(a)It is unlawful for an individual who is not licensed under this chapter to do any of the following:
(1)Engage in the practice of social work.
(2)Hold the individual out to the public in this State as being qualified to practice social work.
(3)Use in connection with the individual’s name or otherwise assume or use any title or description conveying or tending to convey the impression that the individual is qualified to practice social work.
(b)It is unlawful for an individual to practice social work in this State if the individual’s license to practice social work is expired, suspended, or revoked.
(c)Exemptions.
(1)This chapter does not apply to an individual who meets any of the following criteria:
a. Is licensed in good standing to practice social work in another jurisdi
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(a) It is unlawful for an individual who is not licensed under this chapter to do any of the following:
(1) Engage in the practice of social work.
(2) Hold the individual out to the public in this State as being qualified to practice social work.
(3) Use in connection with the individual’s name or otherwise assume or use any title or description conveying or tending to convey the impression that the individual is qualified to practice social work.
(b) It is unlawful for an individual to practice social work in this State if the individual’s license to practice social work is expired, suspended, or revoked.
(c)Exemptions.
(1) This chapter does not apply to an individual who meets any of the following criteria:
a. Is licensed in good standing to practice social work in another jurisdiction, provided that the individual has made prior written application to the Board to practice social work in this State and the Board has approved the application. An individual may practice social work, within the scope of practice designated by the individual’s license, in this State under this subsection for no more than 30 days per year. An individual who provides services under this subsection is deemed to have submitted to the Board’s jurisdiction and bound by the laws of this State.
b. Is certified or licensed in this State by any other law, and is engaged in and acting within the scope of the profession or occupation for which the individual is certified or licensed.
c. Is clergy of any denomination, when engaging in activities that are within the scope of the performance of that individual’s regular or specialized ministerial duties.
d. Performs assessments such as basic information collection, gathering of demographic data, and informal observations, screening, and referral to determine a client’s general eligibility for a program or service and a client’s functional status for the purpose of determining need for services unrelated to a behavioral health diagnosis or treatment plan.
e. Creates, develops, or implements a service plan unrelated to a behavioral health diagnosis or treatment plan. Service plans may include job training and employability, housing, general public assistance, in-home services and supports or home-delivered meals, de-escalation techniques, peer services, or skill development.
f. Participates as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to implement behavioral health services or a treatment plan, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
1. The team includes 1 or more health-care professionals licensed under this title.
2. The activities that each team member performs are consistent with the scope of practice for that member’s license under this title.
3. Individuals exempted under this paragraph (c)(1)f. do not engage in any of the following restricted practices:
A. Diagnosis of mental, emotional, behavioral, addictive, and developmental disorders and disabilities.
B. Client assessment and evaluation.
C. Provision of psychotherapeutic treatment.
D. Development and implementation of assessment-based treatment plans.
(2) Nothing in this subsection may be construed as requiring a license for any particular activity or function solely because the activity or function is not listed in this subsection.
(3) Licensure of social workers employed on June 11, 2019, by a state agency or private or nonprofit agency is voluntary. However, an individual who is newly employed or employed in a new position by a state agency or private or nonprofit agency on or after June 11, 2024, must be licensed under this chapter if the individual provides services as a social worker. Individuals to whom this paragraph applies and who choose to seek licensure must do so under the grandfathering provisions of § 3907B of this title.