At its core, the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act aims to increase the number of licensed social workers in Michigan to help address workforce shortages, reduce unnecessary and/or problematic barriers, and bring Michigan in step with other national license legislative changes, where these new tiers would put us in line with how other states are already structured.
What the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act proposes is to remove the examination requirement and restructure the levels to Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). LMSW tier will encompass those who are gaining clinical supervision towards the LCSW designation, generalist and macro practitioners. LMSWs will be able to bill under an LCSW as well. LCSW tier will replace the current LMSW as the independent clinical practice designation.
SWLMA also removes the examination requirement at all license levels.
Urge the House Behavioral Health subcommittee to support House Bills 5184 & 5185 to ensure accessibility of social work licensing!