Clinical social workers: examination requirements.

Existing law, the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of social workers by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Existing law requires the board to issue a license to each applicant meeting specified requirements who successfully passes a board administered standard written or oral examination or both examinations and existing law also provides for a clinical vignette written examination for these applicants. Under existing law, the fee for the standard written examination is $150 and the fee for the clinical vignette written examination is $100. This bill would, on and after January 1, 2014, if the board makes a specified determination, instead require the board to issue a license to each applicant meeting specified requirements who successfully passes the Association of Social Work Boards Clinical Level Exam administered by the Association of Social Work Boards and a separate California jurisprudence and ethics examination incorporated or developed and administered by the board. The bill would provide a maximum $100 fee for the jurisprudence and ethics examination. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 4996.3 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by AB 2191, to be operative if AB 2191 and this bill become effective on or before January 1, 2011, and this bill is enacted last. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 4996.17 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by SB 1489, to be operative if SB 1489 and this bill become effective on or before January 1, 2011, and this bill is enacted last.