W. Va. Code R. § 25-1-3 - Qualifications for License

3.1. An applicant qualified under the provisions of W.Va. Code § 30-30-1 et. seq. may receive a social work license from the Board as a social worker, graduate social worker, certified social worker, or independent clinical social worker, or apply for an inactive or emeritus status license. A provisional licensee is not eligible for a temporary social work permit, inactive or emeritus status license.

3.1.1. A licensed social worker may apply to place his or her license on inactive status by making a formal application to the Board. Upon receiving the approval of the Board, the inactive licensee shall not perform the duties of a social worker and is exempt in earning continuing education during this period.

3.1.1.a. A licensee may remove a license from inactive status and return to active practice by formally requesting and receiving the approval of the Board. The applicant shall provide a sworn statement indicating that he or she has never been convicted of a felony, has not engaged in behavior which constitutes professional misconduct, and intends to meet all requirements to maintain the license following activation

3.1.2. A licensed social worker may receive an emeritus status license by making a formal application to the Board and providing documentation of twenty (20) years of social work practice experience and retirement from the active practice of social work. An emeritus licensee is not required to comply with the continuing social work education requirements. Upon receipt of the Board's approval in writing, an emeritus status licensee may engage in the active practice of the profession of social work, including supervision, for up to twenty (20) hours per week.

3.2. An applicant may receive a temporary social work permit by making a formal application and receiving the approval of the Board. An eligible applicant for a temporary permit may include:

3.2.1. A candidate who has earned either an undergraduate or graduate social work degree from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education that has not yet passed an examination approved by the Board or

3.2.2. A candidate enrolled in his or her final semester of either an undergraduate or graduate social work program from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education provided that the social work program director provides a written statement to the Board that the applicant is expected to matriculate.

3.2.2.a. Once an applicant has received a Temporary Permit from the Board, the applicant may register for and take the examination at any point during that six-month permit period.

3.2.2.b The degree candidate may not receive a social work license until an official college transcript is provided to the Board indicating that the undergraduate or graduate social work degree is conferred, and all other requirements for licensure are met.

3.3. An applicant may learn if he or she is eligible for a provisional license by completing an application provided by the Board. To meet the educational requirement for a provisional license, an applicant shall have earned a four-year academic degree from a recognized, academically accredited college in a field related to social work. Related fields include sociology, psychology, counseling, criminal justice or other related fields as determined by the Board. The Board shall send an invoice for the provisional license certificate only after it has determined an applicant's eligibility and received written evidence of qualified supervision and employment in a critical social work workforce shortage position, area or setting requiring a social work license.

3.3.2. An applicant shall submit an eligibility application to the Board to determine if he or she is eligible to pursue a provisional license which shall include:

3.3.2.a. An official transcript showing the applicant completed a four-year academic degree from a recognized, academically accredited college in a field related to social work as determined by the Board and

3.3.2.b. Documentation showing the applicant has met the requirements set forth in W.Va. Code § 30-30-16.

3.3.3. Prior to the issuance of a provisional license to perform social work within the legal scope of practice the applicant shall submit a provisional license agreement on a form provided by the board. Along with the agreement, the applicant must submit evidence of full-time social work employment under a provisional license supervisor.

3.3.4. Upon approval of the provisional license agreement contract and when other provisions have been met, the Board will issue a provisional license certificate for a two-year period. The provisional licensee shall meet all provisions and requirements as set forth in W. Va. Code § 30-30-16 and within subsection 3.3. or 3.3.1 of these rules. If all guidelines are met, the provisional licensee will renew his/her provisional license for a final two-year period.

3.3.5. As defined in W.Va. Code § 30-30-16(b)(2) a provisional licensee must complete twelve credit hours of core social work study from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), specifically post Bachelor classes in conjunction with the school, within the four-year provisional license period. Successful completion means receiving a passing grade.

3.3.5.a. Exceptions to the core social work course requirements apply when:

3.3.5.a.1 A provisional licensee is enrolled in a Bachelor or Master of Social Work Program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

3.3.6. The provisional licensee is responsible for earning an additional twenty (20) hours of Board approved continuing social work education per two years. Up to ten (10) of the twenty (20) hours may be earned through Board approved online education hours.

3.3.7. A provisional licensee shall provide a sworn statement to the Board annually to indicate he or she is complying with all requirements to maintain the provisional license, required social work continuing education, quarterly face to face supervision sessions, and documentation, by way of school transcript, of the required social work courses taken.

