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1.
Who must be licensed?
Anyone
who practices social work or represents himself/ herself
to the public as a social worker must be licensed.
2.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes, members of the clergy, Christian Science practitioners,
and licensed professionals such as physicians, nurses,
psychologists, counselors and attorneys provided they
do not represent themselves to the public by any title
or description of services as being social workers.
State employees with the job classifications of family
service worker or social service worker are exempt from
licensure.
3.
What are the levels and qualifications for licensure?
Licensed Social Worker (LSW) - a bachelor's
degree in social work from a program accredited by the
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); successful
completion of a Board-approved examination; and has
applied for a criminal background check and has not
been found guilty of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere
to any of the offenses listed in
A.C.A.
17-103-307(f) - PDF.
Licensed
Master Social Worker (LMSW) - a master's degree
in social work from a program accredited by the Council
on Social Work Education; successful completion of a
Board-approved examination; and has applied for a criminal
background check and has not been found guilty of or
pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any of the offenses
listed in
A.C.A.
17-103-307(f) - PDF.
Licensed
Certified Social Worker (LCSW) - a master's degree
in social work from a program accredited by the Council
on Social Work Education; two-years postmaster's LCSW
supervised social work experience; successful completion
of a Board-approved examination; and has applied for
a criminal background check and has not been found guilty
of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any of the
offenses listed in
A.C.A.
17-103-307(f) - PDF.
4.
Upon receipt of my license may I engage in the private/independent
practice of social work?
Only Licensed Certified Social Workers may engage in
the private/independent practice of social work.
5.
When and where may I take the examination?
You may register to take the examination after the
Board approves your application and notifies you of
your eligibility.
The Board currently uses the Association of Social
Work Boards (ASWB) examinations. The exam is given in Ft. Smith, Harrison and Little Rock.
6.
If I fail the examination, may I retake it?
Yes. Your application is valid for one year or for three
attempts to pass the examination, whichever comes first.
You must wait ninety days before retaking the examination.
7.
Will I be issued a provisional license while I am waiting
to take the examination?
Yes. Applicants approved for LSW or LMSW licensure are
provisionally licensed for one-year. Provisional licensing
is prohibited at the LCSW level.
8.
Please explain the LCSW supervision requirement.
An applicant for LCSW licensure must submit documentation
of two-years postmaster's LCSW supervised experience.
The supervision must include an average of one hour
per week of direct contact with the LCSW supervisor.
Group supervision is acceptable as long as there are
no more than four in the group and it does not constitute
more than one-half of the total supervision requirement.
For the purposes of LCSW supervision, two-years is
equivalent to 4,000 hours.
9.
Why must I have a criminal background check before being
approved for licensure?
Act 1317 of 1997 requires social workers to apply to
the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police
for state and national criminal background checks before
being approved for licensure. No person is eligible
to hold a license if that person has been found guilty
of or has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any of
the offenses listed in
A.C.A.
17-103-307(f) - PDF.
10.
Is there any way I can be approved for licensure if
I have been found guilty or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere
to any of the offenses listed in A.C.A. 17-103-307(f)?
Yes. The provisions of A.C.A.
17-103-307(f) - PDF may be waived by the Board for any
applicant who meets the requirements for a waiver as
defined in A.C.A.
17-103-307(h)(1)(2) - PDF.
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