity &
Behavior in the environment – 28%
• Theories and Models
– Developmental, systems, family, group
• Abuse and Neglect
– Concepts of abuse, exploitation
• Diversity, Social/Economic Justice, &
Oppression
– Influence of culture and ethnicity,
discrimination
Assessment & Inter. Planning –
24%
• Bio-psychosocial History and Collateral
Data
– Psychopharmacology, trauma, stress
• Use Assessment Methods and Techniques
– DSM-IV, assessment process
• Intervention Planning
– Intervention criteria, factors, techniques
Direct and Indirect Practice – 21%
• Direct / Micro
– Client advocacy, psychosocial approach etc.
• Direct / Macro
– Social Policy analysis, Organizational
Theories etc.
Prof. Relationship, Values & Ethics
- 27%
• Professional values and ethical issues
– Applying ethics to practice
• Confidentiality
– Client records, informed consent
• Social work roles and relationships
– Dual relationships, boundaries
LMSW - Test Questions
• Recall - Questions about specific concepts.
• Integration – Questions relating 2 or more
concepts.
• Application – Questions pertaining to
practice application of concepts.
A social worker can BEST establish
rapport with a client in the first interview
by:
• A – Understanding the clients view of the
problem.
• B – Asking only factual information about
the problem.
• C – Conducting the interview on a first
name basis.
• D – First allowing time for informal,
personal conversation.
A client who has completed treatment
and resolved the targeted problem is
making excessive phone calls to the SW.
The SW should:
• A. - Inform the client the therapeutic
relationship is finished.
• B. - Refer the client to another SW.
• C. – Limit the number of phone calls.
• D. – Schedule and session to determine any
current problems.
A contract established between social
worker and client should be based on
all of the following principles except :
• A - expectations for the client’s
participation
• B - length & number of sessions expected
• C - consequences of failure to achieve
treatment goals
• D - method through which progress will be
monitored
An adolescent client was brought in by a
mother to the agency because she suspected
drug abuse. A critical factor for the social
worker to recognize in establishing rapport
with the youth is that the client will:
• A - be unwilling to acknowledge the drug abuse
• B - believe the SW is aligned with the parents
• C - relate to the SW only if they are of the same
gender
• D - express feelings of doubt and lack of self - worth
Licensure Contacts
• American Association of State Social Work
Boards - http://www.aswb.org
• State of Georgia - Secretary of State Composite Board License - SW, MFT, PC.
http://www.sos.state.ga.us