Social Work Licensure Compact

As of today, the Social Work Licensure Compact has now passed in 12 states. Georgia enacted SB 195 on Thursday, May 2nd, and Iowa enacted HF 2512 on Friday May 3rd, 2024.

Georgia Governor Kemp states, “I could not be prouder of the growth we are witnessing across the state and the amount of opportunity that is being created with it. But every new job created requires a hardworking Georgian to fill it, and thanks to our partners in the General Assembly, we are once again able to take forward-thinking action that keeps our state positioned as a model for the nation in developing our workforce for the jobs of today and the economy of tomorrow.”

The compact was sponsored by Senator Larry Walker in Georgia and the House Committee on Health and Human Services in Iowa.

While multistate licenses are not yet available, the Social Work Compact is also pending in 15 other states, and the first inaugural meeting of the Commission is expected to happen in early fall of 2024. The implementation process for the compact will take approximately 18-24 months before social workers can begin applying for multistate licenses.

On April 12^th, 2024, the Social Work Licensure compact officially became enacted in seven states: Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Kentucky, Virginia, and Kansas. This marks a significant milestone in the development process as the compact specifies that the compact will come into effect upon enactment of the seventh member state. The social work compact allows eligible social workers to practice in all states that join the compact.

While the social work compact legislation specifies that the compact needs seven member states to become active, social workers cannot yet practice in other member states. The implementation process for the compact will take approximately 18-24 months before social workers can begin applying for multistate licenses. A timeline of this process can be found below:

State Commissioner Nominations – Summer 2024

Each new member state must appoint a commissioner to serve on the compact commission. The commissioner is selected by the state’s social work board and can be the current administrator of the social work board or their designee, a board member who is a social worker, or a public member of the board. Once all commissioners have been elected, the Social Work Compact Commission will convene for its first inaugural meeting.

Inaugural Commission Meeting – Fall 2024

At the inaugural meeting, the Commission will elect an executive committee, appoint officers, establish a subcommittee structure and approve the initial bylaws and rulemaking processes that will govern the compact. All compact commission meetings will be open to the public. CSG expects this inaugural meeting to happen early in the fall of 2024.

Establishing the Compact Data System- Ongoing Throughout 2025

After the inaugural meeting, the compact commission will continue to work on operationalizing the compact, including acquiring a data system. The data system is a foundational piece of compact operations where member states communicate licensure information with each other and with the compact commission. CSG expects development of the data system to take approximately 10-12 months.

Once the data system is fully developed, states will be onboarded to the new system. It is expected that states will have varying timelines to onboard and will be largely dependent on the state’s current licensure infrastructure.

Additional Compact Commission Meetings – Ongoing throughout 2025

The compact commission will hold subsequent commission meetings throughout 2025 for additional rulemaking to establish a fee structure, application process, further define compact participation requirements. The commission will also hire staff, select a secretariat organization, and take additional steps for the compact to move towards being fully operational.

Multistate License Applications Open – Target Date of Fall 2025

Once the data system is operational in states and the commission has finalized all necessary rulemaking, applications will be made available for social workers to apply for a multistate license. Once eligibility is confirmed by the home state, all fees are paid, and a social worker is granted a multistate license, they will be able to practice in all other member states of the compact without any further steps necessary.

On April 12^th, 2024, Governor Laura Kelly signed HB 2484 making Kansas the seventh state to enact the social work Compact. The compact has also been enacted in Missouri, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Kentucky, Virginia, and Kansas. This marks a significant milestone in the development process because the compact specifies that the compact will come into effect upon enactment of the seventh member state.

There are an additional 20 states with active compact legislation. For a full list of states look under the compact map tab. The growth of the compact and rapid rate of state adoption is a testament to the urgent need for licensure mobility in social work.

While the social work compact legislation specifies that the compact needs seven member states to become active, social workers cannot yet practice in other member states. The implementation process for the compact will take approximately 18-24 months before social workers can begin applying for multistate licenses.

