§ 19-302. Qualifications of applicants

   (a) In general. -- To obtain a license, an applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant:

   (1) Has submitted a complete written application in the form prescribed by the Board;

   (2) Is at least 18 years old;

   (3) Is of good moral character;

   (4) Except as otherwise provided in this title, has successfully passed an examination or examinations prescribed by the Board pertinent to the license sought;

   (5) Has paid all applicable fees specified by the Board;

   (6) Has completed a criminal history records check in accordance with § 19-302.2 of this subtitle at the applicant's expense; and

   (7) Has submitted to an examination if required under § 19-302.3 of this subtitle.

(b) Bachelor social work. -- To obtain a bachelor social work license, an applicant shall:

   (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; and

   (2) Have received a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program that is accredited or is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education.

(c) Graduate social worker license. -- To obtain a graduate social worker license, an applicant shall:

   (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; and

   (2) Have received a master's degree from a program that is accredited or is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education.

(d) Certified social worker license. -- Except as provided in § 19-302.1 of this subtitle, to obtain a certified social worker license, an applicant shall:

   (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section;

   (2) Have received a master's degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education; and

   (3) Provide in a form prescribed by the Board, documentation of having completed 2 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 3,000 hours after receiving the master's degree with a minimum of 100 hours of periodic face-to-face supervision in the practice of social work under the terms and conditions that the Board determines by regulation.

(e) Certified social worker-clinical license. -- Except as provided in § 19-302.1 of this subtitle, to obtain a certified social worker-clinical license, an applicant shall:

   (1) Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section;

   (2) Have received a master's degree in social work and documentation of completion of 12 academic credits in clinical course work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education, with a minimum of 6 of the 12 academic credits obtained in a master's degree program; and

   (3) Provide in a form prescribed by the Board, documentation of having completed 2 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 3,000 hours, of which 1,500 hours are in face-to-face client contact, after receiving the master's degree with a minimum of 144 hours of periodic face-to-face supervision in the assessment, formulation of a diagnostic impression, and treatment of mental disorders and other conditions and the provision of psychotherapy under the terms and conditions that the Board determines by regulation.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 864; 1981, ch. 8, § 2; ch. 391; 1983, ch. 189; 1990, ch. 6, § 11; 1992, ch. 388; 1994, ch. 611; 1997, ch. 545, 1998, ch. 21, § 1; 2000, ch. 554; 2002, ch. 327; 2006, ch. 539, 2010, ch. 715; 2013, ch. 43, § 5; ch. 391.