1. (a) A child placing agency shall establish minimum qualifications for each classification of employee. The standards in subsections (b) through (e) must be used as a guide by each child placing agency in establishing minimum qualifications for the classifications of an executive, a casework supervisor, a caseworker, and a worker in training, and by the department in the licensing of each child placing agency.

2. (b) An executive must have the following:

   1. (1) A bachelor's degree.

   2. (2) At least one (1) of the following:

      1. (A) Five (5) years of paid experience in a field related to social work, at least two (2) years of which were:

         1. (i) in social work; or
         2. (ii) in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a field related to social work, including working for the department.

      2. (B) A master's degree in social work, counseling, or a related human services area and at least two (2) years of paid experience:

         1. (i) in social work; or
         2. (ii) in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a field related to social work, including working for the department.

3. (c) A casework supervisor must have the following:

   1. (1) A bachelor's degree.

   2. (2) At least one (1) of the following:

      1. (A) Three (3) years of supervised paid casework experience, at least one (1) year of which was with a child welfare agency (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-50 ).

      2. (B) At least eight (8) credit hours of master's degree level courses in:

         1. (i) social work;
         2. (ii) counseling; or

         3. (iii) a human services area of study or related field;

            and at least one (1) year of supervised paid casework with a child welfare agency (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-50 ).

4. (d) A caseworker must have the following:

   1. (1) A bachelor's degree.

   2. (2) At least one (1) of the following:

      1. (A) Three (3) years of supervised paid casework experience.
      2. (B) One (1) year of supervised paid casework experience in a licensed child placing agency or with the department.
      3. (C) One (1) year of graduate training in a recognized school of social work.
5. (e) A worker in training must have a bachelor's degree.

6. (f) A child placing agency must only employ a staff member who is:

   1. (1) duly qualified;
   2. (2) of good moral character; and
   3. (3) in satisfactory health.
7. (g) An employee who is in a position on January 1, 2012, and who qualified for that position on December 31, 2011, is exempt from the requirements of this section.

As added by P.L.109-2024, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.81-2025, SEC.7; P.L.145-2026, SEC.188.