Social work license board massachusetts

If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Here's how you know Official websites use. Policy Advisory. Skip table of contents. Show More Table of contents. Show Table of Contents. Policy on Criminal Convictions or Pending Criminal Charges Updated August 24, To assist applicants and licensees seeking renewal in understanding when a crime may lead to a license denial, the Board of Registration of Social Workers "the Board" voted at its meeting on August 24, to adopt the following policy to explain when a conviction rises to the level where it could lead to a license denial.

In such instances, the Board staff will request a statement explaining the reasons for the non-disclosure prior to Board review. At its meeting on March 24, , the Board of Registration of Social Workers voted to issue the following policy: Because of the current declared state of emergency in Massachusetts and the recent closure of Pearson Vue test centers, all authorizations to test that expire from March 17, through the reopening of Pearson Vue test centers in the United States are extended for 90 days beginning on the day Pearson Vue test centers reopen.

Practice Guidance: In response to inquiries from licensees and other interested parties about providing and obtaining supervision of LCSWs by video conferencing, the Board has reviewed and considered appropriate protocols for providing such supervision.

Confidentiality: Supervisors and Licensees must ensure their own compliance with M. Practice Guidance : In response to inquiries from licensees and other interested parties about providing social work services by e-practice, the Board has reviewed and considered appropriate protocols for providing such services. License : In order to provide social work services in Massachusetts, you must be licensed by the Board or be exempt under the provisions of M.

Confidentiality : Licensees are advised to review M. Given that this policy deals with issues of confidentiality and testimonial privilege, and potential exceptions thereto, licensees are strongly advised to seek consultation from knowledgeable persons, including legal counsel in an appropriate circumstance: CHILD-CLIENT THERAPY It is very important for a social worker engaged in treatment of a minor child whose parents are separated or divorced, or who were never married to each other, to understand the custodial rights that each parent has.

The child-client whose parents are divorced or in the process of divorce has his or her own confidentiality rights and evidentiary privilege, as do all child-clients to some extent, with respect to his or her relationship with the therapist.

In other words, a social worker may not divulge the substance of what the child client has discussed either orally or by release of written records just because a parent asks for this information. This information may only be released with a court order or with the signed, informed consent of a mature minor. It is advisable for licensees to communicate to parents prior to initiating treatment with a child, preferably in an informed consent document signed by all parties, that confidential information will not be released to the parent.

Child therapists should refrain from initiating therapy with a child without the consent of both parents, unless there are legitimate protective issues relating to the child or other mitigating circumstances. Sole legal custody is rarely awarded in Massachusetts except in circumstances in which one parent has died, there are protective issues, or the parents were never married. Working therapeutically with children in separated, divorced, or unmarried families requires a higher level of expertise, training, and consultation than working with children in intact families.

It is good practice, whenever one is in doubt about how to proceed, to seek consultation with experts or with an attorney familiar with this work. Psychotherapy and child custody evaluation are two very distinct services with different roles and responsibilities. The same individual should not undertake both roles. A child therapist should not write evaluative reports to lawyers or the court.

Factual reports providing information regarding the existence of the therapeutic relationship should be provided only in response to a court order and only after legal consultation. A therapist for a parent should not write evaluative reports or make custody-visitation recommendations for use in court.

Additionally, therapists should never submit evaluative letters or reports regarding the spouse or partner of their patient. Policy No. Discussion : 1.

Policy: LCSWs may not provide any clinical supervision to any other mental health practitioners. Policy: The Board of Registration of Social Workers, pursuant to Section of Chapter of the General Laws of Massachusetts, provides for licensure by reciprocity to social workers licensed or registered under the laws of another state, territory or political subdivision of the United States.

Discussion: Under G. Policy: The Board of Registration of Social Workers requires in its regulations that licensed certified social workers, licensed social workers and licensed social work associates may provide certain services within the scope of their professional practice as long as they do so under the clinical supervision, supervision or administrative supervision, as the case may be, of a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed certified social worker, or licensed social workers.

Any applicant for licensure supervised by a person who was not appropriately licensed to provide that supervision as required by the regulations at CMR Discussion: The Board may grant continuing education credits for educational programs sponsored by the following organizations in addition to those designated in CMR Policy: The Board of Registration of Social Workers will provide examination accommodations for applicants for licensure for whom English is a second language.

Policy: To obtain licensure by reciprocity in Massachusetts, the Board requires that applicants possess a current, valid license from another state, territory, or political subdivision of the United States under standards substantially equivalent to the requirements in Massachusetts. Board of Registration of Social Workers Policy Enacted January 18, Proration of Required Supervision Hours The Board will allow for the proration of supervision hours to work hours at a rate of not less than one hour per month for social workers.

Authority: Pursuant to M. Referenced Sources: Division of Professional Licensure show more show less. Feedback Did you find what you were looking for on this webpage? Do you have anything else to tell us? Please tell us what you were looking for. Do not include sensitive information, such as Social Security or bank account numbers. Your feedback will not receive a response. Thanks, your message has been sent to Division of Occupational Licensure!

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If you have a disability or other health condition or if English is not your primary language, you may be eligible to receive nonstandard testing arrangements. Homepage Massachusetts licensing application processing. Massachusetts licensing application processing. Online applications Update an existing application.

Social Work Registry. Social workers provide services to consumers as defined by the statutes and described in the regulations. Generally, social work professionals provide services to individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities directed towards specific goals.

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