March is National Social Work Month, and there is good news in the works for social workers. You may have heard of the Nurse Licensure Compact for travel nursing, but did you know that a similar Compact for social work is being implemented by more and more states?
The Social Work Licensure Compact will help remove barriers to practicing social work across state borders, allowing social workers to travel more freely across the country. That care expansion will provide broader access and better care for communities, plus efficient licensure reciprocity policies for social workers. With almost 500,000 licensed social workers across the country, this streamlined process will greatly benefit professionals and their clients.
Read on to learn more about what the Compact will mean for traveling social workers, the expected timeline for implementation, how to obtain a multistate license, and more.
Social Worker Careers
A social worker is a trained professional who helps individuals, families, and communities by improving well-being from a variety of areas. They offer support with social, economic, and environmental challenges. They connect their clients with counseling, resources, and advocates, which in turn help improve overall situations and care outcomes. Their specialized training offers invaluable support to many communities.
Most positions in social work require a bachelor’s degree (for entry-level positions) or a master’s degree (for more advanced roles), as well as practical experience. This experience can come from professional positions, internships, volunteer work, or other clinical settings.
The three different categories of licensure are most often categorized as:
- Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
The field of social work is anticipated to grow 7% from 2023 to 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social workers can work in a variety of settings and there continues to be a growing demand for the position. The developing multistate licensure Compact will do even more to bring expansion and access to this critical healthcare field.
How the Social Work Licensure Compact Works
An interstate Compact is an agreement between multiple states that adopts certain standards or policies, keeping consistent licensing and reciprocity across state lines. Compacts are tools for efficiency and cooperation, and the Social Work Licensure Compact will bring those benefits to social workers across the country. Although the Compact is in the beginning stages of implementation, it will offer a bright future for improvements in social work.
The Social Work Licensure Compact will offer social workers eligibility for licensure across member states, given that those states are part of the Compact. This multistate licensure will allow social workers from member states to practice in other Compact states without needing to repeat the licensing process for each participating state.
The Social Work Licensure Compact stems from a partnership between The Council of State Governments (CSG) and the Department of Defense (DoD), plus the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Together, they’re making the licensure pathway for social workers more efficient and making social work services more accessible to communities.
Benefits of the Licensure Compact
There are benefits for the healthcare industry, employers, and the public when a social worker is able to practice across multiple states that are members of the licensure Compact.
Top Benefits of the Social Work Licensure Compact
- Increased mobility of social workers
- Improved continuity of care for clients
- Reduced burdensome and duplicative licensure requirements
- Improved public safety, support, and success
- Expanded access to professional social work services
- Improved support for relocated military spouses
- Increased organization of professional licensure data
When Will the Compact Be Available?
Currently, seven states have enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact. This means that the Compact has been activated in these states, but the multistate licenses are not yet being issued. The process to implement the Compact will take between 12 to 24 months, and those member states are currently in that process.
You can read the full legislation language here to know exactly what states need to enact into law to officially join the Social Work Licensure Compact. All states have their legislation reviewed by the Council of State Governments National Center for Interstate Compacts to make sure that the legislation language stays consistent across state lines.
A summit was held in July of 2023, hosted by The Council of State Governments, to help policymakers understand the benefits and logistics of the Social Work Compact. These initiatives will help the Compact reach more states and become more quickly adopted and implemented.
The first seven states that enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact in April of 2024 include:
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
Many other states now have pending or enacted legislation to join the Compact. Each of the original seven states has an appointed commissioner serving on a Compact commission, which will govern the Compact and help with implementation. Through 2025, they will be working on establishing a data system to help states communicate licensure information. The commission will also meet throughout this year to collaborate over rules, establish a fee structure, streamline the application process, and continue to define participation requirements for states.
Social workers cannot yet apply for a multistate license, but it’s anticipated that the data system will be operational in the fall of 2025. Then, social workers will be able to apply for Compact licensure and begin practicing in all member states.
Eligibility for the Social Work Compact
Once a licensed social worker intends to utilize the Social Work Licensure Compact and practice in other states, they will need to officially obtain a multistate license. To be eligible for a multistate license, a social worker must primarily reside in a state that is a member of the Compact.
There are three baseline requirements for social workers to obtain multistate licensure:
- Hold an active social work license (in a member state)
- Pay applicable licensure fees
- Pass a background check (conducted by home state)
After these steps, social workers must then pass a Qualifying National Exam, which is a national social work exam specifically approved by the Compact commission. This exam is specific to a social worker’s category of licensure.
Social Worker Jobs at SHC
If you are interested in connecting with social worker jobs or staying up to date on travel opportunities, contact the Supplemental Health Care team to start the process! At SHC, we appreciate the important improvements the Social Work Licensure Compact will bring to the social work field. As a leading travel healthcare agency, we’re ready to help you on your personal and professional journey. Connect with SHC today to find the right social work position for you.
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