RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 215 (SB 155) 2021 Regular Session Bouie
Prior law, R.S. 37:2701 et seq., encompassed the Louisiana Social Work Practice Act (Act).
Prior law provided for definitions. New law retains prior law and adds the following defined
term and definition:
"Social worker" means a person who holds a degree in social work, having successfully
completed an undergraduate or graduate level academic social work program.
Prior law provided that five years of experience is necessary for any registered social worker
(RSW), licensed master's social worker (LMSW), or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
to serve on the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (board). New law reduces
the experience necessary to serve on the board to three years.
Prior law provided that an individual beginning practice as a social worker shall submit an
application for credentials within 90 days of commencing practice. New law provides that
all components of application for licensure, certification, or registration shall be completed
within 90 days of commencing practice.
New law deletes prior law requiring that the board, at each meeting, update the listing of
licensed, certified, and registered social workers and make that list available to the public.
Prior law provided that an applicant for LCSW licensure must have completed 5,760
postgraduate hours of social work practice, including 3,840 hours practicing social work
under the supervision of a board-approved clinical supervisor. New law reduces the required
experience to 3,000 hours over a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years and
provides that the board may extend this timeframe if circumstances warrant.
New law deletes a requirement that the home state of an applicant grant reciprocity to
Louisiana applicants there in order for the applicant to be licensed by reciprocity here.
New law revises prior law relative to licensure, certification, or registration by reciprocity
or endorsement of credentials to provide that any social worker from another state, territory,
commonwealth, or the District of Columbia seeking authority to practice in this state through
reciprocity or endorsement shall comply with the following:
(1) Be credentialed and in good standing with their respective social work regulatory
board or agency based on substantially equivalent educational, supervision, and
examination requirements for a Louisiana LCSW, LMSW, RSW, or certified social
worker.
(2) Pass an open-book examination on the Act including all applicable laws and rules,
regulations, standards, and procedures adopted by the board.
(3) Pay the fee prescribed by the board.
New law stipulates that if a state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia does
not have credentialing requirements for social workers that are substantially equivalent to
those of this state, the board may require a social worker to obtain the requisite educational,
supervision, and examination requirements in accordance with present law and proposed
law.
New law provides that the board may license an applicant if the applicant passes the board
exam on the Act and the rules, standards, and procedures of the board.
Prior law provided that the board shall mail an application for renewal of a license,
certificate, or registration to each person to whom a license, certificate, or registration was
issued or renewed during the current year. New law requires the board to provide notice for
renewal of a license, certificate, or registration.
Prior law provided that the renewal of a license, certificate, or registration which has lapsed
for a period in excess of three months but less than six months may be effected upon
submission to the board of a renewal application accompanied by a fee which shall be twice
the amount of the normal renewal fee specified by the board. New law extends applicability
of prior law to a license, certificate, or registration which has lapsed for six months or less.
New law provides that for the renewal of any license, certificate, or registration which has
lapsed for at least six months but not more than 60 months, the applicant shall submit proof
of completion of 20 hours of approved social work continuing education and pass the board
exam on the Act and rules, standards, and procedures prior to reinstatement. Provides that
continuing education requirements for LCSW applicants whose licenses have lapsed for this
period shall include at least 10 hours of clinical content and three hours of ethics training.
Provides that continuing education requirements for LMSW and RSW applicants whose
licenses have lapsed for this period shall include at least three hours of ethics training.
New law provides that for the renewal of any license, certificate, or registration which has
lapsed for more than 60 months, the applicant shall submit proof of completion of 40 hours
of approved social work continuing education and pass the board exam on the Act and the
rules, standards, and procedures prior to reinstatement. Provides that continuing education
requirements for LCSW applicants whose licenses have lapsed for this period shall include
at least 20 hours of clinical content and three hours of ethics training. Provides that
continuing education requirements for LMSW and RSW applicants whose licenses have
lapsed for this period shall include at least three hours of ethics training.
New law provides that no individual shall assume the title "social worker" until that person
has successfully completed an undergraduate academic social work program or a graduate
level academic social work program.
Prior law provided that the board may deny, revoke, or suspend any license, certificate, or
registration issued by the board or applied for, or otherwise discipline a social worker for
certain enumerated causes including the use of drugs or intoxicating beverages to an extent
which affect a social worker's professional competence. New law revises prior law to
provide that the board may discipline a social worker for incapacity or impairment due to
the use of drugs or intoxicating beverages that prevents the social worker from engaging in
the practice of social work with reasonable skill, competence, and safety to the public. New
law adds practicing social work with a lapsed license, certificate, or registration as a cause
for denial, revocation, or suspension of a license, certificate, or registration.
New law deletes prior law requiring that the state shall be a party to the prosecution of all
disciplinary actions and hearings before the board pertaining to the suspension or revocation
of a license, certificate, or registration and that the attorney general shall appear on behalf
of the state.
New law authorizes the board to issue a cease and desist order to stop an individual from
engaging in an unauthorized practice or violating or threatening to violate a statute, rule, or
order which the board has issued or is empowered to enforce. Provides further that the cease
and desist order shall state the reason for its issuance and notice of the individual's right to
request a hearing.
New law provides that any individual whose license, certificate, or registration has been
revoked or suspended shall return the license, certificate, or notice of registration to the
office of the board no later than 10 calendar days after a notice of revocation or suspension.
Prior law authorized the board, in the name of the people of the state, through the attorney
general, to apply for an injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any person
from committing any enumerated prohibited act. New law removes the requirement that the
board apply in the name of the people of the state through the attorney general.
Prior law provided that an individual may hold a social worker certificate for no more than
three years from the issuance of the original certificate and requires the individual to take
an examination approved by the board within the first six months after certification and
annually for the next two and a half years or until they have achieved a passing score. New
law removes the requirement for the individual to take the examination.
Effective January 1, 2022.
(Amends R.S. 37:2704(A)(1)-(3), 2705(A) and (D), 2706(B), 2708(A)(3), 2709(B), 2712 ,
2713, 2714(B)-(E), 2716(B), 2717(A)(2) and (D), 2721(A), and 2724(B); adds R.S.
37:2703(19), 2714(F) and (G), 2715(F), and 2717(A)(13), (G), and (H))


Statutes affected:
SB155 Reengrossed: 37:2704(A)(1), 37:2705(A), 37:2706(B), 37:2708(A)(3), 37:2709(B), 37:2714(B), 37:2716(B), 37:2717(A)(2), 37:2721(A), 37:2724(B)
SB155 Enrolled: 37:2704(A)(1), 37:2705(A), 37:2706(B), 37:2708(A)(3), 37:2709(B), 37:2714(B), 37:2716(B), 37:2717(A)(2), 37:2721(A), 37:2724(B)
SB155 Act 215: 37:2704(A)(1), 37:2705(A), 37:2706(B), 37:2708(A)(3), 37:2709(B), 37:2714(B), 37:2716(B), 37:2717(A)(2), 37:2721(A), 37:2724(B)