Although there are no updates on the changes here in Michigan, let's take a look at the licensure changes across the country.
Maine, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, Utah all have bills that remove the examination requirement for the Bachelor’s and Master’s level licenses but still have the requirement for clinical licenses. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Michigan all have bills that aim to remove the examination requirement from all levels.
North Dakota has passed a bill that gives their licensing board the ability to suspend, waive, or create an alternative to the ASWB licensing exam. However, they are still working on implementing that.
Keep following along at our Action Center for the most recent updates on our Social Work Licensure Modernization Act.
As of November 9th, 2023, the Licensure bills remain in the House Behavioral Health subcommittee.
NASW-Michigan is committed to reviewing and addressing problems within our licensure system. These efforts will be the first major review of the licensure law since Michigan implemented social work licensing in 2005. The solution is to reduce barriers of entry into the social work profession and to increase the number of licensed social workers in Michigan to help address workforce shortages.
After a year and a half of research, planning, and advocacy, the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act (House Bills 5184 & 5185) was introduced on October 19th. Read HB 5184 here and HB 5185 here.
There will be a hearing on November 9th at 9am in the Behavioral Health subcommittee. You can watch this virtually at house.mi.gov and select "house tv"
If you are interested in testifying with NASW-Michigan, please reach out to Melina Brann at mbrann.naswmi@socialworkers.org
Read an overview of the changes here.
Below is an overview of the two-tiered advocacy process.
| Legislative Changes - Social Work Licensure Modernization Act | Administrative Rules Changes |
The Social Work Licensure Modernization Act will focus on restructuring the licensure levels in Michigan and removal of the examination requirement. This bill will remove Limited Licenses and implement Licensed Clinical Social Worker instead of LMSW-Clinical designation. See below for more details. We anticipate the bill being introduced in the legislature in early September. | These changes will focus on removal of the examination requirement. Administrative Rules Changes will be made through the Michigan Office of Hearings and Rules (MOHR) and the Michigan Board of Social Work (MBSW). This effort is separate from the legislative changes. We anticipate this process will start after the SWLMA legislation is passed. |
April 2023
NASW-Michigan has met with potential sponsors and partner organizations to create draft bill language to change the tiers of social work licensure with removal of the ASWB examination.
NASW-Michigan proposes the following initial licensure level requirements:
- Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW): successful completion of a bachelor's degree from a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): successful completion of a masters degree from a CSWE accredited institution (This level would replace the current limited license at the Masters level, and incorporate the Advanced Generalist option)
- All LMSWs performing clinical social work must be under the direct supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Removal of the Limited Licensed Master of Social Work (LLMSW) category
- All LLMSWs and LLMSWs who have reached their renewal caps will be recategorized as LMSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): successful completion of a masters degree from a CSWE accredited institution, completion of 4,000 supervised post-graduate hours under a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
March 2023
In order to become a licensed social worker in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs requires applicants to pass an exam administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Last year, ASWB released ten years of data outlining racial and age disparities in their pass rates.
Faced with this data, social workers and organizations nationally had conversations about whether the ASWB exam is absolutely necessary for licensure?
Looking at this issue and hearing from our members, we discovered several states, including California, Illinois, and Rhode Island, do not require the ASWB exam for basic licensure. Through numerous community and member conversations, it became clear to the Association that the ASWB exam, rather than strengthening professional standards, was instead serving only as yet another burden to access for communities who are historically oppressed. Our state and our profession would be better served by advocating for its removal.
August 2022
ASWB releases national data highlighting disparities.
2021
Michigan MSW programs conduct internal research around licensing statistics in collaboration with LARA.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are there other groups supporting this bill?
Some of the groups who slipped in support include the Michigan Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, the Michigan Community Mental Health Association, Pontiac School District, Christ Child House, A Restored Outlook, Soaring Steps, Diversity Psychological Services, Boost Recovery Services, Brighter Health Counseling, Our Hope Association, Livingston County Community Mental Health, Stonecrest Center, BCA Stonecrest, NOAH Project Detroit, Wayne Pediatrics, Crestwood School District, Ascension Eastwood Recovery Center, Hope and Thrive Counseling and Therapeutic Services, Delta College, Elmhurst Home, Molina, Ask Health Cae, Global Health and Human Services Consulting, My People Arise, Team Wellness Center, City on a Hill Health Clinical, and PACE of Southwest Michigan.
