§ 5-39.1-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Board� means the state board of social work examiners for licensure of social workers.
(2) "Clinical social work practice� means the professional application of social-work
theories, methods, and values in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of cognitive,
affective, and behavioral disorders arising from physical, environmental, or emotional
conditions. Clinical social-work services include, but are not limited to, diagnosis;
assessment; evaluation; psychotherapy and counseling for individuals, couples, families,
and groups; client-centered advocacy; consultation; and supervision. Clinical social-work
services do not include psychological testing, and nothing in this chapter shall be
construed to permit social workers to practice psychology.
(3) "Continuing education hours� means actual hours earned in continuing education courses,
seminars, and workshops.
(4) "Department� means the Rhode Island department of health.
(5) "Director� means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.
(6) "Division� means the division of professional regulation in the Rhode Island department
of health.
(7)(i) "Experience� means three thousand (3,000) hours of post-master's practice of clinical
social work during a twenty-four (24) to seventy-two (72) month period of time immediately
preceding the date of application for licensure.
(ii) One thousand five hundred (1,500) hours must consist of providing clinical social-work
services directly to clients.
(8) "Supervision� means face-to-face contact with a licensed independent clinical social
worker for the purpose of apprising the supervisor of the diagnosis, assessment, and
treatment of each client; receiving oversight and guidance from the supervisor in
the delivery of clinical social-work services to each client; and being evaluated
by the supervisor. This contact must consist of:
(i) A minimum of two (2) hours of supervision every two (2) weeks;
(ii) A minimum of one hour of supervision per twenty (20) hours of direct contact with
clients, whether or not the number of hours of supervision required for a two-week
(2) period have been met;
(iii) One-to-one contact with the supervisor at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the
time with group supervision of no more than ten (10) supervisees during the balance
of the time; and
(iv) Supervision by an individual other than the applicant's parents, spouse, former spouse,
siblings, children, employees, or anyone sharing the same household or any romantic,
domestic, or familial relationship.