(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), no person may engage in the practice of social work, holding himself or herself forth as a "social worker," a "licensed bachelor social worker," a "licensed master social worker," or a "licensed independent clinical social worker," unless that person is so licensed under this chapter or excluded according to its provisions.
(b) The board shall reissue the appropriate redesignated license to any person licensed on August 1, 2016, as a graduate social worker or a certified social worker. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any license issued to a graduate social worker or a certified social worker prior to that date shall continue to be valid for the duration of the license or until the appropriate redesignated license is issued by the board. Any person licensed by the board as a graduate social worker or a certified social worker on that date may continue to use the prior designated licensure titles for a period of two years or as otherwise provided by the board. It is the intent of Act 2016-313 to only change the licensure titles unless expressly otherwise provided herein and to provide for an orderly transition in the use of the prior licensure titles by any person licensed on that date.