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148E.0555 LICENSE REQUIREMENTS; GRANDFATHERING.

Subdivision 1.Grandfathering period.

(a) The board shall issue a license to an applicant who meets all the requirements in this section and has submitted a completed, signed application and the required fee between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014.

(b) If the applicant does not provide all of the information requested by the board by December 31, 2015, the applicant is considered ineligible and the application for licensure is closed.

Subd. 2.Eligible agency personnel.

When submitting the application for licensure, the applicant must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is currently employed by a:

(1) Minnesota city or state agency, and:

(i) at any time within three years of the date of submitting an application for licensure was presented to the public by any title incorporating the words "social work" or "social worker," while employed by that agency for a minimum of six months; or

(ii) at any time within three years of the date of submitting an application for licensure was engaged in the practice of social work, including clinical social work, as described in section 148E.010, subdivisions 6 and 11, while employed by that agency for a minimum of six months; or

(2) private nonprofit, nontribal agency whose primary service focus addresses ethnic minority populations, and the applicant is a member of an ethnic minority population within the agency, previously exempt from licensure under Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 148D.065, subdivision 5, and section 148E.065, subdivision 5, and:

(i) at any time within three years of the date of submitting an application for licensure was presented to the public by any title incorporating the words "social work" or "social worker," while employed by that agency for a minimum of six months; or

(ii) at any time within three years of the date of submitting an application for licensure was engaged in the practice of social work, including clinical social work, as described under section 148E.010, subdivisions 6 and 11, while employed by that agency for a minimum of six months.

Subd. 3.Qualifications during grandfathering for licensure as LSW.

(a) To be licensed as a licensed social worker, an applicant for licensure under this section must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the individual has completed a baccalaureate degree:

(1) in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, or a similar accrediting body designated by the board; or

(2) in psychology, sociology, human services, or social and behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university; or

(3) with a major in any field from an accredited college or university, and one year of experience in the practice of social work as described in section 148E.010, subdivision 11.

(b) To be licensed as a licensed social worker, an applicant for licensure under this section must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the individual has:

(1) submitted a completed, signed application and the license fee in section 148E.180;

(2) for applications submitted electronically, provided an attestation as specified by the board;

(3) submitted the criminal background check fee and a form provided by the board authorizing a criminal background check;

(4) paid the applicable license fee in section 148E.180; and

(5) not engaged in conduct that was or would be in violation of the standards of practice specified in Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.195 to 148D.240, and sections 148E.195 to 148E.240. If the applicant has engaged in conduct that was or would be in violation of the standards of practice, the board may take action according to sections 148E.255 to 148E.270.

(c) An application that is not completed and signed, or that is not accompanied by the correct license fee, must be returned to the applicant, along with any fee submitted, and is void.

(d) By submitting an application for licensure, an applicant authorizes the board to investigate any information provided or requested in the application. The board may request that the applicant provide additional information, verification, or documentation.

(e) Within one year of the time the board receives an application for licensure, the applicant must meet all the requirements and provide all of the information requested by the board according to paragraphs (a) and (b).

(f) Prelicensure supervised practice hours may be applied to meet the requirements of this section. Hours obtained prior to August 1, 2011, must meet the supervised practice requirements in Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.100 to 148D.125, and hours obtained on or after August 1, 2011, must meet the supervised practice requirements in sections 148E.100 to 148E.125.

(g) In addition to the required supervisors listed in Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 148D.120 and section 148E.120, an alternate supervisor may include a qualified professional who has a bachelor's or graduate degree, and the authority to direct the practice of the applicant, including, but not limited to, an agency director, or agency or consulting supervisor, as determined appropriate by the board.

(h) Unless completed at the time of application for licensure, a licensee granted a license by the board under this section must meet the supervised practice requirements in sections 148E.100 to 148E.125. If a licensee does not meet the supervised practice requirements, the board may take action according to sections 148E.255 to 148E.270.

Subd. 4.Qualifications during grandfathering for licensure as LGSW.

(a) To be licensed as a licensed graduate social worker, an applicant for licensure under this section must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the individual has completed a graduate degree:

(1) in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, or a similar accrediting body designated by the board; or

(2) in psychology, sociology, marriage and family therapy, human services, or social and behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university; or

(3) with a major in any field from an accredited college or university, and one year of experience in the practice of social work as described in section 148E.010, subdivisions 6 and 11.

(b) To be licensed as a licensed graduate social worker, an applicant for licensure under this section must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the individual has:

(1) submitted a completed, signed application and the license fee in section 148E.180;

(2) for applications submitted electronically, provided an attestation as specified by the board;

(3) submitted the criminal background check fee and a form provided by the board authorizing a criminal background check;

(4) paid the applicable license fee in section 148E.180; and

(5) not engaged in conduct that was or would be in violation of the standards of practice specified in Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.195 to 148D.240, and sections 148E.195 to 148E.240. If the applicant has engaged in conduct that was or would be in violation of the standards of practice, the board may take action according to sections 148E.255 to 148E.270.

(c) An application that is not completed and signed, or that is not accompanied by the correct license fee, must be returned to the applicant, along with any fee submitted, and is void.

(d) By submitting an application for licensure, an applicant authorizes the board to investigate any information provided or requested in the application. The board may request that the applicant provide additional information, verification, or documentation.

