Missouri § 337.644 - Master social worker license — definitions — application, contents — issuance of license, when — reciprocity.

§ 337.644. Master social worker license — definitions — application, contents — issuance of license, when — reciprocity.

1.  As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1)  "License", a license, certificate, registration, permit, accreditation, or military occupational specialty that enables a person to legally practice an occupation or profession in a particular jurisdiction;

(2)  "Military", the Armed Forces of the United States, including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force, National Guard, and any other military branch that is designated by Congress as part of the Armed Forces of the United States, and all reserve components and auxiliaries.  The term military also includes the military reserves and militia of any United States territory or state;

(3)  "Nonresident military spouse", a nonresident spouse of an active-duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to the state of Missouri, or who has been transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to an adjacent state and is or will be domiciled in the state of Missouri, or has moved to the state of Missouri on a permanent change-of-station basis;

(4)  "Oversight body", any board, department, agency, or office of a jurisdiction that issues licenses;

(5)  "Resident military spouse", a spouse of an active-duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to the state of Missouri or an adjacent state and who is a permanent resident of the state of Missouri, who is domiciled in the state of Missouri, or who has Missouri as his or her home of record.

2.  Each applicant for licensure as a master social worker shall furnish evidence to the committee that:

(1)  The applicant has:

(a)  A master's degree in social work from a social work degree program:

a.  Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; or

b.  Recognized and approved by the committee in accordance with rules adopted by the committee under section 337.627 and in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 337.628; or

(b)  A doctorate degree in social work from an accredited social work degree program approved by the Council on Social Work Education;

(2)  The applicant has achieved a passing score, as defined by the committee, on an examination approved by the committee.  The eligibility requirements for such examination shall be determined by the state committee for social workers;

(3)  The applicant is at least eighteen years of age, is a United States citizen or has status as a legal resident alien, and has not been finally adjudicated and found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, in a criminal prosecution under the laws of any state, of the United States, or of any country, for any offense directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the occupation, as set forth in section 324.012, regardless of whether or not sentence is imposed;

(4)  The applicant has submitted a written application on forms prescribed by the state board; and

(5)  The applicant has submitted the required licensing fee, as determined by the committee.

3.  Any applicant who answers in the affirmative to any question on the application that relates to possible grounds for denial of licensure under section 337.630 shall submit a sworn affidavit setting forth in detail the facts which explain such answer and copies of appropriate documents related to such answer.

4.  The committee shall issue a license to each person who files an application and fee as required by the provisions of sections 337.600 to 337.689 and who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the committee that the applicant has complied with the provisions of subsection 2 of this section.  The license shall refer to the individual as a licensed master social worker and shall recognize that individual's right to practice licensed master social work as defined in section 337.600.

5.  (1)  Any person who holds a valid current master social work license issued by another state, a branch or unit of the military, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and who has been licensed for at least one year in such other jurisdiction, may submit to the committee an application for a master social work license in Missouri along with proof of current licensure and proof of licensure for at least one year in the other jurisdiction.

(2)  The committee shall:

(a)  Within six months of receiving an application described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements for licensure in this state for the applicant if it determines that there were minimum education requirements and, if applicable, work experience and clinical supervision requirements in effect and the other jurisdiction verifies that the person met those requirements in order to be licensed or certified in that jurisdiction.  The committee may require an applicant to take and pass an examination specific to the laws of this state; or

(b)  Within thirty days of receiving an application described in subdivision (1) of this subsection from a nonresident military spouse or a resident military spouse, waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements for licensure in this state for the applicant and issue such applicant a license under this subsection if such applicant otherwise meets the requirements of this subsection.

(3)  (a)  The committee shall not waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements for any applicant who has had his or her license revoked by an oversight body outside the state; who is currently under investigation, who has a complaint pending, or who is currently under disciplinary action, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subdivision, with an oversight body outside the state; who does not hold a license in good standing with an oversight body outside the state; who has a criminal record that would disqualify him or her for licensure in Missouri; or who does not hold a valid current license in the other jurisdiction on the date the committee receives his or her application under this subsection.

(b)  If another jurisdiction has taken disciplinary action against an applicant, the committee shall determine if the cause for the action was corrected and the matter resolved.  If the matter has not been resolved by that jurisdiction, the committee may deny a license until the matter is resolved.

(4)  Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the committee from denying a license to an applicant under this subsection for any reason described in section 337.630.

(5)  Any person who is licensed under the provisions of this subsection shall be subject to the committee's jurisdiction and all rules and regulations pertaining to the practice as a licensed master social worker in this state.

(6)  This subsection shall not be construed to waive any requirement for an applicant to pay any fees.

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(L. 2007 H.B. 780 merged with S.B. 308, A.L. 2018 S.B. 840, A.L. 2020 H.B. 2046, A.L. 2023 S.B. 70 merged with S.B. 157, A.L. 2025 S.B. 150)

---- end of effective  28 Aug 2025 ----

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