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Q. How do you apply
for licensure endorsement?
A.
pdfs/INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENDORSEMENT FOR LICENSURE.pdf
Q. How can I
get an application for the social work licensing examination?
A. The
applications are on our website under "Applications". These may
be printed off the site completed and mailed in with the application
fee (money order or cashier check) or you may request to have an
application mailed to you. You also have the choice of
completing the application process on-line. This is handled
through Alabama Interactive for a processing fee of $3.50. The
link to the application is also on our webpage.
Q. What is
required to be considered "License Eligible"?
A. For the
Board to consider you as "license eligible" you must have an
application in our office completed and approved. Being license
eligible allows you to practice social work for an agency or
organization while you are studying and taking the license
examination.
Q. Can an
agency call the Board to verify if someone is license eligible?
A. Yes, we can
verify if someone is license eligible by telephone, fax, email or
mail.
Q
How many continuing education hours do I need to renew my license?
A
You need thirty (30) hours for a two year period.
If you also have a PIP License you will need twenty (20) hours
in addition to the thirty required. Of the 30 Hours required 20
are allowed to be in self-study/home-study programs of the 20 for the
PIP all can be in self-study.
Q
How many hours do I need of Supervision?
A
If you're a LBSW you'll need 24 months at (4) hours per month
face to face supervision by a LGSW or LCSW working within the same
agency or a PIP certified in the same practice method if coming from
outside your agency. If your a LGSW working towards the qualifications for the LCSW you will need four (4) hours face to face per month for
24 months, the supervision for the LCSW must come from a LCSW within
the agency or a PIP certified in the same practice method if coming
outside your agency.
Q. I'm a LBSW and
will be changing jobs, will I be required to repeat the 24 months of
supervision?
A. All LBSW's are
required to complete 24 months of supervision. After completing
the 24 months of supervision the LBSW can continue to work without
supervision. Should you change positions but remain in the same type
of practice
as you have already been supervised under then you would not
need to repeat the supervision, however if you are going into a
different type of practice or you will be serving a different type of client
population you will need to repeat 6 months of supervision. The contract
for supervision is on this website under "Supervision". You will
need to printout the form and submit it to the Board's office for
approval.
Q
What kind of degree must I have to become a Social Worker in
Alabama?
A.
Any person applying for an Alabama Social Work License must have a
degree in social work from a school accredited or approved through
Council on Social Work Education
(CSWE). You can check
which programs are accredited through CSWE by going to their web site
at www.cswe.org
Q
When will my license be ready?
A
The Board of Social Work Examiners receives the grades about
one to two weeks after the candidate. When we receive the passing grade we assign your license
number and send you a letter stating what that number is and place your name on the
order list to have the license printed.
We order licenses about once a month. It normally takes eight to
ten
weeks from the time we are notified of your grades until you receive
your license.
Q.
Do I have a sixty (60) day grace period to renew my license?
A.
Your license expires the last day of the month two years after
it is issued, however you have sixty-days from the expiration date to
renew it before it is cancelled. The hours to renew your
license must be completed before the license expires, you cannot use
the grace period to obtain additional hours to renew your license.
Q
How long do we have to take the exam.
A
You have one year from the date your application is approved
by the Board. The expiration of your approval will be on your
letter sent to you from the Board. Should you fail the exam
and wish to reseat you'll have to submit a copy of your score sheet and
the money order or cashiers check for $75 to the board's office.
Both the application fee ($75) and the examination
fee ($230 - Bachelors/Masters or $260 - Advanced Generalist/Clinical) must be paid each time. Your exam dates must be at
least 90 days apart which can allow you up to four times per year. The
re-application process can also be done on-line. The link is on
our webpage. This is handled through Alabama Interactive.
AI charges a processing fee of $3.50 for the service.
Q.
How often is the exam given?
A
The exam is given
five (5) days a week and in some sites six (6) days a week except during
December Holidays
Q.
Can I send a personal check or credit card number to renew my license?
A.
No, you must pay with a certified check, money order, or
Business check, no personal checks can be accepted and we can't
take credit cards for paper renewals, however a credit card are used
for on-line renewals.
Q
I do not live in Alabama but I would like to keep my
license current, may I do so?
A
You may
continue renewing your license even though you live out of state,
however; you are required to submit the continuing education hours
required and pay the renewal fee. This applies to all licensees.
Q.
Can I go Inactive?
A.
Yes,
we can now offer you the
Inactive status for your social work license. You are still
required to register the license every two years and pay the inactive
fee ($25) but you are not required to report any CE hours.
Should a person that elected inactive status wish to return to social
work practice they will be required to make up the hours at the rate
of 15 hours each year inactive with the maximum to make up being 45
hours. The make up hours must follow a certain percentage in
classroom and may include some on-line or self-study. The makeup
hours must be at least 35% pre-approved classroom hours allowing the
other 65% to come from pre-approved on-line or self-study programs
Q.
Can I change my name on my license after it has already been
issued?
A.
Yes, you may order a new license.
The cost is $10.00 (cashier check, money order or business
check).
We will need a copy of the legal documentation changing your
name before we can place the order for your new license.
Q.
I have retired and would like to maintain my social work license. Is there any special provisions for me?
A.
We can now offer you the
Inactive status for your social work license. You are still
required to register the license every two years and pay the inactive
status but you are not required to report any CE hours. Should a
person that elected inactive status wish to return to social work
practice they will be required to make up the hours at the rate of 15
hours each year inactive with the maximum to make up being 45 hours.
The make up hours must follow a certain percentage in classroom and
may include some on-line or self-study. The makeup hours must be
at least 35% pre-approved classroom hours allowing the other 65% to
come from pre-approved on-line or self-study programs. |