If your organization is interested in supporting these changes, join our sign on letter.
How would changes affect people who…
…have an MSW but are not yet licensed?
If changes are implemented, MSW graduates will be allowed to apply for and immediately acquire their LMSW license.
…are working toward their clinical license?
If you have an MSW, you may apply for the LMSW as you work towards collecting the requirements needed for the LCSW
…graduated years ago but are just now interested in licensure?
Regardless of whether you graduated 10 years ago or last year, MSWs and BSWs (who have completed their supervised requirement) are eligible to apply for an LCSW
…are graduating with a BSW?
You will be able to get licensed right away.
…have completed their hours who haven’t taken the test yet?
At this time, plan on taking the test. However, when the Administrative Rules changes have gone into effect, you will apply for the new LCSW tier.
If Michigan wanted to join a social work compact in the future, does this prohibit it?
No, the social work compact allows states to set their own requirements for licensure and then allows social workers to take the ASWB test if they wish to apply for a multi-state license.
Will Licensed Master Social Worker be able to join insurance panels, bill for clinical services, etc.?
No, not independently. LMSWs working in clinical settings will be able to bill under a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, just as LLMSWs were able to bill under a LMSW previously.
Does HB 5184-85 change the clinical supervision requirement currently required by law?
No, that requirement still remains. What HB 5184-85proposes is to eliminate the limited license tiers that create a barrier to staying in the social work licensing structure.
Is this going to create increased liability for the supervisor?
No, the risk is the same. In Michigan, we currently allow limited licensed social workers to work under fully licensed social workers.
Is this going to create a public safety issue?
No. In fact, there is no data that shows the ASWB clinical exam has been successful at determining competency or protecting the public. On the contrary, by moving these individuals into licensed professions, the state will have oversight and regulatory authority over these professionals. This is something that is not happening now as many work in social work–like positions.
How does this affect social workers who have already passed the test and are licensed?
It doesn’t—their license will remain the same. While there is a lot of misinformation being shared around creating an alternative to the clinical exam, the truth is that an existing LCSW will see no difference in their practice if an alternative to the clinical exam is created..
Has anyone else other than the National Association of Social Workers- Michigan Chapter, called for an alternative to the ASWB clinical exam?
Yes. Among the groups calling for an alternate path to licensure are the Council on Social Work Education, National Association of Black Social Workers, National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, and Social Work and Hospice Care Network. Even ASWB is exploring alternate paths, although they have stated a desire to control that alternative rather than state policymakers.
Why not just reform the test?
There are national efforts to reform the test process which is created and administered by an outside entity (ASWB). As the test will remain and will likely be the main path to licensure, advocates and stakeholders have an interest in making sure the test is reformed. However, that process may take years and may never materialize. Furthermore, there is a general consensus (even by the testing body) that there needs to be alternatives to the clinical exam to address bias, test anxiety, and accommodate individuals with language barriers.
Isn’t testing the way we have always licensed Social Workers?
A growing body of thought is challenging traditional standardized testing as a measure of competence or success. In 2022, ASWB released its exam pass rates by race, age, and native English speaker demographics. This data shows significant disparities among racial and age groups. This confirms what has always been observed by social workers: these tests are flawed. Standardized testing as a primary way to measure a social worker's competence has its place, but it shouldn’t be such a barrier to entering a social work career.
Shouldn’t we be addressing diversity in the social work workforce in other ways?
Yes! There are numerous bills currently in the legislature to address other workforce issues including loan repayment, front-end scholarships, paid field placements, and stipends for clinical supervision. An alternative to the clinical exam is just one of many paths we need to address to fix our critical workforce issues.
Why aren’t we addressing other professions?
While we anticipate continued talks about the effectiveness of high-stakes tests in other professions, the data showing direct harm is available for the social work profession. Furthermore, social work is founded on the ideals and ethical requirements to address inequity within our society. If not social work to address these inequities first, then who?
What do you say to people who are opposed to removing the test as they were able to pass it?
Whenever we make changes, there is going to be some resistance. There are some that worked incredibly hard to pass a biased test, and creating an alternate path that sits parallel to the test does not diminish their accomplishment. It is just an equitable way to address very real challenges with the current system.