N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44G-4.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 13:44G-4.1 - Eligibility requirements; LCSW

(a) For purposes of this section, "two years of full-time clinical social work" means 3,000 hours under direct supervision pursuant to the standards set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1, subsequent to earning a master's degree in social work. The 3,000 hours shall be completed in no less than two years and no more than four years . At least 1,920 hours of the 3,000 hours shall be in face-to-face client contact , and half of these 1,920 hours shall be in psychotherapeutic counseling. The other 1,080 hours can include time spent in supervision or other social work services.

(b) An applicant for licensure as an LCSW shall submit the following, on forms provided by the Board:

1. A completed application form, which requests information concerning the applicant's educational and experiential background;

2. The application fee set forth in 13:44G-14.1;

3. An official transcript indicating that the applicant:

i. Received a master's degree in social work from an educational program accredited, or in candidacy for accreditation, by the Council on Social Work Education; or a doctorate degree in social work from an accredited institution of higher education;

ii. Completed 12 semester hours of graduate level course work in methods of clinical social work practice, exclusive of field placement, from an educational program accredited, or in candidacy for accreditation, by the Council on Social Work Education. The applicant shall obtain 12 credits in any of the following areas of study:

(1) Diagnosis and assessment in clinical social work practice;

(2) Models of psychotherapy or clinical practice (for example, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive therapies, task-centered, psychosocial, crisis intervention approaches, etc.);

(3) Clinical supervision and consultation; and/or

(4) Intervention with special populations;

4. A supervisor's certification indicating that the applicant has acquired two years of full-time clinical social work experience after the completion of the master's degree required by (b)3 above. Such work experience shall have been completed no more than five years prior to the submission of the application. In the event that the applicant is unable to provide a supervisor's certification, the applicant shall submit to the Board an affidavit explaining the reason(s) why the applicant is not able to obtain the supervisor's certification;

5. Proof that the applicant has successfully completed the clinical examination administered by the ASWB;

6. Proof that the applicant was an LSW at the time that the experience in (a) above was acquired, or proof that the applicant engaged in social work practice in a setting in which licensure is not required pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:15BB-5; and

7. A signed consent form acknowledging that the Board will perform a criminal history background check as a pre-requisite of licensure.

(c) Notwithstanding (a) above, an applicant who began clinical social work experience under supervision prior to September 17, 2018, will be deemed to have completed two years of fulltime clinical social work if he or she has completed 1,920 hours of face-to-face client contact.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44G-4.1

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 2017(a), effective 9/17/2018