Texas Administrative Code › Title 22 - EXAMINING BOARDS › Part 34 - TEXAS STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORKER EXAMINERS › Chapter 781 - SOCIAL WORKER LICENSURE › Subchapter B - RULES OF PRACTICE › Section 781.302 - The Practice of Social Work

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Practice of Baccalaureate Social
				  Work--Applying social work theory, knowledge, methods, ethics and the
				  professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or
				  bio-psychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups,
				  organizations and communities. Baccalaureate Social Work is generalist practice
				  and may include interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation,
				  case management, mediation, counseling, supportive counseling, direct practice,
				  information and referral, problem solving, supervision, consultation,
				  education, advocacy, community organization, and policy and program
				  development, implementation, and administration.
(b) Practice of Independent Non-Clinical
				  Baccalaureate Social Work--An LBSW recognized for independent practice, known
				  as LBSW-IPR, may provide any non-clinical baccalaureate social work services in
				  either an employment or an independent practice setting. An LBSW-IPR may work
				  under contract, bill directly for services, and bill third parties for
				  reimbursements for services. An LBSW-IPR must restrict his or her independent
				  practice to providing non-clinical social work services.
(c) Practice of Master's Social
				  Work--Applying social work theory, knowledge, methods and ethics and the
				  professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or
				  bio-psychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups,
				  organizations and communities. An LMSW may practice clinical social work in an
				  agency employment setting under clinical supervision, under a supervision plan,
				  or under contract with an agency when under a clinical supervision plan.
				  Master's Social Work practice may include applying specialized knowledge and
				  advanced practice skills in assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and
				  evaluation, case management, mediation, counseling, supportive counseling,
				  direct practice, information and referral, supervision, consultation,
				  education, research, advocacy, community organization and developing,
				  implementing and administering policies, programs and activities. An LMSW may
				  engage in Baccalaureate Social Work practice.
(d) Advanced Non-Clinical Practice of
				  LMSWs--An LMSW recognized as an Advanced Practitioner (LMSW-AP) may provide any
				  non-clinical social work services in either an employment or an independent
				  practice setting. An LMSW-AP may work under contract, bill directly for
				  services, and bill third parties for reimbursements for services. An LMSW-AP
				  must restrict his or her practice to providing non-clinical social work
				  services.
(e) Independent Practice
				  for LMSWs--An LMSW recognized for independent practice may provide any
				  non-clinical social work services in either an employment or an independent
				  practice setting. This licensee is designated as LMSW-IPR. An LMSW-IPR may work
				  under contract, bill directly for services, and bill third parties for
				  reimbursements for services. An LMSW-IPR must restrict his or her independent
				  practice to providing non-clinical social work services.
(f) Practice of Clinical Social Work--The
				  practice of social work that requires applying social work theory, knowledge,
				  methods, ethics, and the professional use of self to restore or enhance social,
				  psychosocial, or bio-psychosocial functioning of individuals, couples,
				  families, groups, and/or persons who are adversely affected by social or
				  psychosocial stress or health impairment. The practice of clinical social work
				  requires applying specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills
				  in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral
				  disorders, conditions and addictions, including severe mental illness and
				  serious emotional disturbances in adults, adolescents, and children. The
				  clinical social worker may engage in Baccalaureate Social Work practice and
				  Master's Social Work practice. Clinical treatment methods may include but are
				  not limited to providing individual, marital, couple, family, and group
				  therapy, mediation, counseling, supportive counseling, direct practice, and
				  psychotherapy. Clinical social workers are qualified and authorized to use the
				  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the International
				  Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes,
				  and other diagnostic classification systems in assessment, diagnosis, treatment
				  and other practice activities. An LCSW may provide any clinical or non-clinical
				  social work service or supervision in either an employment or independent
				  practice setting. An LCSW may work under contract, bill directly for services,
				  and bill third parties for service reimbursements.
(g) A licensee who is not recognized for
				  independent practice or who is not under a non-clinical supervision plan must
				  not engage in any independent practice that falls within the definition of
				  social work practice in §
										781.102 of
				  this title (relating to Definitions) without being licensed and recognized by
				  the Council, unless the person is licensed in another profession and acting
				  solely within the scope of that license. If the person is practicing
				  professionally under another license, the person may not use the titles
				  "licensed clinical social worker," "licensed master social worker," "licensed
				  social worker," or "licensed baccalaureate social worker," or any other title
				  or initials that imply social work licensure unless one holds the appropriate
				  license or independent practice recognition.
(h) An LBSW or LMSW who is not recognized for
				  independent practice may not provide direct social work services to clients
				  from a location that she or he owns or leases and that is not owned or leased
				  by an employer or other legal entity with responsibility for the client. This
				  does not preclude in-home services such as in-home health care or the use of
				  electronic media to provide services in an emergency.
(i) An LBSW or LMSW who is not recognized for
				  independent practice may practice for remuneration in a direct employment or
				  agency setting but may not work independently, bill directly to patients or
				  bill directly to third party payers, unless the LBSW or LMSW is under a formal
				  supervision plan.