Social Workers
Q. What are the requirements for social work licensure?
A. The requirements for each type of social work license are listed below.
Licensed Social Worker (LSW): Requires a Master's degree in social work from a CSWE approved school and passage of the Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical level ASWB exam.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): requires a Master's degree in social work from a CSWE approved program, passage of the Advanced Generalist or Clinical level ASWB exam, completion of two (2) years, 3360 hours post degree supervised experience with at least 96 hours of supervision (48 hours of which must be individual supervision).
*All candidates for social work licensure must also submit a completed, signed application, submit the appropriate fee, and take and pass a Board-developed jurisprudence examination.
Q. Does Colorado have reciprocity?
A. Colorado does not have reciprocity with any state, however, licensure may be obtained through licensure by endorsement. Licensure by endorsement requires the applicant to send a verification of licensure form to the state where the applicant is currently licensed. That State Board, in turn, would complete the form, verifying what requirements were met for licensure in that state. Upon receipt of the verification form, if the requirements are equivalent for the level of licensure requested, the Colorado Board would accept them as such, and upon receipt of an application, fee, and proof of completion of an approved jurisprudence workshop, issue a license. If the state the applicant is licensed in does not verify requirements met, and/or requirements are not equivalent, the applicant must provide documentation proving such. Read Rule 14 in the Colorado Social Work Examiners Rules for more information.
Q. Can applicants transfer post-degree supervised experience and post-degree supervised hours from another state?
A. Post-degree supervised experience and post-degree supervised hours may be accepted from another state if:
1. Experience and supervision were done concurrently.
2. After July 1, 1998 the hours were provided by and LCSW, LISW, or equivalent.
3. All hours are documented on a Colorado State Social Work Post-Degree Experience and Supervision Form.
Q. What is considered a passing examination score in Colorado?
A. A passing score of 70 is required for all levels of licensure examinations.
Q. Can I take the Advanced or Clinical Examination and receive the Licensed Social Worker License?
A. Yes. A passing score of 70 on either the Advanced Generalist or Clinical examination can be submitted to fulfill the examination requirement for licensure as a Clinical Social Worker.
Q. How many hours of post-degree experience and supervision do applicants need?
A. The minimum requirements to be completed over a 24-month period are 3,360 hours of work experience and 96 hours of supervision, of which 48 hours must be face-to-face contact.
Below is a list of Board-approved professions who may provide supervision for licensure as a clinical social worker in Colorado:
Supervision before 7/1/98 may be under a:
(1) License Social Worker;
(2) Licensed Professional Counselor
(3) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
(4) Licensed Psychologist
(5) Licensed Physician (who completed a residency in psychiatry)
Supervision after 7/1/98 must be under a:
(1) Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Q. When do social work applicants/therapists need to be listed in the Grievance Board Database Directory?
A. In accordance with CRS 12-43-702.5, applicants/therapists must list their credentials in the database directory if they are practicing psychotherapy in the State of Colorado as an unlicensed therapist prior to licensure. This includes applicants obtaining their two years of post degree supervised experience. However, there are exceptions. If applicants are working in a community mental health center or a 27-10 designated facility, and don't practice outside of the community mental health center or 27-10 designated facility ( e.g., private practice), they do not need to list their credentials in the database directory. For more information regarding listing as an unlicensed therapist (including exemptions), contact Angelique Gaschler at (303) 894-7771.
Q. How can I get licensed as a school social worker?
A. Information regarding school social workers must be obtained from the Department of Education. Their phone number is (303) 866-6600.
Q. What is the Board-developed mail-in jurisprudence examination?
A. The jurisprudence examination educates applicants on the Mental Health Statute for the practice of psychotherapy specifically in Colorado.
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