Development of Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact
Healthcare Industry
Organizations Involved
Occupations Involved
Workforce Development Focus
Workforce Issues Addressed
Associations
National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Association of Social Work Boards, Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA), Council of State Governments (CSG)
Occupations requiring an MSW
Healthcare workforce retention
Increasing work and/or workplace flexibility for current healthcare professionals
Description
4 professional associations are currently developing an interstate licensure compact for social workers, following a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense in 2021 as part of an initiative to promote licensure portability for military spouses. The interstate licensure compact would allow social workers from different states to practice in any of the states' jurisdictions as long as they meet compact requirements. This would decrease the amount of time and money social workers currently need to spend to get and maintain licenses in additional states. Currently, the model legislation must be enacted into law by at least seven states.