Licensure Requirements

(1) Baccalaureate Social Worker by examination. (a) An applicant for a license as a baccalaureate social worker shall submit the following to the Board office: 1. Completed application on a form prescribed by the Board, which shall include, but not be limited to disclosures of the following: (i) Criminal conviction(s), except for traffic violations; GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS CHAPTER 1365-01 (ii) Denial, loss, restriction, or discipline of licensure privileges imposed by a state licensing board; and (iii) Civil suit judgment or adverse civil settlement involving the applicant. 2. Payment of the application, license, and state regulatory fees; 3. A passport-style photograph taken within twelve (12) months preceding the date the application is submitted to the Board office; 4. Results of the applicant’s criminal background check to be sent from the vendor identified in the Board’s application materials directly to the Board office; 5. An official transcript showing a bachelor’s degree in social work from the applicant’s educational institution to be submitted directly from the institution to the Board office. The institution must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time the degree was granted; and 6. Proof the applicant has successfully passed the Association of Social Work Board’s bachelor’s licensing examination. (2) Master’s Social Worker by examination. (a) An applicant for a license as a master’s social worker shall submit the following to the Board office: 1. Completed application on a form prescribed by the Board, which shall include, but not be limited to disclosures of the following: (i) Criminal conviction(s), except for traffic violations; (ii) Denial, loss, restriction, or discipline of licensure privileges imposed by a state licensing board; and (iii) Civil suit judgment or adverse civil settlement involving the applicant. 2. Payment of the application, license, and state regulatory fees; 3. A passport-style photograph taken within twelve (12) months preceding the date the application is submitted to the Board office; 4. Results of the applicant’s criminal background check to be sent from the vendor identified in the Board’s application materials directly to the Board office; 5. An official transcript showing a master’s or doctorate degree in social work from the applicant’s educational institution to be submitted directly from the institution to the Board office. The institution must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time the degree was granted; and 6. Proof the applicant has successfully passed the Association of Social Work Board’s master’s licensing examination. (3) Advanced Practice Social Worker by examination. (a) An applicant for a license as an advanced practice social worker shall submit the following to the Board office: GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS CHAPTER 1365-01 1. Completed application on a form prescribed by the Board, which shall include, but not be limited to disclosures of the following: (i) Criminal conviction(s), except for traffic violations; (ii) Denial, loss, restriction, or discipline of licensure privileges imposed by a state licensing board; and (iii) Civil suit judgment or adverse civil settlement involving the applicant. 2. Payment of the application, license, and state regulatory fees; 3. A passport-style photograph taken within twelve (12) months preceding the date the application is submitted to the Board office; 4. Results of the applicant’s criminal background check to be sent from the vendor identified in the Board’s application materials directly to the Board office; 5. An official transcript showing a master’s or doctorate degree in social work from the applicant’s educational institution to be submitted directly from the institution to the Board office. The institution must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time the degree was granted; 6. Proof the applicant has successfully passed the Association of Social Work Board’s advanced generalist licensing examination; and 7. Proof the applicant has practiced for no less than two (2) years after the date of application as a licensed master’s social worker or temporarily licensed master’s social worker under the supervision of a licensed advanced practice social worker or licensed clinical social worker who has met the qualifications set forth in rule 1365-01-.08. In the event that the applicant is from another state, then the applicant must have worked under the supervision of a person who possesses or exceeds the educational and experience requirements necessary to obtain licensure as an advance practice social worker in Tennessee. Within a period of no less than (2) years nor greater than eight (8) years from the date the application is received, the applicant shall demonstrate proof of having obtained the following: (i) Licensure as a temporarily licensed master’s social worker or as a licensed master’s social worker obtained prior to filing an application for licensure and/or beginning a supervised advanced practice experience for the purpose of licensure. A photocopy of the applicant’s current L.M.S.W. license or temporary L.M.S.W. license must accompany the L.A.P.S.W. application. The L.M.S.W. license must be maintained in active status throughout the application process and until the L.A.P.S.W. license is issued; (ii) At least three thousand (3000) hours of nonclinical advanced practice experience, that may include administrative and direct client-social worker contact; and (iii) At least one hundred (100) hours of supervision in addition to the three thousand (3000) hours of experience. These hours must be spread throughout the three thousand (3000) advanced practice experience GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS CHAPTER 1365-01 contact hours at a ratio of approximately one (1) hour of supervision to every thirty (30) advanced practice experience contact hours. (4) Clinical Social Worker by examination. (a) An applicant for a license as a clinical social worker shall submit the following to the Board office: 1. Completed application on a form prescribed by the Board, which shall include, but not be limited to disclosures of the following: (i) Criminal conviction(s), except for traffic violations; (ii) Denial, loss, restriction, or discipline of licensure privileges imposed by a state licensing board; and (iii) Civil suit judgment or adverse civil settlement involving the applicant. 