N.M. Stat. Ann. § 61-31-4 – License required. (Repealed effective July 1, 2032.)

A. Effective January 1, 1990, unless licensed to practice social work under the Social Work Practice Act, no person shall:
1. (1) practice as an independent social worker, clinical social worker, master of social work or bachelor of social work as defined in the Social Work Practice Act; or
2. (2) use the title or make any representation as being a licensed social worker of any type or level or use any other title, abbreviation, letters, figures, signs or devices that indicate the person is licensed as a social worker.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, an individual who is employed in an executive agency on or after July 1, 1989 under the title of social worker or other title that is deemed to be social work practice by the board and who has a bachelor's degree or higher in a field other than social work shall not be required to be licensed until July 1, 1992; provided an employee of an executive agency who qualifies for licensure under the provisions of the Social Work Practice Act shall apply for licensure as provided in that act.

History: Laws 1989, ch. 51, § 4; 1991, ch. 222, § 1; 2019, ch. 143, § 2.

ANNOTATIONS

Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal of this section, see 61-31-25 NMSA 1978.

Cross references. — For the Parental Responsibility Act, see Chapter 40, Article 5A NMSA 1978.

The 2019 amendment, effective June 14, 2019, required licensure to practice as a clinical social worker, master of social work and a bachelor of social work; in Subsection A, Paragraph A(1), after "independent social worker", added "clinical social worker, master of social work or bachelor of social work", in Paragraph A(2), after "title or", deleted "represent himself as" and added "make any representation as being", and after "licensed social worker", added "of any type or level"; and in Subsection B, after "on or after", deleted "the effective date of the Social Work Practice Act" and added "July 1, 1989".

The 1991 amendment, effective June 14, 1991, substituted "July 1, 1992" for "July 1, 1991" in Subsection B.

"Effective date of the Social Work Practice Act". — The phrase "effective date of the Social Work Practice Act", referred to in Subsection B, means July 1, 1989, the effective date of Laws 1989, ch. 51.