Virginia Requirements for the LCSW and LMSW; "Mysteries Solved"

  Hopefully, if you graduated from a CSWE-approved MSW program with a clinical track then the concept of boundaries is very familiar to you.   When I was chair of the discipline committee of the Virginia Board of Social Work (VBSW)  the vast majority of the complaints about LCSWs were about some type of boundary violation.   Usually, a sexual boundary violation or what might be called gross mismanagement of your countertransference feelings.   Over my 45 years of Clinical Social Work practice, I have presented continuing education workshops on Social Work Ethics many times.   I ask the participants this question: “Which of you think that it is OK to have sex with your clients?”   I think you can guess how many folks raise their hands.   Zero.   So, how is it that when MSWs graduate and begin clinical social work practice  100% of them know they should not have sexual activity with their clients BUT then sexual boundary violations become ...

  MSWs seeking information about the requirements for social work licensure in Virginia are often told "Just send an email to the Virginia Board of Social Work (VBSW) or to call the Board.   You can do that if you want to.  However this is one of the "mysteries" about the process.  Remember my post about "The Context of Licensure."  The context is a legal process.  A key legal element is called "Due Process."  In this context  it means everyone must be treated the same.  Everyone is equal. The Board can't give one person or group of persons information that gives them an advantage over another person or group of persons. The process must be "fair."   So, when you call or email the Board everyone must get the same information.  The "Gold Standard" is the Social Work law  Chapter 37 of Title 54-1 of the Code of Virginia , Social Work   and the  Regulations Governing  The Practice Of Social Work  18 V...

    Approved Supervisor for LCSW The Virginia Board of Social Work (VBSW) has established requirements in the regulations for LCSWs to become an  approved supervisor (See below). B. Requirements for supervisors. 1. The supervisor shall hold an active, unrestricted license as a licensed clinical social worker in the jurisdiction in which the clinical services are being rendered with at least two years of post-licensure clinical social work experience. The board may consider supervisors with commensurate qualifications if the applicant can demonstrate an undue burden due to geography or disability or if supervision was obtained in another United States jurisdiction. 2. The supervisor shall have received professional training in supervision, consisting of a three credit-hour graduate course in supervision or at least 14 hours of continuing education offered by a provider approved under  18VAC140-20-105 . The graduate course or hours of continuing education in supervisio...