BILL NUMBER: S10665
SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Social
Worker Initiative for Faster Testing (SWIFT) act"
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To allow students enrolled in the final semester of a Master of Social
Work (MSW) program to sit for the master's level licensing examination
prior to graduation.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one provides the title of the bill.
Section two amends paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 7704 of the
education law to provide that an applicant pursuing a master's degree in
social work who is enrolled in the final semester of a program regis-
tered by the State Education Department or accredited, or in candidacy
for accreditation, by the Council on Social Work Education, shall be
eligible to take the master's level licensing examination.
Section three provides for an effective date one year after the bill
becomes law and authorizes any necessary regulatory changes prior to
that date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current law, applicants for licensure as a Licensed Master Social
Worker (LMSW) must complete their educational program before becoming
eligible to sit for the licensing examination. As a result, many gradu-
ates face unnecessary delays between graduation, examination, licensure,
and employment.
Allowing students in their final semester of study to take the examina-
tion before graduation will streamline the transition from education to
professional practice while maintaining all existing educational and
licensure requirements. Students would still be required to complete
their degree program before obtaining licensure; however, they could
complete the examination process in advance and enter the workforce more
quickly upon graduation.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
date.

Statutes affected:
S10665: 7704 education law, 7704(1) education law