The social work compact seeks to benefit social workers by enhancing their mobility and employment opportunities, improving continuity of care, and allowing for expanded use of telehealth technologies.

On March 19th, Governor Jay Inslee signed HB 1939 , which contained the Social Work Licensure Compact. This makes Washington the fourth state to enact the Social Work Compact. The primary sponsor for this bill was Representative Tina Orwall with 16 cosponsors.

At the bill signing, Gov. Jay Inslee explained that this bill would streamline the licensing process for social workers. He states, “Social Workers are critical to our health and behavioral healthcare system. Ensuring a robust network of licensed social workers is a key priority for Washington.”

The compact legislation is pending in 23 other states, and only needs to be enacted in 3 more before it becomes active. Virginia has passed the legislation and is awaiting the governor’s signature. 

On March 14th, 2024, Governor Spencer Cox signed HB 44 making Utah the third state to enact the Social Work Licensure Compact. The bill was sponsored by Representative Sandra Hollins and Senator Todd Weiler.

Rep Hollins says Utah’s adoption of the Social Work Compact is “a significant step in addressing the critical shortage of mental health providers across our state and nation. As waiting lists for mental health services continue to grow, this legislation creates opportunities for more licensed clinical social workers to enter Utah and assist in other states where their expertise is needed, providing crucial support to our communities. I am proud of Utah’s commitment to the compact and look forward to other states with similar legislation to join, ensuring improved access to mental health services across the country.”

Currently, the model compact legislation is available for other states to introduce and enact like Utah. Missouri and South Dakota have also enacted the compact. The compact legislation is pending in 24 other states. Both Washington and Virginia have passed bills containing the Social Work Compact and are awaiting the governors’ signature.

The compact requires seven state enactments before the Commission can be established and begin the work of activating the compact for licensees.

On February 5th, 2024, Governor Kristi Noem signed HB 1015 making South Dakota the second state to enact the Social Work Licensure Compact. Noem says these compacts cut government red tape and make it easier for more folks to “get to work right here in South Dakota.”

This brings the compact one step closer to becoming active and available for social workers to apply for multistate licenses. HB 1015 was sponsored by Representative Mulder and Senator Tobin.

The Social Work Licensure Compact seeks to increase public access to social work services, provide licensees with opportunities for multistate practice, support relocating military families, and allow for expanded use of telehealth. Currently, the model compact legislation is available for other states to introduce and enact like South Dakota. Thus far there have been 24 other states that have introduced the compact.

The compact will become active once enacted by seven states.

Interested in having your state enact the Social Work Licensure Compact? To learn more, including how to get your state involved, attend the virtual Social Work Licensure Compact Legislative Summit hosted by The Council of State Governments and the Association of Social Work Boards. It will be held on October 31st at 1pm to 3pm E.T.

Register here.

On July 7th, 2023 Governor Mike Parson signed Senate Bill 70 and Senate Bill 157 making Missouri the first state to enact the Social Work Licensure Compact. This is a milestone development in supporting the mobility of licensed social workers.

SB 70 was sponsored by Senator Travis Fitzpatrick and Senator Lauren Arthur, and SB 157 was sponsored by Senator Rusty Black.

The Social Work Licensure Compact seeks to increase public access to social work services, provide licensees with opportunities for multistate practice, support relocating military families, and allow for expanded use of telehealth technologies. Currently, the model compact legislation is available for other states to introduce and enact like Missouri. Thus far there have been nine other states that have introduced: Utah, Kentucky, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Ohio.

The compact will become active once enacted by seven states.

The Social Work Licensure Compact project team approved the final draft of the Social Work Licensure Compact legislation in January 2023.

This legislation will be distributed to the states for enactment during the 2023 legislative sessions. The Compact will go into effect once enacted into law by seven states.

The project team was composed of professionals, state regulators, and representatives of professional organizations, as well as staff from the National Center for Interstate Compacts at the Council of State Governments, which is facilitating the project.

The model legislation for the Compact may be downloaded here.