330-A:18-c Licensed Social Work Associate: Initial License. –
I. An applicant for an initial license as a licensed social work associate shall comply with the following requirements:
(a)(1) Graduate with a bachelor's degree in clinical mental health, social work, psychology, behavioral health counseling, human services discipline, or equivalent program from an accredited college or university.
(2) Complete 300 hours of social work or mental health education within the degree-granting program or separately.
(3) Complete 4,000 hours of supervised work experience.
(4) Complete 300 hours of supervised practical training within the degree-granting program, as part of the supervised work experience or separately.
(5) Pass a national proctored examination approved by the board.
(6) Meet other criteria as established by the board; or
(b)(1) Graduate with an associate's degree in clinical mental health, social work, psychology, behavioral health counseling, human services discipline, or equivalent program.
(2) Complete 300 hours of social work or mental health education within the degree-granting program or separately.
(3) Complete 6,000 hours of supervised work experience.
(4) Complete 300 hours of supervised practical training within the degree-granting program, as part of the supervised work experience or separately.
(5) Pass a national proctored examination approved by the board.
(6) Meet other criteria as established by the board.
II. The scope of practice of a licensed social work associate shall be the screening, assessment, treatment planning, and treatment of mental health conditions under clinical supervision as defined in this section as follows:
(a) The performance of clinical evaluation including the screening and assessment of mental health disorders, the assessment and identification of symptoms of co-occurring mental health disorders and differential diagnosis indicators, and the development of preliminary mental health disorder diagnoses for further assessment and confirmation by an appropriate professional. This includes severity assessment and assessment of dangerousness to self or others.
(b) The performance of treatment planning and case management referrals including cooccurring substance use disorders and medical conditions, case management and service coordination including implementation of treatment plans, consultation, coordination of care with mental health, substance use treatment and other community providers, ongoing assessment of progress and needs, and client advocacy, education, and documentation.
(c) The performance of counseling, including:
(1) Individual, group, family, and significant other counseling; and
(2) Crisis prevention and intervention to include enlisting the support of trained personnel to manage risk of harm to self or others.
(d) Adherence to professional and ethical responsibilities as determined by the board.
III. A licensed social work associate may engage in practice only under clinical supervision of a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a master licensed drug and alcohol counselor, a psychiatric APRN, or a licensed mental health provider approved by the board. The supervising clinician shall sign off on any clinical diagnostic assessment and treatment plan established by a licensed social work associate.