Licensure

• There are 9 Board Members appointed by the Governor - 2 social workers, 2 marriage and family therapists, 2 mental health counselors 1 psychiatrist and 2 consumers
• The social work section provides for the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• In order to become licensed a person must graduate from a CSWE accredited program. If they receive a BSW, they must have two years experience before they take the test to become an LSW. An MSW graduate is eligible immediately upon graduation to take the LSW test. A person wishing to have an LCSW must have 3 years of experience; 2 years must be postgraduate; and then pass the clinical exam.
• Experience for the LCSW is defined as full-time work with at least 50% of time spent in direct services to clients
• HB 1961 requires a licensed person to use appropriate letters in all communication and to display the license in the employment setting
• HB 1961 prohibits diagnosing as defined in IC25-22.5-1-1CC (the Indiana Medical Code
• HB1961 prohibits expert testimony - but not factual testimony
• HB1961 provides for privileged communication for social workers except in homicides, the commission of a crime causing serious harm, and with unemancipated/incapacitated adult
• HB1961 requires continuing education units - 20 per year for each billing cycle (2 year cycle). 50% can be in Category I and 50% in category 2.
• Failure to renew the license will result in a fine, a lose of the license and a requirement to retake the appropriate exam
• A violation of any of HB1961 can result in being charged with a Class A misdemeanor
• Anyone can report when a social worker is practicing outside of their ability to practice or breaks any of the rules set forth in HB1961 - the Office of the Indiana Attorney General handles all complaints (in conjunction with the SWK/MFT/MHC Board)
• The license law does not automatically guarantee that a licensed social work can garner third party payment.
• There are approximately 9620 persons licensed under HB1961 - of that number there are 3387 LSW's and 3775 LCSW's
• The approximate pass rate in Indiana for the intermediate exam (LSW) is 88%; the national rate is 81%
• The approximate pass rate in Indiana for the clinical exam (LCSW) is 74%; the national rate is 70%
• The testing is provided by the Association of Social Work Boards.
• Examination assistance offered through a variety of providers - NASW (both local and national) and Social Work Examination Services (SWES) www.swes.net