3.3.8. Prior to conversion of a provisional license to a formal license as a social worker, the provisional licensee shall provide final documentation that all requirements, as outlined in W.Va. Code § 30-30-16 and in subsection 3.3 of this rule have been met. The provisional licensee shall show documented proof that he or she has:

3.3.8.a. Pass an examination approved by the Board;

3.3.8.b Completed and has documentation of four years of continuous, supervised employment in the field of social work in the form of an official letter from the employer(s) during the tenure of the provisional license;

3.3.8.c. Has documentation by way of a college transcript that the provisional licensee has met the requirements of attendance and passage of twelve (12) hours of core social work classes through an approved social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and

3.3.8.d. Provide documentation that the provisional licensee has earned continuing social work education contact hours totaling at least twenty (20) hours every two years.

3.3.9. An employer or prospective employer shall make application to the Board for approval to hire provisional licensees. The application shall include:

3.3.9.a. Written documentation that a reasonable effort to recruit and hire a licensed social worker, graduate social worker, certified social worker or independent clinical social worker was made prior to submitting an application to employ a provisional licensee and;

3.3.9.b. Written evidence of the critical need to hire the provisional licensure applicant.

3.3.10. A provisional licensing supervisor of a provisional licensee shall annually provide the Board a statement of whether the provisional licensee has satisfactorily performed the duties of a social worker while under the supervision of the supervisor.

3.3.11. An employer is responsible for reporting the resignation or termination of any provisionally licensed employee within no more than thirty (30) days of the action.

3.3.12. A provisional licensing supervisor may be a licensed social worker, licensed graduate social worker, licensed certified social worker or licensed independent clinical social worker licensed in good standing in the State of West Virginia, provided that the licensed social worker:

3.3.12.a. Has made application and received Board approval to become a provisional licensing supervisor;

3.3.12.b. Has earned a council on social work education accredited Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work degree and has completed two years post graduate social work experience;

3.3.12.c. Provides a resume with the application that documents continuous employment in the social work field for no less than two years;

3.3.12.d. Is of good moral character documented by three letters of professional recommendations to be included in the application;

3.3.12.e. Has not been a subject of disciplinary action from the WV Board of Social Work or any other licensing jurisdiction in any state and;

3.3.12.f. Provides any further documentation that may be required from the Board.

3.3.13. The supervisor of a provisional licensee shall provide annually a sworn statement to the Board indicating:

3.3.13.a. The supervisor has engaged in face-to-face supervision with a provisional licensee one time every three months following issuance of the license and whenever make-up sessions are held; and

3.3.13.b. The provisional licensee has satisfactorily performed the duties of a social worker while under his or her supervision.

3.3.14. An experienced supervisor may supervise no more than fifteen (15) provisional licensees unless a written waiver has been granted by the Board allowing the supervisor to exceed this number. A licensing supervisor licensed as a Licensed Social Worker that is new to this privilege shall limit the number of persons to five (5) until determined otherwise by the Board.

3.4. An applicant with a Temporary Permit may make up to four (4) attempts to pass the examination recognized by the Board. An applicant who fails to pass the examination after four (4) attempts shall petition the Board in writing prior to attempting the examination thereafter. The Board may approve, approve with conditions, or deny a petition.

3.5. The Board may require the applicant to submit recent professional references, or similar documentation of continuing eligibility, prior to removing a license from inactive status after a period of two or more years.

3.6. As set forth in W.Va. Code § 30-30-8, a licensed independent clinical social worker may apply social work theory, methods, assessment, ethics and the professional use of self to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of psychological dysfunction, disability or impairment, including emotional and mental disorders and developmental disabilities.

3.6.1. To be approved by the board to serve as a clinical supervisor, a West Virginia licensed independent clinical social worker, or a licensed clinical social worker from another jurisdiction, shall:

3.6.1.a. Complete no less than two years of clinical practice since the initial issuance of the clinical license;

3.6.1.b. Complet an application to supervise on forms prescribed by the Board;

3.6.1.c. Have completed a minimum of 6 hours of Board approved clinical supervision training on supervisory practices and methods for clinical social workers; clinical supervisors who have supervised within two years of the effective date of this rule are not required to complete pre-service training;

3.6.1.d. Submit a clinical supervision contract which identifies the clinical supervisor and the person being supervised and sets forth the respective duties of employment. Clinical supervision shall not be initiated until the contract has been approved by the Board. A clinical supervisor from another jurisdiction shall provide evidence of having a current, valid clinical social work license in good standing; and

3.6.1.e. Maintain records of supervision, initialed by both parties, of each face-to-face session, for 100 hours, over the course of no less than two years of full-time employment or 3,000 hours of full or part time employment. An applicant should have at least one hour of supervision for each thirty (30) hours of supervised practice. At least 50% of supervision must be an individual setting and not in a group format. Face to face supervision conducted with technology compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is acceptable.

3.6.2. The Board will approve the content of clinical supervisor training. Training may be face to face or online. Providers who wish to develop training to meet these requirements shall submit applications to the Continuing Education Committee of the Board on forms prescribed by the Board.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 25-1-3