Social Worker (Licensed Clinical)

Exam

Third-party exam

Education

Degree

Experience

Experience

Background check

None

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) • Must be of good moral character. • Must have a master’s degree from a graduate school of social work. • Must have completed at least 36 accumulated months of full-time postgraduate social work practice. Twenty-four (24) accumulated months of postgraduate social work experience shall be in a setting practicing social work under the supervision of a Board-approved clinical supervisor. • Must pass the Board-approved exam. Graduate Social Worker (GSW) • Must be of good moral character. • Must hold a master’s degree from a graduate school of social work. • Must have passed an examination approved by the Board. • The Board may issue a Provisional Graduate Social Worker Certificate to an individual who, except for passing the examination, has completed all requirements for certification as a graduate social worker. The individual may not hold the provisional certificate for more than three years from the issuance of the original certificate and the individual shall take an examination approved by the Board at least once a year. • An individual certified as a graduate social worker or as provisional graduate social worker may engage in advanced social work practice based on the application of social work theory, knowledge, ethics, and methods to restore or enhance social, psychosocial or biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The graduate social worker’s or provisional graduate social worker’s practice requires the application of specialized knowledge and advanced practice skills which include: § Prevention or Intervention, or both § Service or Treatment Planning and Evaluation § Case Management, Information and Referral Counseling § Employee Assistance Services § Addiction Services § Advocacy § Teaching § Research § Supervision § Consultation § Community Organization § Development, Implementation, and Administration of policies, programs, and Activities • An individual practicing graduate level social work in Louisiana and who meets the qualifications set forth in the GSW section of the law and who wishes to continue the practice shall apply for certification under the provisions of this Chapter within one year subsequent to January 1, 2000. Registered Social Worker (RSW) • Must be of good moral character. • Must hold either a Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science degree from an undergraduate social work program. • An individual registered as a Registered Social Worker may engage in generalist social work practice based on the application of social work theory, knowledge, ethics, and utilizing problem-solving methods to restore or enhance social functioning. Social workers at this level shall work as an employee in an agency and shall not engage in advanced practice or in clinical social work. • An individual practicing bachelor level social work in Louisiana and who meets the qualifications set forth in the RSW section of the law and who wishes to continue the practice shall apply for registration under the provisions of this Chapter within one year subsequent to January 1, 2000. • At any time within one year of January 1, 2000, the Board shall register as a registered social worker any individual who files a verified application, accompanied by such fees as is required in R.S.37:2716 and who submits evidence verified by oath and satisfactory to the Board that the applicant complies with the requirements of the RSW section of the law. Licensed Master Social Worker • Must be of good moral character. • Must have obtained a master's degree in social work from academic program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). • Must pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Masters examination. • The practice requires the application of specialized knowledge and advanced practice skills which include prevention or intervention, or both, service or treatment planning and evaluation, case management, information and referral, counseling, employee assistance services, addiction services, advocacy, teaching, research, supervision, consultation, community organization, and the development, implementation, and administration of policies, programs, and activities. • A social worker at this level may practice clinical social work and psychotherapy within an agency under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker.