#MacroSW: Professional Licensure and Macro Social Work Practice

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by Stephen P. Cummings, MSW, ACSW, LISW

#MacroSW Twitter chats are held every Thursday night at 9 p.m. Eastern. For more information, check out https://macrosw.com. The New Social Worker is a #MacroSW media partner.

     As a profession, social work appears to be approaching another crossroads. We did not begin with programs in the academy of higher education. The bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in social work are the result of decades of effort to weave the practical, vocational goals of social work with the mission of a liberal arts education.

    In this polarized political environment, I’m compelled to emphasize that the term liberal in this context doesn’t refer to a political point of view, but to an approach to learning of one’s self, and the world beyond one’s self, which then encourages growth and understanding of the self in multiple contexts. A typical liberal arts student is exposed to (and from this exposure, influenced by) the study of history, literature, the physical sciences, the social sciences, art, and the intersections among these subjects. Social work is a unique practice, as it embraces the liberal arts and sciences, then seeks to apply those studies to direct practice.

    Criticism of this approach exists, especially when looking at the history of general higher education. Those who seek to change this current design may be seeking to more openly accept and provide a forum for voices outside the traditional Western/colonial values that permeate the measurements of success in social work programs, based in the traditional college or university system. The goal of these changes includes a need to address gatekeeping, wherein students who desire to seek a role in the social work profession may be rejected outright at the entry doors of accredited social work graduate programs. To more openly and widely diversify social work as a profession, we must challenge how we assess who gets in and how we measure competencies. All of this is in service of obtaining a social work degree.

    Social work licensure remains something different. Licenses are also a form of gatekeeping, except that unlike the higher education model, the door swings the opposite way. Here, we are talking about practice, and the mechanism of licensure is intended to keep the public safe from incompetent practitioners. Also, while social work programs are governed by accreditation via a national body (the Council on Social Work Education), licensure is an evolution of lobbying at the state level, where political tensions threaten or support the continued existence of licensed social work practitioners during legislative sessions.

    Social work students seeking to provide therapy to individuals, families, and groups are all too aware that along with a graduate degree in social work, the license is the document that may be the more desired achievement. I make no assumptions with my students about the role licensure plays in their future plans. Passing the licensing exam isn’t just a hurdle; failure to pass means forfeiting job offers, derailing career plans, or just feeling as if one doesn’t deserve to identify fully as a social worker. That said, I don’t hear my students articulating a desire to abolish the exam. My clinically-focused students in particular equate the license to a medical student demonstrating a parallel set of competencies, or a law student passing the bar exam. In other words, worthy professions require some form of standardized exam.

    My macro-based students have more varied points of view. Some don’t see the need for licensure beyond their degree. The jurisdiction where I work may influence this perception; advanced macro-level licensure is not offered here. There’s an argument there: support for social work licensure exists in part because the requirements for licensure may inform and fortify curricula. In other words, if macro licensure exists, the programs would follow to prepare students to have the licensure.

    On March 14, 2019, #MacroSW hosted a Twitter chat on the topic of macro-level social work licensure. The following questions were posed to the participants. I have included a summary of responses for each question.

What is the purpose of professional social work licensure?

    Responses to this question highlighted the themes of ethical practice, accountability, and public protection. One participant stated that the purpose for licensure is to make sure social workers receive the necessary guidance and training during their education, so they can use their skills and maintain ethical practice throughout their careers. Emphasis on gatekeeping was noted, so that minimum requirements are met for competent practice, and to elevate the practice in the eyes of our stakeholders, and as a means for holding social workers accountable for their practice. I noted in the chat that, although professional social work does not require licensure, clinical social workers often are required to be licensed to practice. Specific to the theme of advanced generalist practice, macro-level licensure was seen as a possible way to further legitimize social work practice in the public eye. Professionalism is seen as a strength but requiring additional gatekeeping steps in becoming a practicing social worker can prevent too many from entering the profession. Participants felt that gatekeeping can also further strengthen colonist values in lieu of true cultural awareness and inclusion.

What is the process for obtaining licensure in your area or jurisdiction?

    Participants noted that completing the necessary education requirements, paying requisite fees, and sitting for the exam represent the key steps in obtaining a license. Different requirements are based on educational levels and jurisdictions. Advanced clinical licensure can require up to 4,000 hours of social work practice at a level that reflects advanced social work practice. One participant described the need for references in her jurisdiction, as well as having her fingerprint taken so she can be identified when she sits for the licensing exam. One participant described a criminal background requirement. During this portion of the chat, I noted that the U.S. Constitution does not allow for a federal licensure standard; rather, each state is given the power to set expectations for professional licensure. Some participants described how they were able to take advantage of reciprocity, whereas one jurisdiction recognized the social worker’s existing license in another. Ideally, this obviates the need to start the application process over again when the social worker moves to a new area.

How does the social work profession benefit from macro-level licensure? Does it?

    Chat participants who supported licensure for advanced generalist practice observed the value of continuing education requirements. Keeping up with current macro- and generalist trends (say, new approaches to policy advocacy) would be a positive feature of macro-level licensure. Macro-level licensure was seen as giving generalist social workers more “credit” for their work in this area. On the other hand, supporting or requiring macro-level licensure could be another way of creating a shift in power dynamics, requiring all social workers to pass through another gate to consider themselves true practicing social workers.

How is the public served by social workers licensed at the macro level?

    Chat participants already saw the work of macro- and generalist-level social workers doing good work in communities, affecting change at a larger level. For some chat participants, licensing this work doesn’t seem necessary, especially with the other regulation steps already in place (higher education accreditation, expectations for earning a degree, and existing labor laws). One participant noted licensure could encourage social workers to get promoted to more leadership roles, by virtue of holding the generalist license.

Do you have a macro-level license? Do you work with a social worker who has this license? What is your experience?

    One participant noted she holds a generalist license and that this has aided her in keeping in contact with everything that makes social work powerful and meaningful.

Stephen P. Cummings, MSW, ACSW, LISW, is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Iowa School of Social Work, where he is the administrator for distance education.