What’s in the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act?

These bills aim to make significant improvements to Michigan’s social work licensure system, addressing issues that impact many of our state’s social workers. Here’s a quick summary of the key changes proposed:

Restructuring Licensing Tiers: HB 5184 and HB 5185 propose creating a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in addition to the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). This approach aligns with national standards and clarifies pathways for Michigan’s social workers.

Exam Reform: The bills propose replacing the current ASWB exam requirement with a more accessible, open-book, state-specific exam. This change is especially important given Michigan’s notably low 2023 ASWB pass rates, making licensure more equitable for qualified candidates.

Supervision Hour Adjustments: Currently, Michigan requires 4,000 hours of supervision—the highest in the country—for clinical licensure. HB 5184 and HB 5185 propose reducing this requirement to 3,000 hours, with clearer standards for supervision.

 

The bills are now heading to the House Health Policy Committee. This step is crucial because we need support from committee members to advance the bills to the House floor for a full vote. After the House, the process will repeat in the Senate.

In the next few weeks, we’ll call on you—our social work community—to help push these bills forward. Here’s what’s coming up:

Writing to the House Health Policy Committee: We’ll share details soon, but we’ll be asking social workers and supporters to write directly to committee members to express support for HB 5184 and HB 5185. You can also visit our Legislative Action Center by clicking here to get started today!

Submitting Comment Cards: Organizations and agencies will have the chance to submit comment cards in favor of these bills. These statements help show widespread support within Michigan’s social work community.

Thank you to everyone who’s already called, emailed, or submitted comments. Your voices have gotten us this far, and together we can continue to drive change. Stay tuned to our social channels and emails for updates and further calls to action.

Let’s keep up the momentum!