(1) For the purposes of this part 4, social work practice means the professional application of social work theory and methods by a person who has completed a master's degree in social work or a doctoral degree in social work or a bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited social work program, for the purpose of prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention with individual, family, group, organizational, and societal problems, including substance use disorders and domestic violence, based on the promotion of biopsychosocial developmental processes, person-in-environment transactions, and empowerment of the client system. Social work theory and methods are based on known accepted principles that are taught in professional schools of social work in colleges or universities accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
(2) Professional social work practice may include, but is not limited to:
(a) Assessment;
(b) Differential diagnosis;
(c) Treatment planning and evaluation;
(d) Measurement of psychosocial functioning;
(e) Crisis intervention, outreach, short- and long-term treatment;
(f) Therapeutic, individual, marital, and family interventions;
(g) Client education;
(h) Case management;
(i) Mediation;
(j) Advocacy;
(k) Discharge, referral, and continuity of care planning and implementation;
(l) Consultation;
(m) Supervision;
(n) Research;
(o) Management and administration;
(p) Program evaluation and education;
(q) Social group work;
(r) Community organization and development;
(s) Social policy analysis and development;
(t) Psychotherapy;
(u) Consultation, supervision, and teaching in higher education; and
(v) Counseling.
(3) Social work practice may take place in a public or private agency or institutional, educational, or independent setting.
(4) Social work practice is directly based upon an advanced educational program that teaches the practitioner to analyze, intervene, and evaluate in ways that are highly differentiated, discriminating, and self-critical. A practitioner must be able to synthesize and apply a broad range of knowledge as well as practice with a high degree of autonomy and skill. A practitioner must be able to refine and advance the quality of his or her practice as well as that of the larger social work profession. These advanced competencies must be appropriately integrated and reflected in all aspects of a social work practice, including the ability to:
(a) Apply critical thinking skills within professional contexts, including synthesizing and applying appropriate theories and knowledge to practice interventions;
(b) Practice within the values and ethics of the social work profession and with an understanding of, and respect for, the positive value of diversity;
(c) Demonstrate the professional use of self;
(d) Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and the strategies and skills of change that advance social and economic justice;
(e) Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its current structure and issues;
(f) Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective to practice with systems of all sizes;
(g) Apply the knowledge and skills of advanced social work practice in an area of concentration;
(h) Critically analyze and apply knowledge of biopsychosocial variables that affect an individual's development and behavior and use theoretical frameworks to understand the interactions among and between individuals and social systems;
(i) Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers, and agencies and demonstrate skills for influencing policy formulation and change;
(j) Evaluate relevant research studies and apply findings to practice, and demonstrate skills in quantitative research design, data analysis, and knowledge dissemination;
(k) Conduct empirical evaluations of their own practice interventions and those of other relevant systems; and
(l) Use communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community.
(5) Social work practice includes the clinical supervision by a licensed clinical social worker of a person working toward certification as a certified addiction technician or a certified addiction specialist pursuant to section 12-245-804 (3.5), if the licensed clinical social worker has met the education requirements for a licensed addiction counselor, or the equivalent, as specified in rules promulgated by the state board of human services pursuant to section 27-80-108 (1)(e.5) or 27-50-107 (3)(e)(II), as applicable.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1268, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2024: (5) added, (HB 24-1045), ch. 470, p. 3278, � 3, effective August 7.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 12-43-403 as it existed prior to 2019.
12-245-404. Qualifications - examination - licensure and registration - rules. (1) The board shall license as a licensed social worker a person who files an application in a form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-245-205, and submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(a) Is at least twenty-one years of age;
(b) Has completed a master's degree from a graduate school of social work; and
(c) Demonstrates legal and ethical competence by satisfactorily passing a jurisprudence examination administered by the division.
(2) The board shall license as a licensed clinical social worker a person who files an application, in a form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-245-205, and submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(a) Is at least twenty-one years of age;
(b) Has completed a master's or doctoral degree from a graduate school of social work;
(c) Has practiced social work for at least two years under the virtual or in-person supervision of a licensed clinical social worker or other person with equivalent experience as determined by the board, which practice includes training and work experience in the area of clinical social work practice; and
(d) Demonstrates professional competence by satisfactorily passing an examination in social work as prescribed by the board and a jurisprudence examination administered by the division.