(e) Within one year of the time the board receives an application for licensure, the applicant must meet all the requirements and provide all of the information requested by the board according to paragraphs (a) and (b).

(f) Prelicensure supervised practice hours may be applied to meet the requirements of this section. Hours obtained prior to August 1, 2011, must meet the supervised practice requirements in Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.100 to 148D.125, and hours obtained on or after August 1, 2011, must meet the supervised practice requirements in sections 148E.100 to 148E.125.

(g) In addition to the required supervisors listed in Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 148D.120 and section 148E.120, an alternate supervisor of nonclinical practice may include a qualified professional who has a bachelor's or graduate degree, and the authority to direct the practice of the applicant, including, but not limited to, an agency director, or agency or consulting supervisor, as determined appropriate by the board.

(h) Unless completed at the time of application for licensure, a licensee granted a license by the board under this section must meet the supervised practice requirements specified in sections 148E.100 to 148E.125. If a licensee does not meet the supervised practice requirements, the board may take action according to sections 148E.255 to 148E.270.

Subd. 5.Qualifications during grandfathering for licensure as LISW.

(a) To be licensed as a licensed independent social worker, an applicant for licensure under this section must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the individual has completed a graduate degree:

(1) in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, or a similar accrediting body designated by the board; or

(2) in psychology, sociology, marriage and family therapy, human services, or social and behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university; or

(3) with a major in any field from an accredited college or university, and one year of experience in the practice of social work according to section 148E.010, subdivision 11.

(b) To be licensed as a licensed independent social worker, an applicant for licensure under this section must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the individual has:

(1) practiced social work as defined in section 148E.010, subdivision 11, and has met the supervised practice requirements as follows: (i) for hours obtained prior to August 1, 2011, has met the requirements in Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.100 to 148D.125; (ii) for hours obtained after August 1, 2011, has met the requirements in sections 148E.100 to 148E.125; and (iii) in addition to the supervisors listed in Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 148D.120, or section 148E.120, an alternate supervisor of nonclinical practice may include a qualified professional who has a bachelor's or graduate degree and the authority to direct the practice of the applicant, including but not limited to an agency director, or agency or consulting supervisor as determined by the board;

(2) submitted a completed, signed application and the license fee in section 148E.180;

(3) for applications submitted electronically, provided an attestation as specified by the board;

(4) submitted the criminal background check fee and a form provided by the board authorizing a criminal background check;

(5) paid the applicable license fee specified in section 148E.180; and

(6) not engaged in conduct that was or would be in violation of the standards of practice specified in Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.195 to 148D.240, and sections 148E.195 to 148E.240. If the applicant has engaged in conduct that was or would be in violation of the standards of practice, the board may take action according to sections 148E.255 to 148E.270.

(c) An application that is not completed, signed, and accompanied by the correct license fee must be returned to the applicant, along with any fee submitted, and is void.

(d) By submitting an application for licensure, an applicant authorizes the board to investigate any information provided or requested in the application. The board may request that the applicant provide additional information, verification, or documentation.

(e) Within one year of the time the board receives an application for licensure, the applicant must meet all the requirements and provide all of the information requested by the board according to paragraphs (a) and (b).

(f) Upon licensure, a licensed independent social worker who practices clinical social work must meet the supervised practice requirements specified in sections 148E.100 to 148E.125. If a licensee does not meet the supervised practice requirements, the board may take action according to sections 148E.255 to 148E.270.

Subd. 6.Qualifications during grandfathering for licensure as LICSW.

(a) To be licensed as a licensed independent clinical social worker, an applicant for licensure under this section must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the individual has:

(1) completed a graduate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, or a similar accrediting body designated by the board; or

(2) completed a graduate degree and is a mental health professional according to section 245.462, subdivision 18, clauses (1) to (6).

(b) To be licensed as a licensed independent clinical social worker, an applicant for licensure under this section must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the individual has:

(1) practiced clinical social work as defined in section 148E.010, subdivision 6, including both diagnosis and treatment, and has met the supervised practice requirements specified in sections 148E.100 to 148E.125, excluding the 1,800 hours of direct clinical client contact specified in section 148E.115, subdivision 1, except that supervised practice hours obtained prior to August 1, 2011, must meet the requirements in Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.100 to 148D.125;

(2) submitted a completed, signed application and the license fee in section 148E.180;

(3) for applications submitted electronically, provided an attestation as specified by the board;

(4) submitted the criminal background check fee and a form provided by the board authorizing a criminal background check;

(5) paid the license fee in section 148E.180; and

(6) not engaged in conduct that was or would be in violation of the standards of practice specified in Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.195 to 148D.240, and sections 148E.195 to 148E.240. If the applicant has engaged in conduct that was or would be in violation of the standards of practice, the board may take action according to sections 148E.255 to 148E.270.

(c) An application which is not completed, signed, and accompanied by the correct license fee must be returned to the applicant, along with any fee submitted, and is void.

(d) By submitting an application for licensure, an applicant authorizes the board to investigate any information provided or requested in the application. The board may request that the applicant provide additional information, verification, or documentation.

(e) Within one year of the time the board receives an application for licensure, the applicant must meet all the requirements and provide all of the information requested by the board.

Subd. 7.Criminal background checks.

The provisions of section 148E.055, subdivision 8, apply to criminal background checks described under this section.

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Revisor of Statutes