Social Work Licensure in Georgia: Overview of Laws & Rules & the LMSW - Exam

1. Social Work Licensure in Georgia:Overview of Laws & Rules & the LMSW - Exam Ed Risler, Ph.D. The University of Georgia School of Social Work

2. Why Licensure? • To protect the public - “The activities of certain persons who utilize certain titles relating to or who practice professional counseling, social work, and marriage & family therapy be regulated to ensure the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state” (43-10A-2)

3. The Law - What is Social Work? • Social Work - “means that specialty which helps individuals, marriages, families, couples, groups, or communities to enhance or restore their capacity for functioning.” • By title, the license identifies you as a professional in the practice of social work.

4. Title & Practice Protection • A person who is not licensed shall not practice social work, nor advertise the performance of such practice, nor use the title “Social Worker”, nor use any words, letters, titles, or figures indicating or implying that the person is a professional social worker. (43-10A-7)

5. Exemptions • Persons licensed to practice medicine or psychology • Employees of state or federal agency's, hospital or care facility • Employees of community service boards • Students recognized as interns or trainees • Members of religious ministries and clergy (43-10A-7)

6. The Law - Social Work Practice • By assisting in obtaining tangible social & health services, providing psychosocial evaluations, the in-depth assessment & analysis of emotional, cognitive, mental, behavioral, and interpersonal problems; through, counseling, psychotherapy, casework, advocacy, in a variety of settings.

7. Eligibility for Licensure • Having met the educational, training, and experience requirements regarding that specialty. • Having successfully passed the examination for that specialty. • Having paid the licensing fee.

8. Social Work Licenses • LMSW - Licensed Master of Social Work • LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker • Each license has requirements that authorize the performance of a specific level of social work services

9. Licensed Master of Social Work • LMSW - A masters degree from an accredited program (CSWE). • Authorized - May render to individuals, marriages, couples, families, groups, organizations, or the general public service which is guided by knowledge of , social resources, systems,and human behavior. May provide counseling, prevention, intervention, consultation, education or research. (135-5-.03)

10. Licensure Rules - LCSW • Three years post masters work experience under supervision. • 120 hours of documented supervision over the 3 year period. • Work experience means 1000 hours in no less than 12 & no more than 36 months. (135-5-.03)

11. Rules - Licensure by Definition • Direction - ongoing administrative oversight by a director of the work of a social worker. • Director - the person who provides direction & is either the employer or the superior of the social worker. • Supervision - the direct clinical review to promote the development of clinical skills. • Supervisor - the individual who promotes the development of clinical skills (LCSW)

12. Steps To Licensure • Graduate • Send Application to the Georgia Licensing Board. • Receive approval to contact ASWB • Apply to take test through ASWB • Pass the test • Frame License

13. The License Test • Bachelors, Masters – (Intermediate), Advanced Generalist, Clinical. • 170 multiple choice questions (20 are not scored) and you have 4 hours to complete the computerized exam. • A passing score is how many questions you answer correctly.

14. The Masters Exam • Human development, Diversity & Behavior in the environment – 28% • Assessment & Inter. Planning – 24% • Direct and Indirect Practice – 21% • Prof. Relationship, Values & Ethics - 27%

15. Human development, Diversity & Behavior in the environment – 28% • Theories and Models • Developmental, systems, family, group • Abuse and Neglect • Concepts of abuse, exploitation • Diversity, Social/Economic Justice, & Oppression • Influence of culture and ethnicity, discrimination

16. Assessment & Inter. Planning – 24% • Bio-psychosocial History and Collateral Data • Psychopharmacology, trauma, stress • Use Assessment Methods and Techniques • DSM-IV, assessment process • Intervention Planning • Intervention criteria, factors, techniques

17. Direct and Indirect Practice – 21% • Direct / Micro • Client advocacy, psychosocial approach etc. • Direct / Macro • Social Policy analysis, Organizational Theories etc.

18. Prof. Relationship, Values & Ethics - 27% • Professional values and ethical issues • Applying ethics to practice • Confidentiality • Client records, informed consent • Social work roles and relationships • Dual relationships, boundaries

19. LMSW - Test Questions • Recall - Questions about specific concepts. • Integration – Questions relating 2 or more concepts. • Application – Questions pertaining to practice application of concepts.

20. A social worker can BEST establish rapport with a client in the first interview by: • A – Understanding the clients view of the problem. • B – Asking only factual information about the problem. • C – Conducting the interview on a first name basis. • D – First allowing time for informal, personal conversation.

21. A client who has completed treatment and resolved the targeted problem is making excessive phone calls to the SW. The SW should: • A. - Inform the client the therapeutic relationship is finished. • B. - Refer the client to another SW. • C. – Limit the number of phone calls. • D. – Schedule and session to determine any current problems.

22. A contract established between social worker and client should be based on all of the following principles except : • A - expectations for the client’s participation • B - length & number of sessions expected • C - consequences of failure to achieve treatment goals • D - method through which progress will be monitored

23. An adolescent client was brought in by a mother to the agency because she suspected drug abuse. A critical factor for the social worker to recognize in establishing rapport with the youth is that the client will: • A - be unwilling to acknowledge the drug abuse • B - believe the SW is aligned with the parents • C - relate to the SW only if they are of the same gender • D - express feelings of doubt and lack of self - worth

24. Licensure Contacts • American Association of State Social Work Boards - http://www.aswb.org • State of Georgia - Secretary of State - Composite Board License - SW, MFT, PC. http://www.sos.state.ga.us