(A) The social workers professional standards committee of the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist board shall issue a license as a social worker to each applicant who submits a properly completed application, pays the fee established under section 4757.31 of the Revised Code, and meets the requirements specified in division (B) of this section. A social worker license shall clearly indicate each academic degree earned by the person to whom it is issued.
(B) To be eligible for a license as a social worker, an individual must meet the following requirements:
(1) The individual must be of good moral character.
(2) The individual must hold from an accredited educational institution one of the following:
(a) A baccalaureate degree in social work or, prior to October 10, 1992, a baccalaureate degree in a program closely related to social work and approved by the committee;
(b) A master's degree in social work;
(c) A doctorate in social work.
(3) The individual must pass an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as a social worker.
(C) The committee may issue a temporary license to an applicant who meets all of the requirements to be licensed under this section, pending the receipt of transcripts or action by the committee to issue a license as a social worker. However, the committee may issue a temporary license to an applicant who provides the board with a statement from the applicant's academic institution indicating that the applicant is in good standing with the institution, that the applicant has met the academic requirements for the applicant's degree, and the date the applicant will receive the applicant's degree.
(D) The board shall adopt any rules necessary for the committee to implement this section, including criteria for the committee to use in determining whether an applicant's training should be accepted and supervised experience approved. Rules adopted under this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
HISTORY: RC § 4757.09, 140 v H 205 (Eff 10-10-84); RC § 4757.28, 146 v S 223 (Eff 3-18-97); 149 v H 374. Eff 4-7-2003.
Cross-References to Related Sections
Certification of licensed social workers by department of human services, RC § 5101.75.2.
Ohio Adminstrative Code
Social workers -
Requirements for licensure. OAC 4757-19-01 et seq.
Scope of practice. OAC 4757-21-02.
Supervision. OAC 4757-23-01.
Research Aids
Licenses:
O-Jur3d: Phys & S § 112
Am-Jur2d: Phys & S § 51 et seq
Law Review
Confidentiality and privilege: the status of social workers in Ohio. Gary W. Paquin. 19 Ohio N.U.L. Rev. 199 (1992).
CASE NOTES AND OAG
Analysis
Grandfather clause.
Licensing requirements.
Negligence.
The applicant lost any right to licensing under the grandfather clause when she failed to apply by 10-10-85: (decided under former analogous section) Kendall v. Ohio State Counselor & Social Worker Bd., 81 Ohio App. 3d 638, 611 N.E.2d 985 (1992).
In accordance with the provisions of 1983-1984 Ohio Laws, Part I, 2246 (Am. Sub. H.B. 205, eff. Oct. 10, 1984), section 4(B) (uncodified), where a person was engaged in the practice of social work in this state on October 10, 1984, and filed an application for a social worker's license on or before October 10, 1985, that person is not required to comply with the provisions of RC § 4757.09(A)(4) and OAC 4757-25-03(B) requiring that an applicant for his first renewal of a social worker's license holding only a baccalaureate degree in a program closely related to social work complete for credit a minimum of five semester hours, or their equivalent, at an accredited educational institution: (decided under former analogous section), OAG No. 88-047 (1988).
The rules for licensing of social workers did not preclude taking into account the applicant's college introductory courses in sociology and psychology: (decided under former analogous section) Barach v. Ohio Counselor & Social Worker Bd., 102 Ohio App. 3d 726, 657 N.E.2d 862 (1995).
A cause of action arising from the claimed negligence of a licensed independent social worker, a licensed psychologist or a licensed mental health care facility is not a claim for malpractice and is therefore not governed by RC § 2305.11: (decided under former analogous section) Thompson v. Community Mental Health Ctrs. of Warren Cty., Inc., 71 Ohio St. 3d 194, 642 N.E.2d 1102 (1994).