(3) (a) The board or its designated representative shall give the examination described in subsection (2)(d) of this section at least twice per year at a time and place and under the supervision determined by the board.
(b) The board or its designated representatives shall administer and determine the pass or fail status of the examination and take any actions necessary to ensure impartiality. The board shall determine the passing score for the examination based upon a level of minimum competency to engage in social work practice.
(4) (a) The board shall register as a clinical social worker candidate a person who files an application for registration, accompanied by the fee required by section 12-245-205, who is not in violation of any provision of this article 245 or any rules promulgated by the board, and who:
(I) Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the person has met the requirements of subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b) of this section; and
(II) Repealed.
(III) Has passed a jurisprudence examination administered by the division.
(b) A clinical social worker candidate registered pursuant to this subsection (4) is under the jurisdiction of the board. If the requirements of subsections (2)(c) and (2)(d) of this section are not met within three years after the date of registration as a candidate, the registration of the clinical social worker candidate expires. A person whose clinical social worker candidate registration expires is subject to the renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202. Prior to a second or subsequent renewal of a clinical social worker candidate registration, the registered clinical social worker candidate shall complete continuing professional development and educational hours to maintain the candidate's registration as a registered clinical social worker candidate.
(c) On or before December 31, 2024, the board shall begin the rule-making process to promulgate rules that bring the rules pertaining to social workers into alignment with this part 4, including:
(I) A requirement to take and pass the Colorado jurisprudence examination to obtain a clinical social worker candidate registration;
(II) The renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202; and
(III) The continuing professional development and educational hours specified in subsection (4)(b) of this section.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1270, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (2)(c) and (4) amended, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, pp. 1532, 1548, �� 18, 56, effective July 14. L. 2024: (1)(c), (3)(a), and (4)(b) amended, (4)(a)(II) repealed, and (4)(a)(III) and (4)(c) added, (SB 24-115), ch. 217, p. 1347, � 4, effective August 7; (4)(b) amended, (HB 24-1450), ch. 490, p. 3431, � 100, effective August 7.
Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former � 12-43-404 as it existed prior to 2019.
(2) Subsection (4) was amended in section 56 of HB 20-1206. Those amendments were superseded by the amendment of subsection (4) in section 18 of HB 20-1206.
12-245-405. Rights and privileges of licensure and a social work degree - titles. (1) Any person who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license as a social worker that was issued pursuant to section 12-245-404 has the right to practice social work under supervision and use the title licensed social worker or social worker and the abbreviation LSW. No other person shall assume these titles or use these abbreviations on any work or letter, sign, figure, or device to indicate that the person using the same is a licensed social worker or a social worker.
(2) Any person who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license as a clinical social worker that was granted pursuant to section 12-245-404 is entitled to engage in the private, independent practice of clinical social work and has the right to practice and supervise clinical social work practice and use the title licensed clinical social worker, clinical social worker, social worker, or licensed social worker and the abbreviation LCSW. No other person shall assume these titles or use these abbreviations on any work or letter, sign, figure, or device to indicate that the person using the same is a licensed clinical social worker or social worker.
(3) Any person engaged in providing medically related social services in skilled nursing or nursing care facilities shall not be subject to the requirements of this article 245 so long as that person meets the qualifications of, and provides services in accordance with, the federal regulations governing the medicare and medicaid program participation of these facilities and the Colorado department of public health and environment's rules for the licensing of these facilities.
(4) Any person duly licensed as a licensed clinical social worker or any person under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker shall not be required to obtain any other license or certification to practice social work unless otherwise required by the board.
(5) Any person who has completed an earned master's or bachelor's degree in social work from a social work education program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, or a doctoral degree in social work from a doctoral program within a social work education program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, has the right to practice social work and to use the title social worker. Only a person licensed as a clinical social worker or practicing under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker may assert that he or she is practicing clinical social work or use the title of clinical social worker.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1271, � 1, effective October 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 12-43-405 as it existed prior to 2019.