2. Payment of the application, license, and state regulatory fees; 3. A passport-style photograph taken within twelve (12) months preceding the date the application is submitted to the Board office; 4. Results of the applicant’s criminal background check to be sent from the vendor identified in the Board’s application materials directly to the Board office; 5. An official transcript showing a master’s or doctorate degree in social work from the applicant’s educational institution to be submitted directly from the institution to the Board office. The institution must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time the degree was granted; 6. Proof the applicant has successfully passed the Association of Social Work Board’s clinical licensing examination; and 7. Proof the applicant has practiced for not less than two (2) years after the date of application as a licensed master’s social worker or temporarily licensed master’s social worker under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker who has met the qualifications set forth in rule 1365-01-.08. In the event that the applicant is from another state, then the applicant must have worked under the supervision of a person who possesses or exceeds the educational and experience requirements necessary to obtain licensure as a clinical social worker in Tennessee. Within a period of no less than two (2) years nor greater than eight (8) years from the date the application is received, the applicant shall demonstrate proof of having obtained the following: (i) Licensure as a temporarily licensed master’s social worker or as a licensed master’s social worker obtained prior to filing an application for licensure and/or beginning a supervised clinical experience for the purpose of licensure. A photocopy of the applicant’s current L.M.S.W. license or temporary L.M.S.W. license must accompany the L.C.S.W. application. The L.M.S.W. license must be maintained in active status throughout the application process and until the L.C.S.W. license is issued; (ii) At least three thousand (3000) hours of clinical experience; and GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS CHAPTER 1365-01 (iii) At least one hundred (100) hours of supervision in addition to the three thousand (3000) hours of experience. These hours must be spread throughout the three thousand (3000) clinical experience contact hours at a ratio of approximately one (1) hour of supervision to every thirty (30) clinical experience contact hours. (5) Licensure by Reciprocity. (a) An applicant may obtain licensure as a baccalaureate social worker, master’s social worker, advanced practice social worker or clinical social worker by reciprocity by submitting the following to the Board office: 1. Completed application on a form prescribed by the Board, which shall include, but not be limited to disclosures of the following: (i) Criminal conviction(s), except for traffic violations; (ii) Denial, loss, restriction, or discipline of licensure privileges imposed by a state licensing board; and (iii) Civil suit judgment or adverse civil settlement involving the applicant. 2. Payment of the application, license, and state regulatory fees; 3. Results of the applicant’s criminal background check to be sent from the vendor identified in the Board’s application materials directly to the Board office; 4. A passport-style photograph taken within twelve (12) months preceding the date the application is submitted to the Board office; 5. Letter of good standing from another state’s licensing board showing that the applicant’s license is active or when it became inactive; 6. Proof that the person has not previously failed the examination required by the Board; 7. Photocopy of original license from the original state of licensure with the applicant’s current license number, if available; 8. Photocopy of the applicant’s current renewal certificate with the license number and license expiration date; and 9. The applicant must reside or be employed in the State of Tennessee. (b) If an applicant does not qualify for licensure by reciprocity, the applicant must apply for licensure by examination. If documentation of appropriate supervision meeting the requirements pursuant to rule 1365-01-.04(4) is provided, the applicant need not have possessed the credential of licensed master social worker in the State of Tennessee prior to application to sit for the examination. (6) Temporary Licensure. (a) Temporary licenses can be issued to applicants for licensure as licensed baccalaureate social workers and licensed master’s social workers who have graduated from a university, college, or school of social work that at the time of the applicant’s graduation GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS CHAPTER 1365-01 has applied for, but has not yet received, accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education. (b) An applicant applying for licensure as a licensed baccalaureate or licensed master’s social worker shall submit the following to the Board office in order to obtain a temporary license: 1. Completed application on a form prescribed by the Board, which shall include, but not be limited to disclosures of the following: (i) Criminal conviction(s), except for traffic violations; (ii) Denial, loss, restriction, or discipline of licensure privileges imposed by a state licensing board; and (iii) Civil suit judgment or adverse civil settlement involving the applicant. 2. An official transcript showing a bachelor’s degree in social work if the person is seeking licensure as a licensed baccalaureate social worker; 3. An official transcript showing a master’s degree in social work if the person is seeking licensure as a licensed master’s social worker; 4. Proof that the institution granting the degree, at the time the degree was granted, had applied for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education; 5. Payment of the application, temporary license, and state regulatory fees; 6. Proof the applicant has successfully passed the Association of Social Work Board’s bachelor’s or master’s licensing examination; 7. A passport-style photograph taken within twelve (12) months preceding the date the application is submitted to the Board office; and 8. Results of the applicant’s criminal background check to be sent from the vendor identified in the Board’s application materials directly to the Board office. (c) The temporary licensed master’s social worker license is required prior to beginning the supervised experience needed for licensure as a licensed clinical social worker or licensed advanced practice social worker. (d) A temporary licensed baccalaureate social worker must submit an application for licensure as a licensed baccalaureate social worker within sixty (60) days after the educational institution receives accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education, or the temporary license shall no longer be valid. (e) A temporary licensed master’s social worker must submit an application for licensure as a licensed master’s social worker within sixty (60) days after the educational institution receives accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education, or the temporary license shall no longer be valid. (f) The temporary license shall no longer be valid if the Board learns that the educational institution’s application for accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education has been denied or withdrawn. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS CHAPTER 1365-01