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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 or a LGSW working towards the qualifications for the LCSW you will need four (4) hours face to face per month for a two-year
period, the supervision must be by a LGSW or LCSW for the LBSW and for the LGSW it must be a LCSW.
If the supervision is by someone outside your agency the supervisor
must be a LCSW with a PIP.
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 take the Social Work exam?
A.
To be eligible to sit for the Social Work Examination you must have a
degree in Social Work either a BSW or a MSW from a College or University
accredited by the
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 two
or three 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 can not 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 ($175) 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.
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 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.
Unfortunately, according to the Alabama Social Work Laws if a person wishes to maintain a social work license, completion of the required continuing education and payment of the renewal fee is required. Otherwise, the license will expire and will be cancelled.
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