<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gho" article_name="Health Occupations" number="19-309.2" title_number="19" title_name="Social Workers" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Licensing">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Beginning November 1, 2026, the Board shall issue a provisional license to an applicant who, except for passing the examination otherwise required under this subtitle, has met the appropriate education and experience requirements of this subtitle for a license issued under § 19–302 of this subtitle to practice:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Bachelor social work; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Master social work.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A provisional license:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Authorizes the holder to practice social work in the State only within the scope of the specific category of license issued by the Board;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Requires the holder to practice under the supervision of a Board–approved supervisor in accordance with regulations adopted under this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>May be issued only to an initial applicant for licensure who has not previously been licensed under this title; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Does not qualify the holder for a multistate license under the Social Work Licensure Compact established under § 19–3A–01 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A provisional license:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Expires on a date set by the Board that is at least 12 months, but not more than 24 months, after the date of issuance;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>May not be renewed; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Shall terminate automatically on:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The expiration date; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the holder applies and qualifies for a license under subsection (e) of this section, the date that the full license is issued.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A holder of a provisional license and the supervising social worker are jointly responsible for ensuring compliance with the supervision and expiration requirements of subsections (b)(2) and (c) of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Board shall issue a full license under § 19–302 of this subtitle to a holder of a provisional license who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Board that the holder has achieved a satisfactory score on an examination, as required under § 19–302 of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Supervised hours completed under a provisional license:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>May be counted toward the supervised experience required for independent practice approval under § 19–302(f) of this subtitle; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>May be counted toward the supervised experience required to qualify for a certified social worker–clinical license under § 19–302(e) of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Board shall adopt regulations to carry out this section, including regulations that establish:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Minimum supervision requirements and reporting procedures;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Standards for evaluating supervised practice as described in subsection (e)(2) of this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Requirements to ensure that the tracking of provisional licenses aligns with existing licensure cycles; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A reasonable fee for the issuance of a provisional license sufficient to cover administrative costs.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>On or before December 31 each year, beginning in 2027, the Board shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the following information for the immediately preceding 12–month period:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The number of provisional licenses issued;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The number of holders of provisional licenses who obtained full licensure under subsection (e) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any recommendations for improving:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The implementation of this section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The impact of this section on the health care workforce.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
