The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the first-ever Licensure Portability Grant Program investment in a multi-state social worker licensure compact. ASWB is one of four organizations that will receive a grant to support the compact’s effort in working with state licensing boards to increase access to care.

Seven states have now enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, triggering the implementation of multi-state licensure for social workers.

Social Work Licensure Compact bills were introduced in 10 states in 2023. The bill was passed by both houses in one state, and bills are pending in several others.

Mobility and portability are here to stay, and the regulatory community must consider and embrace models used to address social work practice through technology and otherwise.

The Council of State Governments and partners have announced that language is finalized for the Social Work Licensure Compact. The compact must be enacted into state law by at least seven states. At that time, the Social Work Compact Commission will be created and additional infrastructure established, and then multistate licenses will begin to be issued.

ASWB and CSG are encouraged by the progress made in 2022 toward a final compact and expect to have a draft ready for states in the first quarter of 2023. This means that the compact legislation will not have an opportunity to be considered in some states during 2023 legislative sessions. 

Staff from the Council of State Governments gave ASWB members an up-close and detailed review of the draft compact legislation.

ASWB is excited to announce that the draft language for the social work compact is ready for review! The draft language has been under development for more than 18 months and involved representatives from ASWB, the Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and other stakeholders in the profession serving […]

After the compact kickoff meeting in May 2021, the Council of State Governments and the Association of Social Work Boards developed and convened the Technical Assistance Group. The group included state legislators, members and administrators of state social work boards, licensees, educators, attorneys, and other stakeholders. The group met regularly and reviewed state licensure policies, […]

Live session held May 20 drew hundreds of attendees.