1997 Minnesota Statutes

     148B.28 Exceptions to license requirement. 

    Subdivision 1.    Other professionals.  Nothing in 
 sections 148B.18 to 148B.289 shall be construed to prevent 
 members of other professions or occupations from performing 
 functions for which they are qualified or licensed.  This 
 exception includes but is not limited to licensed physicians; 
 registered nurses; licensed practical nurses; psychological 
 practitioners; probation officers; members of the clergy; 
 attorneys; marriage and family therapists; chemical dependency 
 counselors; professional counselors; school counselors; and 
 registered occupational therapists or certified occupational 
 therapist assistants.  These persons must not, however, hold 
 themselves out to the public by any title or description stating 
 or implying that they are engaged in the practice of social 
 work, or that they are licensed to engage in the practice of 
 social work.  Persons engaged in the practice of social work are 
 not exempt from the board's jurisdiction solely by the use of 
 one of the above titles. 

    Subd. 2.    Students.  An internship, externship, or any 
 other social work experience that is required for the completion 
 of an accredited program of social work does not constitute the 
 practice of social work under this chapter. 

    Subd. 3.    Geographic waiver.  A geographic waiver may 
 be granted by the board on a case-by-case basis to agencies with 
 special regional hiring problems.  The waiver will permit 
 agencies to hire individuals, who do not meet the qualifications 
 of section 148B.21, to practice social work.  

    Subd. 4.    City, county, and state agency social workers. 
  The licensing of city, county, and state agency social 
 workers shall be voluntary.  City, county, and state agencies 
 employing social workers shall not be required to employ 
 licensed social workers. 

    Subd. 5.    Federally recognized tribes and private 
 nonprofit agencies with a minority focus.  The licensure of 
 social workers who are employed by federally recognized tribes, 
 or by private nonprofit agencies whose primary service focus 
 addresses ethnic minority populations, and are themselves 
 members of ethnic minority populations within said agencies, 
 shall be voluntary. 

    Subd. 6.  Repealed, 1995 c 63 s 9 

    HIST: 1987 c 347 art 2 s 11; 1991 c 255 s 19; 1992 c 460 s 18; 
 1993 c 240 s 15; 1997 c 193 s 35,36