HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1855

As Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to licensed independent clinical social worker education and experience requirements.

Brief Description: Clarifying licensed independent clinical social worker education and experience requirements.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Dickerson, Campbell, McDermott and Skinner).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services: 2/27/03, 3/3/03 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/14/03, 94-0.

Passed Senate: 4/11/03, 49-0.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Kagi, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Boldt, Ranking Minority Member; Roach, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Dickerson, Miloscia, Pettigrew and Shabro.

Staff: Sonja Hallum (786-7092).

Background:

A licensed clinical social worker is an independent health care provider licensed by a state to work with patients. States grant the licenses to clinical social workers who meet specific requirements prescribed by state laws and regulations for the practice of social work. The requirements include education, supervision, experience, and a written examination.

In Washington there are two classifications of social workers: licensed advanced social worker and licensed independent clinical social worker. The qualifications for a licensed independent clinical social worker include:

(a)       Graduation from a master's or doctorate level social work educational program;

(b)       Successful completion of an approved examination;

(c)       Successful completion of a supervised experience requirement; and

(d)       Successful completion of continuing education requirements.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

In order to supervise a candidate seeking to qualify as a licensed independent social worker the supervisor must be a licensed independent clinical social worker who has been licensed or certified for at least five years and who has had at least one year of experience in supervising the clinical social work practice of others.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This makes all categories of licensing the same. Licensure was established in a different law. This is really a technical fix. The qualifications for supervisors were not included in the original licensure requirements. The licensure requirement was added one and a half years ago. Prior to the licensure requirement there was a certification process.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Rep. Dickerson, prime sponsor; and Lonnie Johns-Brown and Kevin Groshong, Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work.