Reminder: Renewal time is upon us again. Please remember that when renewing your license, you are attesting to your compliance with the continuing competency requirements as set forth in Regulation 18VAC140-20-105. If you have questions on continuing competency requirements or need to change your status to Inactive while you complete the continuing competency requirements for licensure, please contact the Board office at 804-367-4441.

Please review your continuing competency requirement regulations and ensure you are in compliance. Each renewal year, the Board performs a random audit of its licensees. Please see Guidance Document 140-4.2 for possible disciplinary/alternative actions the Board might take for non-compliance with the continuing competency requirements.

Important Information from the Board of Social Work:   Registration of Supervision. Applicants for Registration of Supervision towards LCSW or Licensed Clinical Social Worker by Examination may now begin the application process online.

Please review the Board’s guidance document 140-10 Guidance on supervised experience for clinical social work licensure, October 15, 2010, which addresses “clinical social work services”.

You may not begin to accumulate hours towards the supervised experience until you have received written approval from the Board.

Please allow sufficient time for processing your request. Because of the increase in volume and complexity of the registration of supervision requests, the Board office is reviewing the requests in the order of receipt and providing individual feedback to each applicant in writing. Board staff is unable to provide status updates by telephone or email. Feedback from Credentials Reviews will be sent to you in writing.

Supervisees may not directly bill for services rendered or in any way represent themselves as independent, autonomous practitioners, or licensed clinical social workers. During the supervised experience, supervisees shall use their names and the initials of their degree, and the title "Supervisee in Social Work" in all written communications. Clients shall be informed in writing of the supervisee's status and the supervisor's name, professional address, and phone number.

License Eligible. The term “license eligible” does not apply to the Board of Social Work.

**Alert!** Effective November 26, 2008, all supervised experiences, regardless of practice setting, begun after that date, must be registered with the Board. For individuals whose supervision began before November 26, 2008 without prior written board approval, which met the requirements of Regulation 18VAC140-20-50 in effect prior to that date, their supervision hours can be accepted until November 26, 2012. Applications must be submitted for licensure no later than close of business on November 26, 2012 for consideration.

Are you moving to Virginia and have a license in another state? Please click here for the applications and forms necessary to apply for licensure by endorsement. Virginia does not have reciprocity with any state; however we offer licensure by endorsement for applicants holding a current and active social work license in another jurisdiction, who have passed the necessary licensing examination, and can demonstrate 36 of the past 60 months of post-licensure active practice at the comparable level of licensure for which you are applying. If you do not meet the minimum requirements for licensure by endorsement, you will be required to apply for licensure by examination. You will not need to take the exam again if you have already passed the Clinical ASWB examination.

ASWB National Exam Requirement. Effective January 7, 2010, the regulations require that candidates approved by the Board to sit for an exam must pass the examination within two (2) years of the date of the initial board approval. You may contact the ASWB at 800-225-6880 to register for the examination once you have received written Board approval by mail.

If the candidate has not passed the examination by the end of the two-year period, the applicant must reapply according to the requirements of the regulations in effect at that time. For candidates who received approval to sit for the ASWB examination prior to January 7, 2010, you were required to pass the examination by January 7, 2012.

If you are re-applying for licensure to take the clinical level examination, you must submit all documentation found within the application packet for LCSW by examination, including the verification of field placement/practicum form and the coursework outline form, as you must meet the current education and supervision requirements as outlined in the regulations.

Important Information Regarding Changes in Supervision Requirements. Effective November 26, 2008, all supervised experiences, regardless of practice setting, begun after that date, must be registered with the Board. Click here to view changes to Social Work regulations. (word .doc) Click here to read the updated FAQ's regarding Supervision. Supervision begun before November 26, 2008, that met the requirements of Regulation 18VAC140-20-50 in effect prior to that date, will be accepted until November 26, 2012.

Address of record
Section 54.1-2400.02.B of the Code of Virginia requires the Department of Health Professions (DHP) to collect an official address of record from each health professional to be used by DHP for agency purposes. The Code also requires DHP to provide an opportunity for a health professional to provide a second address for the purpose of public dissemination. If there is no second (public) address provided, the official address of record will be used as the public address for the purpose of public dissemination. If the health professional would prefer that his/her address of record remain confidential, then an alternative public address must be provided to DHP. (Note: the License Lookup feature on the DHP public website does not contain the full address. However, public addresses are available by contacting Virginia Interactive Premium Service or the Board.) An individual is not required to submit a place of residence for either the official address of record or the public address. A post office box or a practice location is acceptable.

Changes to either address may be made at the time of renewal or at any time by written notification to the Board. Changes to the address of record may also be made at any time by accessing your licensure information through the online system. Any change that is made to one of the addresses does not automatically update the other address. Address information should be kept current for the address of record and the public address (if different from the address of record) at all times.

Extension of renewal requirements for deployed military and spouses
Virginia law allows active duty service people or their spouses who are deployed outside the U.S. to have an extension of time for any requirement or fee pertaining to renewal until 60 days after the person’s return from deployment.  The extension cannot last beyond 5 years past the expiration date for the license.  For more information, please read attached policy and contact the applicable board for your license.

Report on Practice of Social Work - as required by HB1146, the Board has completed its report on whether the education and training of social workers and the current exemptions from requirements of licensure are adequate to protect the public. Public comment on the report was accepted through January 5, 2009.

Please note that Virginia Law on confidentiality of records of licensed mental health providers in custody and visitation cases (Section 20-124.3:1) was repealed by the 2008 General Assembly.

Online Licensing - Licensees can now renew a license, change an address and request a duplicate license online.

Duty to Report Adult Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation - More information...
The Adult Protective Services Program at the Virginia Department of Social Services is pleased to announce the availability of a new online educational opportunity for mandated reporters of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older or incapacitated individuals. This online training course has been developed for, and with the assistance of, mandated reporters and APS professionals to assist mandated reporters in understanding adult abuse and their responsibilities as mandated reporters. Read More...(word .doc)