Wyo. Code R. 078-0001-9
Effective Date: 12/17/2021 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 078.0001.9.12172021
Section 1. The Practice of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The practice of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker is the application of social work theory, knowledge, methods, ethics, and the professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The practice of Clinical Social Work requires application of specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills in the areas of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions, and addictions. Treatment methods include the provision of individual, marital, couple, family, and group counseling and psychotherapy within the range of the professional's preparation. The practice of Clinical Social Work may include private practice and the provision of clinical supervision.
(a) The practice of social work may be either face-to-face that involves the synchronous interaction between an individual or groups of individuals using what is seen and heard in person to communicate, or
(b) Via methods of electronic delivery that involves the use of electronic or other means (e.g. telephone, computers, etc.) to provide the service.
(i) When using electronic delivery means, all use must be in compliance with all professional ethical standards and all other requirements in these rules;
(ii) Special care should be taken to ensure the confidentiality and security of the provision of services; and
(iii) The Licensed Clinical Social Worker shall provide only those services that are legal within the state that the recipient of services lives.
Section 2. General Requirements for Licensure. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the Board receives all documentation necessary to prove to the Board's satisfaction that the applicant meets all the requirements for licensure herein. The applicant shall provide satisfactory evidence to the Board that they:
(a) are of majority age;
(b) have no felony convictions, and no misdemeanor convictions that relate adversely to the practice of clinical social work or to the ability to practice clinical social work, although exceptions to this requirement may be granted by the Board if consistent with the public interest;
(c) are legal inhabitants of the United States; and
(d) satisfy the requirements established in these rules.
Section 3. Education Requirement for Licensure. All educational requirements
for licensure shall be met through the completion of a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited master’s degree program in social work.
(a) A minimum of three thousand (3,000) hours of supervised clinical training/work experience in clinical social work under the direct supervision of a DQCS is required for all applicants. This experience shall meet the requirements set forth in these rules. The hours must be completed over a period of not less than eighteen (18) months or more than thirty-six (36) months unless granted an extension by the Board.
(i) All three thousand (3,000) hours of supervised clinical training/work experience required shall be completed after the award of the graduate degree.
(ii) Of the three thousand (3,000) hours required, at least one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours shall be direct client contact hours providing clinical social work as defined in Wyoming Statute 33-38-102 (a) (v).
(iii) The balance of the remaining indirect hours shall consist of work experience that supports the direct client contact hours, e.g. charting, preparation, meetings, trainings, or the other duties of clinical social work.
(b) An applicant shall have a minimum of one hundred (100) post graduate hours of clinical supervision with a DQCS as described in Chapter 18.
(a) The Board shall accept a passing score as established by the examination provider of the following examination:
(i) The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination at the Clinical Level; or
(ii) Other examination as may be approved by the Board.
(b) The examination shall have been passed within the immediate five (5) years prior to submission of the application. This requirement does not apply to:
(i) those applying under Section 6 of these Rules; or
(ii) those applying for licensure by completing provisional.
Section 6. License by Reciprocity. An individual who holds a master’s degree or higher in social work, has passed the examination as required in Section 5 of this Chapter and holds a license that is free from discipline and in good standing to engage in the practice of social work under the laws of another state may, upon approval of the Board, be issued a license as a
Clinical Social Worker in this state. If the individual has held a license to practice social work in more than one state, the individual shall be required to provide verification that all licenses held within the last five (5) years have not had any discipline against the license.
(a) The terms “Licensed Clinical Social Worker” or “Clinical Social Worker” shall be used only after the applicant is granted licensure by the Board.
(b) The Licensed Clinical Social Worker shall comply with the National Association of Social Workers “Code of Ethics” incorporated into these rules in Chapter 15.