North Dakota § 43-41-04 - Licenses - Rules

§ 43-41-04. Licenses - Rules

1. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person may not engage in social work practice in this state unless that person is a licensed baccalaureate social worker, a licensed master social worker, or a licensed clinical social worker. 2. To obtain a license to engage in the practice of social work, an applicant shall submit an application to the board in the form prescribed by the board and provide evidence satisfactory to the board the applicant: a. Has attained the age of majority. b. Has passed the examination approved by the board for the license sought. c. Has satisfied the board the applicant agrees to adhere to the code of social work ethics adopted by the board. d. Is of good moral character. As an element of good moral character, the board shall consider the applicant's adherence to values, principles, and ethical standards consistent with professional social work practice, and shall also consider information obtained through reports made under section 43-41-04.2 in licensure decisions to the extent permissible by all applicable laws. e. Has paid all applicable fees specified by the board relative to the licensure process. 3. An applicant for licensure for the practice of: a. Baccalaureate social work must demonstrate having been awarded a baccalaureate degree in social work from a social work program approved by the board. b. Masters social work must demonstrate having been awarded a doctorate or master's degree in social work from a social work program approved by the board. c. Clinical social work must demonstrate: (1) Having been awarded a doctorate or master's degree in social work from a social work program approved by the board. (2) The successful completion, within a four-year period, of three thousand hours of supervised post-master's clinical social work experience. The initial one thousand five hundred of the required hours must have been under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker. Additional hours of supervision may be under other qualified mental health professionals approved by the board if barriers due to the geographical location, disability, or other factors determined by the board to create a hardship exist for the applicant. The qualified professional must be registered or otherwise qualified as a clinical supervisor by the board that licenses the other professional. However, if an applicant began supervised post-master's clinical social work experience before August 1, 2009, a licensed master social worker who has two years of experience, a licensed psychologist with a doctorate degree, or a licensed psychiatrist may have supervised the required hours. The applicant may demonstrate to the board's satisfaction that experience in the practice of clinical social work meets or exceeds the minimum supervisory requirements of the board. 4. The board may adopt rules pertaining to the supervision required under this section.