Licensure and training requirements for Minnesota social workers will change, under a law that will require licensing and background checks for anyone wanting to work as a social worker after July 1, 2016. Until that time, current unlicensed social workers can voluntarily apply to be considered “grandfathered in” to licensure.
Under current law, a social work license is required to practice in Minnesota, except for individuals employed by city, county and state agencies.
Social workers currently exempt from licensure can voluntarily obtain a license from the Board of Social Work and may be charged a fee for the board to perform a background check on the licensee. Those voluntarily seeking a license have between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2014, to submit an application and the required fee.
Newly hired social workers at city or state agencies will be required to be licensed after July 1, 2016, in order to work as a social worker. County social workers will remain exempt. City, county and state agencies will still be allowed to employ licensed or unlicensed social workers.
The new law applies to persons seeking licensure as a licensed graduate social worker, a licensed independent social worker, a licensed independent clinical social worker and temporary licensees. Most of the law is effective Aug. 1, 2012, and after July 1, 2016, no one may represent themselves as a “social worker” without a valid license or if employed by a county in social work.
The law also creates a new statutory chapter and recodifies rules related to the regulation of alcohol and drug counselors. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy has been working on the language for alcohol and drug counselors for the past five years to replace outdated language.
Rep. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) and Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) sponsor the law, which was signed April 18 by Gov. Mark Dayton.
HF1191/
SF753*/CH197
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