House Bill No. 5166, as amended, addresses the licensure requirements for master social workers in Connecticut. The bill temporarily waives the requirement for applicants to pass the master's level examination administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) until July 1, 2029. This change extends the previous suspension of the examination requirement, which was set to expire on January 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill mandates that by January 1, 2029, the Department of Public Health (DPH) commissioner must inform higher education institutions offering social work programs about the reinstatement of the examination requirement for graduates after July 1, 2029. The bill maintains the existing requirement for applicants to hold a master's degree from an accredited social work program.

The fiscal impact of the bill is expected to result in a minimal revenue gain for the General Fund starting in fiscal year 2027, as more individuals may apply for their initial master social worker licenses without the examination fee. The bill also retains the examination requirement for licensure by endorsement for applicants who are already licensed in other states with similar requirements. House Amendment "A" modifies the original bill by making the examination waiver temporary rather than permanent, thus ensuring that the examination requirement will be reinstated in the future.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 20-195n
PH Joint Favorable: 20-195n
File No. 23: 20-195n