§ 17-103-104 — Exemptions

(a) This chapter does not prevent members of the clergy, Christian Science practitioners, and licensed professionals such as physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, and attorneys from doing work within the standards and ethics of their respective professions, if they do not hold themselves out to the public by any title or description of services as being social workers as defined under this chapter. (b) (1) This chapter does not limit or prohibit the employment by a licensed hospital in this state of persons who perform services commonly within the definition of social work or of practices performed by social workers if the services are performed within the course and scope of their employment as employees of the hospital and only if the person does not represent himself or herself to the public as a social worker. (2) This chapter does not require a regular employee of a licensed hospital in this state to be licensed as a licensed social worker, a licensed master social worker, or a licensed certified social worker as a condition of employment by or performance of services as a social worker while employed in a licensed hospital in this state. (c) This chapter does not limit the activities and services of a graduate or undergraduate student who is currently enrolled in a social work program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education if he or she does not represent himself or herself as a social worker. (d) (1) This chapter does not require a person to be licensed as a licensed social worker who is engaged in the practice of a specialty area of social work while an employee of an agency or department of the state in any of the following job classifications, but only if the person is engaged in that practice as an employee of the agency or department and only if the person does not represent himself or herself to the public as a social worker: (A) A family service worker; (B) A social service worker; or (C) An adult protective services worker. (2) It is the intent of the General Assembly to restrict licensure to those individuals who are represented to be social workers. It is not the intent of the General Assembly to license persons such as state employees in the job classifications of social service workers and family service workers.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 623,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1170,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015. Acts 1999, No. 1122, § 1; 2009, No. 297, § 1; 2011, No. 859, § 13.