WASHINGTON, D.C. - On April 12, 2024, an important milestone was reached when Governor Laura Kelly signed HB 2484 making Kansas the seventh state to enact the social work interstate licensure compact and reaching the minimum number of states needed to create the compact commission.
Since that date, Nebraska and Vermont have also approved social work interstate licensing compact legislation, bringing the total number of states to nine by April 26. The other states are Missouri, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Kentucky, and Virginia. There are an additional 18 states with active compact legislation. For a full list of states see
the compact map.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) applauds the significant efforts of NASW state chapters and members who volunteered their time to advocate and help pass the compact bills during the 2024 legislative session. The growth of the compact and rapid rate of state adoption indicates support for interstate practice and the urgent need for licensure mobility in social work.
The social work compact allows eligible social workers to practice in all states that join the compact. The compact eliminates barriers to practice and improves client access to care while maintaining states’ ability to protect public safety through regulation of practice. The social work compact benefits social workers by enhancing their mobility and employment opportunities, improving continuity of care, and allowing for expanded use of telehealth technologies.
The compact facilitates multistate practice while maintaining each state’s specific scope of practice. A social worker practicing under the compact in a state where they are not licensed must abide by all the laws, rules, and regulations that govern the practice of social work where the services are being provided. Each state retains jurisdiction over the practice of social work that occurs within their borders.
Next Steps
Implementation: While the social work compact legislation specifies that the compact requires seven member states to initiate implementation, social workers cannot yet practice via the compact in member states. The implementation process for the compact will take approximately 18-24 months. This means that social workers in member states who have passed the compact legislation cannot begin applying for multistate licenses, until initial compact implementation is complete.
Commission: The compact is governed by a commission made up of representatives from each member state. The Council of State Governments will lead the process of “standing up” the commission including convening the “charter member states” (commissioners from all states that have enacted the compact legislation at the time of the first commission meeting) to draft the initial rules and bylaws that will govern the compact. The initial compact commission meeting will likely take place in the Fall of 2024.
Data System: Another significant step in the implementation process is the development of the compact’s shared data system. The commission is tasked with developing this data system which will communicate licensure information with each member state. Once the data system is in place, member states will be added to the system. It is expected that states will have varying timelines to onboard, which will be largely dependent on a state’s readiness, including existing licensure data infrastructure.
NASW will provide updates to NASW members on new developments and timelines regarding compact implementation. CSG will continue to provide technical support to NASW state chapters advocating for the social work compact.
To learn more about the social work compact and its progress across the country, visit
swcompact.org. To get involved with advocating for the compact in your state, please contact your local NASW chapter for available opportunities