Who Must Be Licensed?
Exemptions
A social work license is required to practice in Minnesota except as provided in Minnesota Statutes, Section 148D.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
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. If you are unsure whether a license is required in a specific position, contact the Board for a determination.
Social Work Practice
As stated in Minnesota Statutes, Section 148D.010, subdivision 9, 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:
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advocating for policies, programs or services to improve the well-being of clients;
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conducting research related to social work services;
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engaging in community organization to address social problems through planned collective action;
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supervising individuals who provide social work services to clients;
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supervising social workers in order to comply with the supervised practice requirements specified in sections 148D.100 to 148D. 125; and
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teaching professional social work knowledge, skills, and values to students; and
3) engaging in clinical practice.
As stated in Minnesota Statutes, Section 148D.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 8/09