1. (1) The board shall administer and enforce the provisions of KRS 335.010 to 335.160

2. (2) and KRS 335.990.

   1. (a) The board shall evaluate applications and issue licenses to qualified applicants within forty-five (45) days of submission of the complete application and receipt of the national examination official passing score report and the licensure fee.
   2. (b) Within fifteen (15) days of accepting an applicant's payment and application, the board shall: 1. Notify the applicant that the application is complete and approve the applicant to sit for the national examination; or 2. Notify the applicant that the application is incomplete and, when all omitted application items are received, notify the applicant of receipt of the complete application and approve the applicant to sit for the national examination.
   3. (c) The board shall evaluate the complete application and, within forty-five (45) days, notify a qualified applicant of the issuance of the license pursuant to KRS 335.080, 335.090, or 335.100. If the board deems an applicant unqualified, the license may be denied and the temporary permit to practice social work may be revoked.
   4. (d)
3. (3) The board may issue subpoenas, examine witnesses, pay appropriate witness fees, administer oaths, and investigate allegations of practices violating the provision of KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990.
4. (4) The board may promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to carry out the provisions of KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990.
5. (5) The board may conduct hearings in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B and keep records and minutes necessary to carry out the functions of KRS 335.010 to 335.160 and KRS 335.990.
6. (6) The board may employ any other persons it deems necessary to carry on the work of the board, and shall define their duties and fix their compensation.

7. (7) The board may renew licenses and require continuing education as a condition for license renewals, and shall authorize organizations to provide continuing education programs, including but not limited to:

   1. (a) Schools of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education;
   2. (b) The National Association of Social Workers-Kentucky Chapter; and
   3. (c) The Kentucky Society for Clinical Social Workers.
8. (8) The board may, after a hearing conducted in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B, revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew; impose probationary or supervisory conditions upon; impose administrative fines; issue written reprimands and admonishments; or any combination of actions regarding licenses and licensees.
9. (9) The board may seek injunctive relief in Franklin Circuit Court to stop the unlawful practice of social work by unlicensed persons.
10. (10) The board shall establish, by promulgation of administrative regulations, the requirements for temporary permits to practice social work.
11. (11) The board may enter into agreements with any organization for the creation and implementation of a social work impairment program, as specified in the agreement.

Effective: July 15, 2026

History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 77, sec. 6, effective July 15, 2026. -- Amended 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 158, sec. 79, effective July 12, 2012. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 369, sec. 9, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 265, sec. 11, effective July 15, 1994; ch. 352, sec. 14, effective July 15, 1994; and ch. 470, sec. 11, effective July 15, 1994. – Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 330, sec. 1, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 305, sec. 1. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 279, sec. 7. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/12/2012). In subsection (1) of this statute, an erroneous citation to a provision of the Kentucky Revised Statutes has been corrected. Subsection (11) of 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 158, sec. 79, refers to "subsection (5) of Section 1 of this Act" rather than making the clearly intended reference to "subsection (5) of Section 77 of this Act." Under KRS 7.136(1), the Reviser of Statutes has corrected this manifest clerical or typographical error. The reference now reads "KRS 335.010(5)." Legislative Research Commission Note (7/15/94). This statute was amended by 1994 Ky. Acts chs. 265 and 470, which were companion bills and are substantively identical. These Acts have been codified together. For the few minor variations between the Acts, Acts ch. 470 prevails under KRS 446.250, as the Act which passed the General Assembly last. 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 352, sec. 14 is not in conflict with these two Acts and has been codified together with them.