Updates & Replaces Fact Sheet 15-05
Contents
- Overview
- Requirements for Social Work Licensure and Scope of Practice
- Requirements for School Social Work Certification
- Appendix I: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Regarding Social Work Licensure Information on LMSW and LCSW titles
- Appendix II: 8 CRR-NY 80-2.3(f) Certificates valid for pupil personnel service (school attendance teacher, school counselor, school dental hygiene teacher, school nurse-teacher, school psychologist and school social worker).
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Overview
In New York State social workers are licensed professionals and certified school employees. In addition to meeting the requirements of their profession, social workers in educational settings must also obtain certification as school social workers. In 2005 Regulations of the Commissioner of Education were amended to align the certification of school social workers with the licensure changes found in Education Law. These changes did not impose any new requirements on certified school social workers who were already employed in school settings in 2005.
In May 2014 the Board of Regents adopted regulations that require each licensed master social worker and licensed clinical social worker to complete 36 hours of continuing education during each three-year registration period. Starting April 1, 2023, licensees in each commencing 3-year registration period must complete 3 hours of acceptable course work in appropriate professional boundaries between licensees and patients, from a provider approved by the department*.
*Commissioner Regulations, Section 74.10 (2)(ii)(c)(1).
Requirements for Social Work Licensure and Scope of Practice
Effective September 1, 2004, the statute:
- Replaced the title Certified Social Worker (CSW) with a new title Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) but kept the same requirements;
- Added a new license, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), which requires three years of post-MSW
supervised experience in clinical social work, and a specific educational requirement for the license, namely, "a core curriculum which includes clinical content.” Clinical content has been defined in the Commissioner's Regulations as 12 semester hours or the equivalent of coursework that prepares the individual to practice as an LCSW. Applicants for licensure as an LCSW are also required to pass the ASWB Clinical exam;
- Defined and restricted the practices of Licensed Master Social Work and Licensed Clinical Social Work to social work licensees or other authorized or exempt persons identified in the law.
Recent Statute Updates:
Chapter 818 of the laws of 2022 addresses how LCSWs with practice scope defined under Article 154 of Education Law are affected by these amendments to New York Insurance Law regarding policy coverage for outpatient care.
Effective January 1, 2023, New York State eliminated the requirement LCSWs demonstrate three years post-LCSW supervised experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment in order to earn the “R” privilege for outpatient care. An LCSW with the “R” privilege will retain the designation, but insurance law no longer requires it.
As such, the Office of the Professions will no longer receive or process “R” privilege applications. The absence of an R designation should not affect equal standing or pay differential. Section 74.5 of the Commissioner’s Regulations will be updated to reflect this. As Chapter 818 also requires a public listing of licensed and registered LCSWs on the Office of Professions verification webpage Online Registration Renewal | Office of the Professions, consumers should verify the LCSW licensee is competent to provide psychotherapy based on the licensee’s education, training and experience.
Download the complete document for charts of education, experience and examination requirements for licensure, as well as the authorized practice of LMSQs and LCSWs.
Requirements for School Social Work Certification
In 2005, the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education were amended to include the following:
- The Certified Social Worker (CSW) title is replaced with Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) titles (requirements for provisional certification as a School Social Worker remain the same);
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) becomes the minimal license for permanent certification as a School Social Worker; and
- The scope of practice language for certified School Social Workers is made consistent with the scope of practice found in the new practice-protected licensed professions in social work.
Download the full PDF version for chart of School Social Worker Certification NYCRR 80-2.3(f) and Appedices I & II.
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