From January 2001 NASW NEWS
Copyright ©2001, National Association of Social Workers, Inc.

Licensure Bill Drafted

Introduction in Legislature Near

The bill would establish two categories of licensure.

NASW Washington Chapter Executive Director Glee Palmer-Davis, with representatives from the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association, the Washington Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work, has completed a year-long process of writing a sunrise licensure bill to license social workers in the state.

The bill, to be introduced in the legislature in January 2001, would establish two categories of licensure — licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) and licensed generalist social worker (LGSW). It would also increase standards in post-graduate hours and supervision requirements for clinical social work; ask for title protection for nonlicensed social workers; establish privileged communication; and establish a social work board or commission.

Washington state passed a registration and certification law in 1987. Registered providers do not need credentials to practice counseling and can advertise after paying $40 to the Department of Health, Counselor's Division. They cannot receive third-party payments.

Certification requirements are similar to most states': a master's degree, 3000 hours' post-graduate supervised work experience and 90 hours of formal supervision.

According to Palmer-Davis, there are about 15,000 "registered counselors" in Washington, 2,500 certified social workers, 3,200 certified mental health counselors and 800 marriage and family therapists.

State employees most likely would be exempt from licensure requirements.

The bill must be reviewed by the state Department of Health for recommendations before it goes to the legislature.

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