History of the Clinical Social Work Scope of Practice
In 2002, New York State enacted a two-tier licensing law for professional social workers, a license for psychologists to replace their prior title protection statute and licenses for four new groups of mental health professionals.
The new social work law, which took effect on September 1, 2004, repealed the former certified social worker statute, which was a title protection statute (a law that protected the use of the title-certified social worker but did not limit who could practice social work) and not a license (a law which delineates the services which a professional can provide, what is referred to as the profession’s “scope of practice”).
The new social work law provided for two scopes of practice for professional social workers in New York—the licensed master social worker (a person with an MSW degree from an accredited MSW program who passes the licensing examination for newly graduated MSWs) and the licensed clinical social worker (an advanced practice clinical social work license for MSW graduates who meet additional requirements of graduate-level clinical coursework, post-graduate supervised experience in providing clinical social work services, and passing an advanced practice clinical social work licensing examination). The scope of practice of clinical social work in New York State is the broadest and most inclusive scope of practice in a clinical social work license in the United States.
NYSSCSW
The New York State Society for Clinical Social Work (NYSSCSW) traces its roots to 1968 when a group of social workers recognized the pressing need for professional support and advocacy for private practitioners, particularly in navigating insurance reimbursement issues.
Established in 1968 and incorporated in 1970, NYSSCSW has been a steadfast provider of educational, professional, and legislative services to its members.
NYSSCSW played a pivotal role in the enactment of New York State’s licensing system for clinical social workers, marking a significant milestone for the profession statewide.
Through the decades, NYSSCSW's commitment to supporting, advocating for, and advancing the profession of clinical social work has remained unwavering. Through legislative victories, educational initiatives, and community engagement, the society continues to uphold the highest standards of practice while empowering its members to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare landscape.