Social Work Licensure Modernization Act Introduced!
Thursday, October 19, 2023
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Posted by: Melina Brann
For more up to date changes, visit this site. Today, the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act, which strives to remove the examination requirement and restructure the Michigan social work licensure tiers, was introduced. House Bills 5184 & 5185, sponsored by Representative Felicia Brabec and Representative Edwards, were introduced on October 19th. The Social Work Licensure Modernization Act, House Bills 5184 & 5185, was initiated by social workers across Michigan over the last year in coalition with NASW-Michigan, the Michigan schools of social work, the Community Mental Health Association, and other allied organizations and agencies.
At its core, the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act aims to remove the examination requirement and increase the number of licensed social workers in Michigan to help address workforce shortages by (1) reducing unnecessary and/or problematic barriers within the current process, and by (2) bringing Michigan in line with most other state’s licensure levels and acronyms.
What the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act proposes is to restructure the levels to Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). LMSW tier will encompass those who are gaining clinical supervision towards the LCSW designation, generalist and macro practitioners. The LCSW tier will replace the current LMSW-Clinical as the independent clinical practice designation and align our credentials with almost every other state. 
For most in our membership as well as those already established as clinicians within the profession, the bill changes nothing besides the letters. However, for those who have been forced to leave the field due to renewal caps and the next generation of social workers looking to join the workforce, these changes will provide a more seamless licensing transition, thereby increasing the number of social workers in the profession.
If you have questions about the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act and why the chapter supports it, we hope that you will read our below statement on the bill and why we believe it is essential to furthering and diversifying the profession in Michigan. We also invite you to join us at a Town Hall on Tuesday, October 24th, to get specific questions answered.
If you'd like to read more about the NASW-Michigan Chapter's legislative efforts, please visit the chapter Legislative Action Center. Here you’ll find all of our latest news, updates, and movements on the many bills—including HB 5184-85—which the NASW-Michigan Chapter is currently tracking.
Read the NASW-Michigan full statement on the ASWB test analysis here or the national NASW’s statement opposing the ASWB exam here. Read the Council of Social Work Education’s statement on examination removal here. Read the National Association of Deans and Directors Schools of Social Work here. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Urge the House Behavioral Health Committee to support HBs 5184 & 5185 to ensure accessibility of social work licensing! ACT NOW. Join the Individual sign-on letter or Organization sign-on letter to illustrate your support for these changes. Talk to your representative about why these changes are important. Find your representative here. Frequently Asked Questions Why are these changes being proposed? Since Michigan passed social work licensing in 2005, there have been no substantial reviews of changes to the law. NASW-Michigan, the Michigan Association of Deans & Directors of Graduate Schools of Social Work, and Community Mental Health Association have been hard at work committed to reviewing and addressing problems within our licensure system.
Why now? Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to virtual options, the issue of portability has become extremely salient. Additionally, Data last year was released that shows significant racial and age disparities in this exam. Folks who cannot pass the exam, significantly people of color, are therefore stuck with a limited license which can only be renewed 3 times. People who have reached their renewal limits are forced out of the licensing process and field as a whole.
Are there other groups supporting this bill? Some of the groups who slipped in support include the Michigan Association of Deans and Directors Schools of Social Work, the Community Mental Health Association. How would changes affect people who…
…have a BSW or MSW degree but am not yet licensed? If changes are implemented, BSW or MSW graduates will be allowed to apply for and immediately acquire their LBSW or LMSW license.
…are working toward their clinical license? If you have an MSW, you may apply for the LMSW as you work towards collecting the requirements needed for the LCSW
…graduated years ago but are just now interested in licensure? Regardless of whether you graduated 10 years ago or last year, MSWs and BSWs (who have completed their supervised requirement) are eligible to apply for an LCSW
…are graduating with a BSW? You will be able to get licensed right away.
…have completed their hours who haven’t taken the test yet? At this time, plan on taking the test. However, when the Administrative Rules changes have gone into effect, you will apply for the new LCSW tier.
…If I am already an LMSW-Macro? Your license will be transitioned into LMSW, without a specific designation.
If Michigan wanted to join a social work compact in the future, does this prohibit it? No, the social work compact allows states to set their own requirements for licensure and then allows social workers to take the ASWB test if they wish to apply for a multi-state license.
Will Licensed Master Social Worker be able to join insurance panels, bill for clinical services, etc.? No, not independently. LMSWs working in clinical settings will be able to bill under a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, just as LLMSW-Clinical practitioners were able to bill under a fully licensed LMSW-Clincal previously.
Does HB 5184-85 affect the approval process used to become a school social worker? No. Nothing will change about the current process for becoming approved as a school social worker in the state of Michigan
Does HB 5184-85 change the number of required hours of clinical supervision? No, 4000 hours of post graduate supervised work will still be required in order to earn the LCSW.
Is this going to create increased liability for the supervisor? No. There are no proposed changes to the number of supervised hours required at the clinical licensure level.
Does the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act include removal of the ASWB examination? Yes, the current social work laws in the public health code do not include reference to an examination. Is this going to create a public safety issue? No. In fact, there is no data that shows the ASWB clinical exam has been successful at determining competency or protecting the public. On the contrary, by moving these individuals into licensed professions, the state will have oversight and regulatory authority over these professionals; this is something that is not happening now as many work in social work–like positions.
How does this affect social workers who have already passed the test and are licensed? It doesn’t—their license will remain the same.
Has anyone else other than the National Association of Social Workers- Michigan Chapter, called for an alternative to the ASWB clinical exam? Yes. Among the groups calling for an alternate path to licensure are the Council on Social Work Education, National Association of Black Social Workers, National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, and Social Work and Hospice Care Network. Even ASWB is exploring alternate paths, although they have stated a desire to control that alternative rather than state policymakers.
Why not just reform the test? There are national efforts to reform the test process which is created and administered by an outside entity (ASWB). As the test will remain and will likely be the main path to licensure, advocates and stakeholders have an interest in making sure the test is reformed. However, that process may take years and may never materialize. Furthermore, there is a general consensus (even by the testing body) that there needs to be alternatives to the clinical exam to address bias, test anxiety, and accommodate individuals with language barriers.
Isn’t testing the way we have always licensed Social Workers? A growing body of thought is challenging traditional standardized testing as a measure of competence or success. In 2022, ASWB released its exam pass rates by race, age, and native English speaker demographics. This data shows significant disparities among racial and age groups. This confirms what has always been observed by social workers: these tests are flawed. Standardized testing as a primary way to measure a social worker's competence has its place, but it shouldn’t be such a barrier to entering a social work career.
Shouldn’t we be addressing diversity in the social work workforce in other ways? Yes! There are numerous bills currently in the Michigan assembly to address other workforce issues including loan repayment, front-end scholarships, paid field placements, and stipends for clinical supervision. An alternative to the clinical exam is just one of many paths we need to address to fix our critical workforce issues.
Why aren’t we addressing other professions? While we anticipate continued talks about the effectiveness of high-stakes tests in other professions, the data showing direct harm is available for the social work profession. Furthermore, social work is founded on the ideals and ethical requirements to address inequity within our society. If not social work to address these inequities first, then who?
Will there be a difference on our license identifying who passed the ASWB test vs. those that didn't? No, your LMSW license will be the same regardless of whether you acquired your license before or after implementation, just as there is no distinction on licenses for social workers who were grandfathered in prior to licensure in Michigan vs. those who had to take the ASWB test after licensure was approved.
How would these changes affect people who have already passed the ASWB exam? If you have passed the ASWB exam and have completed your hours, or already hold a full license (currently LMSW), you will be transitioned to a LCSW.
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