Who Must Be Licensed
and
What Is Social Work
Practice?
Board Authority: Title & Practice Protection
The
Social Work Practice Act is both a title and a practice act. The Act requires that persons 1) who use a
title which incorporates the words “social work” or “social worker,” or 2) who
practice social work in Minnesota,
with a social work degree, be licensed, unless exempted as described
above. Persons may not begin social work
practice in a setting where licensure is required until they hold a valid license.
The
Board has statutory authority to determine whether a person in a specific
position is engaged in social work practice, thereby requiring licensure, even
if an employer does not require social work licensure for a position. Again, licensure is required by persons who
use the title of “social work” or “social worker”, provide social work services in a position for which the educational basis
is the individual’s degree in social work, or practice in a position, under
licensing supervision, which has been approved and applied to a licensing
requirement. If you are unsure
whether a license is required in a specific position, contact the Board for a
determination.
Current Licensing Exemptions
A
social work license is required to practice in Minnesota except as provided in Minnesota
Statutes, Section 148E.065 which exempts the following persons from
licensure:
- Persons
employed by city, county, and state agencies
- Persons
employed by federally recognized tribes
- Persons
employed by private, nonprofit agencies with a primary service focus specific
to an ethnic minority population and
the social worker is a member of the same population
- Students
engaged in practice in an internship program required for a social work degree
- Persons
employed by an agency with “special regional hiring problems” that has
submitted a written request to the Board for a geographic waiver
- Other
licensed professionals
Definition of Social
Work Practice and Clinical Social Work Practice
As stated in Minnesota Statutes, Section 148E.010,
subdivision 11 the “practice of social work” means working to maintain,
restore, or improve behavioral, cognitive, emotional, mental, or social
functioning of clients, in a manner that applies accepted professional social
work knowledge, skills, and values, including the person-in-environment
perspective, by providing in person or through telephone, video conferencing,
or electronic means one or more of the social work services described in
clauses (1) to (3). Social work services
may address conditions that impair or limit behavioral, cognitive, emotional,
mental, or social functioning. Such
conditions include, but are not limited to, the following: abuse and neglect of children or vulnerable
adults, addictions, developmental disorders, disabilities, discrimination,
illness, injuries, poverty, and trauma. Practice
of social work also means providing social work services in a position for
which the educational basis is the individual’s degree in social work described
in subdivision 13. Social work services
include:
(1) providing assessment and intervention through direct
contact with clients, developing a plan based on information from an
assessment, and providing services which include, but are not limited to
assessment, case management, client-centered advocacy, client education,
consultation, counseling, crisis intervention, and referral;
(2) providing for the direct or indirect benefit of
clients through administrative, educational, policy, or research services
including, but not limited to:- advocating for policies, programs or services to
improve the well-being of clients;
- conducting research related to social work services;
- engaging in community organization to address social
problems through planned collective action;
- supervising individuals who provide social work
services to clients;
- supervising social workers in order to comply with
the supervised practice requirements specified in sections 148E.100 to 148E.125;
and
- teaching professional social work knowledge, skills,
and values to students; and
(3) engaging in clinical practice.
As
stated in Minnesota Statutes, Section 148E.010, subdivision 6, “clinical
practice” means applying professional social work knowledge, skills, and values
in the differential diagnosis and treatment of psychosocial function,
disability, or impairment, including addictions and emotional, mental, and
behavioral disorders. Treatment includes
a plan based on a differential diagnosis.
Treatment may include, but is not limited to, the provision of
psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Standards for
Practice
A
person licensed as a social worker is legally recognized as a professional and
is required to practice within professional standards established by the
Legislature, including minimum standards for licensure, standards of practice and ethical conduct, and
continuing competence standards regarding supervised practice and continuing
education.
Revised
8/11