Scope of Professional Practice – Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)

An individual who holds a license as a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) issued by the Board may properly perform or provide any or all of the following social work functions or services: (1) Provide clinical social work services, as defined in 258 CMR 8.03: Definitions, as an employee of an agency, health care facility or unrelated individual, under the clinical supervision of another social worker who is licensed or eligible for licensure as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and who provides at least one hour per week, or equivalent pro rata amount for part-time employees, of face-to-face individual clinical supervision. An individual who holds a license as a Licensed Certified Social Worker shall not provide clinical social work services as an independent practitioner; or treatment knowledge or skills as an employee of an agency, health care facility or unrelated individual, under the clinical supervision of another social worker who is licensed or eligible for licensure as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and who provides at least one hour per week, or equivalent pro rata amount for part-time employees, of face-to-face individual clinical supervision. An individual who holds a license as a Licensed Certified Social Worker shall not provide clinical social work services as an independent practitioner; (MA REG. # 1355, Dated 12-29-17) 12.02: continued (3) Provide non-clinical social work services, as defined in 258 CMR 8.03: Definitions, including (4) Provide non-clinical supervision to individual social workers or groups of social workers; (5) Provide consultation on clinical or non-clinical issues to individuals, groups, members of other professional disciplines, agencies, health care facilities, or institutions, as long as any consultation on clinical issues is provided under the clinical supervision of another social worker who is licensed or eligible for licensure as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and who provides at least one hour per week of face-to-face individual clinical supervision; and (6) Perform or provide any other social work function or service which can properly be performed or provided by a social worker licensed at the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA) level. (7) A LCSW may not provide clinical supervision to any other mental health practitioner. Violation of this provision will subject the licensee to discipline for practicing beyond the scope of professional practice.