Subdivision 1. Supervision required before licensure. Before becoming licensed as a licensed independent social worker, a person must have obtained at least 100 hours of supervision during 4,000 hours of postgraduate social work practice required by law according to the requirements of section 148E.105. At least four hours of supervision must be obtained during every 160 hours of practice.

Subd. 1a. Supervised practice obtained prior to August 1, 2011. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, the board shall approve supervised practice hours completed prior to August 1, 2011, which comply with Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 148D.100 to 148D.125. These hours must apply to supervised practice requirements in effect as specified in this section.

(b) Any additional hours of supervised practice obtained on or after August 1, 2011, must comply with the increased requirements in this section.

Subd. 2. Licensed independent social workers; clinical social work after licensure. After licensure, a licensed independent social worker must not engage in clinical social work practice except under supervision by a licensed independent clinical social worker who meets the requirements in section 148E.120, subdivision 1, or an alternate supervisor designated according to section 148E.120, subdivision 2.

Subd. 3. Limit on practice of clinical social work. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a licensed independent social worker must not engage in clinical social work practice under supervision for more than 8,000 hours. In order to practice clinical social work for more than 8,000 hours, a licensed independent social worker must obtain a licensed independent clinical social worker license.

(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a), the board may grant a licensed independent social worker permission to engage in clinical social work practice for more than 8,000 hours if the licensed independent social worker petitions the board and demonstrates to the board's satisfaction that for reasons of personal hardship the licensed independent social worker should be granted an extension to continue practicing clinical social work under supervision for up to an additional 2,000 hours.

Subd. 4. Licensed independent social workers who do not practice clinical social work after licensure. After licensure, a licensed independent social worker is not required to be supervised if the licensed independent social worker does not practice clinical social work.

Subd. 5. Supervision; licensed independent social worker engaged in clinical social work practice. (a) After receiving a license from the board as a licensed independent social worker, a licensed independent social worker engaged in clinical social work practice must obtain at least 200 hours of supervision according to the requirements of this section.

(b) A minimum of four hours and a maximum of eight hours of supervision must be obtained during every 160 hours of practice until the licensed independent social worker is issued a licensed independent clinical social worker license.

(c) A minimum of 200 hours of supervision must be completed, in addition to all other requirements according to sections 148E.115 to 148E.125, to be eligible to apply for the licensed independent clinical social worker license.

(d) The supervisee and supervisor are required to adjust the rate of supervision obtained based on the ratio of four hours of supervision during every 160 hours of practice to ensure compliance with the requirements in subdivision 1a.

Subd. 6. Practice requirements after licensure as licensed independent social worker; clinical social work practice. (a) The supervision required by subdivision 5 must be obtained:

(1) in no less than 4,000 hours and no more than 8,000 hours of postgraduate clinical social work practice authorized by law, including at least 1,800 hours of direct clinical client contact; and

(2) a minimum of four hours and a maximum of eight hours of supervision must be obtained during every 160 hours of practice.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), clause (1), direct clinical client contact hours are (i) not required prior to August 1, 2011, and (ii) not required of a licensed independent social worker engaged in clinical practice with a licensed independent social worker license issue date prior to August 1, 2011.

Subd. 7. Supervision; clinical social work practice after licensure as licensed independent social worker. Of the 200 hours of supervision required under subdivision 5:

(1) 100 hours must be provided through one-on-one supervision, including:

(i) a minimum of 50 hours of in-person supervision; and

(ii) no more than 50 hours of supervision via eye-to-eye electronic media, while maintaining visual contact; and

(2) 100 hours must be provided through:

(i) one-on-one supervision; or

(ii) group supervision.

The supervision may be in person, by telephone, or via eye-to-eye electronic media, while maintaining visual contact. The supervision must not be provided by e-mail. Group supervision is limited to six supervisees.

Subd. 8. Supervision; clinical social work practice after licensure. The supervision required by subdivision 5 must be provided by a supervisor who meets the requirements specified in section 148E.120. The supervision must be provided by a:

(1) licensed independent clinical social worker; or

(2) supervisor who meets the requirements specified in section 148E.120, subdivision 2.

Subd. 9. Supervisee requirements; clinical social work practice after licensure. The supervisee must:

(1) to the satisfaction of the supervisor, practice competently and ethically according to professional social work knowledge, skills, and values;

(2) receive supervision in the following content areas:

(i) development of professional values and responsibilities;

(ii) practice skills;

(iii) authorized scope of practice;

(iv) ensuring continuing competence; and

(v) ethical standards of practice;

(3) submit a supervision plan according to section 148E.125, subdivision 1; and

(4) verify supervised practice according to section 148E.125, subdivision 3, when:

(i) a licensed independent social worker applies for the renewal of a license; or

(ii) a licensed independent social worker applies for a licensed independent clinical social worker license.

Subd. 10. Limit on practice of clinical social work. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a licensed independent social worker must not engage in clinical social work practice under supervision for more than 8,000 hours. In order to practice clinical social work for more than 8,000 hours, a licensed independent social worker must obtain a licensed independent clinical social worker license.

(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a), the board may grant a licensed independent social worker permission to engage in clinical social work practice for more than 8,000 hours if the licensed independent social worker petitions the board and demonstrates to the board's satisfaction that for reasons of personal hardship the licensed independent social worker should be granted an extension to continue practicing clinical social work under supervision for up to an additional 2,000 hours.

Subd. 11. Eligibility for licensure; licensed independent clinical social worker. Upon completion of not less than 4,000 hours and not more than 8,000 hours of clinical social work practice, including at least 1,800 hours of direct clinical client contact and 200 hours of supervision according to the requirements of this section, a licensed independent social worker is eligible to apply for a licensed independent clinical social worker license under section 148E.115, subdivision 1.

Subd. 12. Verification of supervised practice. A social worker and the social worker's supervisor must submit verification that the supervisee has met or has made progress on meeting the applicable supervision requirements according to section 148E.125, subdivision 3.

History: 2007 c 123 s 85,138; 2009 c 157 art 3 s 28-38,49; 2012 c 187 art 3 s 8