2023 Maryland Statutes › Health Occupations › Title 19 - Social Workers › Subtitle 3 - Licensing › Section 19-302 - Qualifications of Applicants

(a)    To obtain a license, an applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant:
(1)    Has submitted a complete written application in the form prescribed by the Board;
(2)    Is at least 18 years old;
(3)    Is of good moral character;
(4)    Except as otherwise provided in this title, has successfully passed an examination or examinations prescribed by the Board pertinent to the license sought;
(5)    Has paid all applicable fees specified by the Board;
(6)    Has completed a criminal history records check in accordance with § 19–302.2 of this subtitle at the applicant’s expense; and
(7)    Has submitted to an examination if required under § 19–302.3 of this subtitle.
(b)    To obtain a bachelor social worker license, an applicant shall:
(1)    Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; and
(2)    Have received a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program that is accredited or is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education.
(c)    To obtain a master social worker license, an applicant shall:
(1)    Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; and
(2)    Have received a master’s degree from a program that is accredited or is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education.
(d)    Except as provided in § 19–302.1 of this subtitle, to obtain a certified social worker license, on or before December 31, 2023, an applicant shall:
(1)    Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section;
(2)    Have received a master’s degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education; and
(3)    Provide in a form prescribed by the Board, documentation of having completed 2 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 3,000 hours after receiving the master’s degree with a minimum of 100 hours of periodic face–to–face supervision in the practice of social work under the terms and conditions that the Board determines by regulation.
(e)    Except as provided in § 19–302.1 of this subtitle, to obtain a certified social worker–clinical license, an applicant shall:
(1)    Meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section;
(2)    Have received a master’s degree in social work and documentation of completion of 12 academic credits in clinical course work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent organization approved by the Council on Social Work Education, with a minimum of 6 of the 12 academic credits obtained in a master’s degree program; and
(3)    Provide in a form prescribed by the Board, documentation of having completed 2 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 3,000 hours, of which 1,500 hours are in face–to–face client contact, after receiving the master’s degree with a minimum of 100 hours of periodic face–to–face supervision in the assessment, formulation of a diagnostic impression, and treatment of behavioral health disorders and other conditions and the provision of psychotherapy under the terms and conditions that the Board determines by regulation.
(f)    (1)    (i)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, to obtain approval by the Board to engage in independent practice, a licensed bachelor social worker or a licensed master social worker shall submit to the Board:
1.    An application in the form prescribed by the Board;
2.    All applicable fees specified by the Board; and
3.    Documentation in a form prescribed by the Board of having completed at least 3 years as a licensee with supervised experience of at least 4,500 hours after receiving the baccalaureate or master’s degree with a minimum of 150 hours of periodic face–to–face supervision under the terms and conditions that the Board determines by regulation.
(ii)    If the Board determines that a licensed bachelor social worker or a licensed master social worker who applies to the Board to engage in the practice of independent practice has not completed the supervised experience as required under paragraph (1)(i)3 of this subsection, the Board may:
1.    Reject the application for independent practice; and
2.    Require the licensed bachelor social worker or the licensed master social worker to continue to work under supervision as required by the Board for an additional 1,500 hours before reapplying.
(2)    The Board shall approve an individual to engage in independent practice if the individual:
(i)    Submits to the Board:
1.    An application in the form prescribed by the Board; and
2.    All applicable fees specified by the Board;
(ii)    On or before January 1, 2008, was licensed by the Board as a licensed bachelor social worker or a licensed graduate social worker; and
(iii)    Has actively practiced bachelor social work, actively practiced graduate social work, or actively practiced master social work for at least 10 years.
(3)    Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit an individual licensed by the Board on or before January 1, 2008, as a licensed bachelor social worker or a licensed graduate social worker and who does not meet the conditions listed under paragraph (2) of this subsection from applying or qualifying to obtain approval by the Board to engage in independent practice under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(4)    Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit an employer from requiring supervision of a licensed bachelor social worker or a licensed master social worker who is approved to engage in independent practice under this subsection.
(5)    The Board shall approve a licensee to provide supervision, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board, if the licensee:
(i)    Is a licensed bachelor social worker or a licensed master social worker approved to engage in independent practice under this subsection;
(ii)    Meets the education and training requirements for supervision established by the Board; and
(iii)    Has actively practiced social work for at least 5 years under the category of license that the licensee holds, regardless of whether the licensee was approved by the Board to engage in independent practice.