License: Licensed Master Social Worker

MS Board of Social Workers external site

P.O. Box 4508

Jackson, MS 39296

(601) 987-6806

General information, terms and definitions: 1. “Board” shall mean the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists. 2. “Discipline Specific Committees” shall mean specialty committees, one comprised of members of the social work profession, and one comprised of the marriage and family therapy profession, to carry out the duties and responsibilities set out in the rules and regulations. 3. “Act” means the legislative authority cited in Part 1901, Chapter 1, Rule 1.1, B above in this Section of Mississippi Law. 4. “Rules” shall mean all licensing guidelines adopted by the Board and contained herein. 5. “Social work practice” means the professional activity directed at enhancing, protecting or restoring people’s capacity for social functioning, whether impaired by physical, environmental or emotional factors. 6. “Master’s social work practice” means the application of social work theory, knowledge, methods and ethics and the professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and communities. Master’s social work practice includes the application of specialized knowledge and advanced practice skills in the areas of assessment, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation, case management, information and referral, counseling, supervision, consultation, education, research, advocacy, community organization and the development, implementation, and administration of policies, programs and activities. Under supervision as provided in this chapter, the practice of master’s social work may include the practices reserved to clinical social workers. 7. “Macro social work practice” focuses on changing larger systems, such as communities and organizations. It encompasses a broad spectrum of practice, including planning, program development, community organizing, policy analysis, legislative advocacy, program evaluation, task-oriented group work, community education, and human services management. 8. “Clinical social work practice” means the application of social work methods, knowledge, theory, and ethics in the application of specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skill in areas of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions, and addictions. This involves the professional application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of therapy services to those persons. Licensed clinical social workers may provide evaluations consistent with the scope of their education, training and experience, which shall occur within the context of a therapeutic relationship. 9. “Clinical supervision” means an interactional professional relationship between a supervisor and a social worker that provides evaluation and direction over the supervisee’s practice of clinical social work and promotes continued development of the social worker’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to engage in the practice of clinical social work in an ethical and competent manner. “Approved clinical supervisor” means a licensed clinical social worker who has met the qualifications to be a clinical supervisor as determined by the board. 10. “Supervision” means the professional relationship between a supervisor and a social worker that provides evaluation and direction over the services provided by the social worker and promotes continued development of the social worker’s knowledge, skills and abilities to provide social work services in an ethical and competent manner. 11. “Examination(s)” means that test or exam which is endorsed and prescribed by the Association of Social Work Boards. 12. “ASWB” means Association of Social Work Boards 13. “Advertise” means, but is not limited to, issuing or causing to be distributed any card, sign or device to any person; causing, permitting or allowing any sign or marking on or in any building; broadcasting by radio, television, or the Internet; or advertising by any other means designed to secure public attention. 14. “Use a title or description of” means to hold oneself out to the public as having a particular status by means of stating it on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery, announcements, calling cards, the Internet or other instruments of professional identification. 15.“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization or body politic. 16. “Continuing education” means education and training that are oriented to maintain, improve or enhance social work practice knowledge and skills at the post-baccalaureate level. “Continuing education hour” means a sixty-minute clock hour of instruction, not including breaks or meals. 17. Abbreviations: a. LSW: Licensed Social Worker b. LMSW: Licensed Master Social Worker c. LCSW: Licensed Certified Social Worker License Requirements: General Requirements: An applicant for social work licensure shall meet the following general requirements: 1. Is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; 2. Is of good moral character, as defined in these Rules and Regulations; 3. Has on file a fingerprint criminal history information record check acceptable to the Board. 4. Has on file a Mississippi Sex Offender Registry check acceptable to the Board; 5. Holds United States citizenship or status as a legal resident alien; 6. Is free of conviction of a felony related to the practice of social work within the last ten (10) years; 7. Is mentally competent with no decree of mental incompetence still standing in any court; 8. Is currently free from dependency on alcohol or drugs, other substances or any other type of addiction; 9. Has no pending disciplinary action; 10. Has an acceptable social work degree for level of licensure requested. Application shall be made on forms provided by the Board and available on the Board’s website. Payment of application fees must be included with an initial licensure application and other supporting documentation as required. In addition to the general requirements, all applicants must meet the following specific requirements: 1. LSW Level: An applicant for LSW designation must submit the following to the Board: a. An Initial application; b. Verification of a baccalaureate degree in social work from a college or university accredited by Council on Social Work Education) (CSWE) or Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS); c. A current fingerprint criminal history record information check conducted by the appropriate governmental authority or authorities within one hundred eighty (180) days of the completed application. This criminal history record information check must be received by the Board directly from the appropriate governmental authority or authorities, not from the applicant; d. An acceptable Sex Offender Registry check conducted by the Board; e. Passing scores on the examination from the ASWB basic exam; f. Full licensure fee 2. LMSW Level: An applicant for LMSW designation must submit the following to the Board: a. An Initial application; b. Verification of a master's degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or a doctorate in social work (D.S.W. or Ph.D.); c. A current fingerprint criminal history record information check conducted by the appropriate governmental authority or authorities within one hundred eighty (180) days of the completed application. This criminal history record information check must be received by the Board directly from the appropriate governmental authority or authorities, not from the applicant; d. An acceptable Sex Offender Registry check conducted by the Board; e. Passing scores on the examination from the ASWB intermediate exam; f. Full licensure fee 3. LCSW Level: An applicant for LCSW designation must be a current LMSW in good standing who has completed the Supervision process as outlined in Part 1902, Chapter 2, Rule 2.3 of Mississippi Law as verified by Board records, and must submit to the Board: a. An Initial application for LCSW license; b. Supervision Plan and Contract for Supervision as outlined by the MS Board of Examiners for Social Workers in the LMSW Guide for Supervision; c. Four evaluations (1 approximately every six months for 24 months) not to exceed thirty-six (36) months for the supervision process to be completed; d. Termination of Supervision Contract; e. A current fingerprint criminal history record information check conducted by the appropriate governmental authority or authorities within one hundred eighty (180) days of the completed application. This criminal history record information check must be received by the Board directly from the appropriate governmental authority or authorities, not from the applicant; f. An acceptable Sex Offender Registry check conducted by the Board; g. Three character/professional references from persons in current professional contact with applicant; references may be from disciplines related to social work, but at least one (1) must be from a LCSW other than the applicant’s supervisor; h. Passing scores from the ASWB examination on either the Clinical level or Advanced level; i. Applicable fees: No additional licensure fee is required, if upgrading from LMSW status in good standing. Upon passing the examination and meeting the requirements prescribed for licensure and upon paying the initial licensure fee, an applicant shall be issued the appropriate license by the board. Except as provided in Section 33-1-39 of applicable Mississippi Law, licenses shall be renewed biennially after initial licensure in the manner prescribed by the rules and regulations of the board and upon the payment of the fees for renewal prescribed by the board. However, the fee for an initial license may be prorated in proportion to the period of time from the date of issuance. Licensure by Reciprocity/Endorsement: Applicants for licensure by reciprocity/endorsement who hold a valid license from another state may be eligible for licensure in Mississippi provided: a. The examination completed for licensure is the same examination endorsed or prescribed by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) for the license level for which reciprocity/endorsement is being requested. b. The applicant has a comparable license in good standing or registration from another state or territory of the United States that imposes qualifications equal to or greater than the current requirements of the Mississippi Board of Examiners. Exams administered by individual states are not considered equal. c. Applicants, who have complaints or disciplinary action pending against them in another state, will not be granted a Mississippi license until such complaints are resolved to the satisfaction of the Board. d. The applicant has the required degree for licensure according to the current Rules and Regulations of the Board.