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From June 2001 NASW NEWS By John V. O'Neill, MSW, NEWS Staff The Arkansas attorney general in March restated and expanded his opinion that membership in NASW by itself does not constitute "representing oneself to be a social worker," which would require that all association members in the state be licensed under provisions of the Arkansas social work licensing act. The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board had attempted to make all NASW members and board members acquire state licenses, saying that merely belonging to the association meant they were representing themselves as social workers. Attorney General Mark Pryor in February issued an opinion saying NASW does not represent itself as an organization solely of licensed social workers, but has retired, unemployed and student members not engaged in the practice of social work, and that membership is based on academic degrees rather than on practice or licensure. The licensing board asked Pryor to reconsider his ruling. In restating and expanding on the earlier opinion, Pryor said "representing oneself to be a social worker" refers to the act of representing oneself to be a licensed social worker. "Because the NASW does not hold itself out to the public as being an organization of licensed social workers, it follows that membership in the NASW . . . without board licensure, cannot constitute 'representing oneself to be a social worker' within the meaning" of the state social work licensing act." The NASW Legal Defense Service backed the Arkansas Chapter's challenge to the Social Work Licensing Board's actions. Back to NASW NEWS Contents
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