Ind. Code ch. 25-23.6-5

Ind. Code ch. 25-23.6-5
in effect

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-1 Social worker license requirements

Sec. 1. An individual who applies for a license as a social worker must meet the following requirements: (1) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual: (A) before July 1, 2019, has received at least a bachelor's degree in social work from: (i) an eligible postsecondary educational institution that is accredited or approved for candidacy by the Council on Social Work Education or approved by the board; or (ii) a foreign school that has a program of study that is approved by the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council on Social Work Education; and has completed two (2) years of experience in the practice of social work under the supervision of a licensed social worker, a licensed clinical social worker, or an equivalent supervisor, as determined by the board, after receiving the bachelor's degree; or (B) has a master's degree in social work from: (i) an eligible postsecondary educational institution approved by the board; or (ii) a foreign school that has a program of study that is approved by the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council on Social Work Education. (2) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual does not have a conviction for a crime that has a direct bearing on the individual's ability to practice competently. (3) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual has not been the subject of a disciplinary action by a licensing or certification agency of another state or jurisdiction on the grounds that the individual was not able to practice as a social worker without endangering the public. (4) Pass an examination provided by the board. (5) Pay the fee established by the board. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.1-1994, SEC.126; P.L.255-1996, SEC.21; P.L.147-1997, SEC.47; P.L.2-2007, SEC.333; P.L.192-2017, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-1.5 Bachelor's degree of social worker license requirements

Sec. 1.5. (a) An individual who applies for a license as a bachelor's degree social worker must meet the following requirements: (1) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual has received a bachelor's degree in social work from: (A) an eligible postsecondary educational institution that is accredited or approved for candidacy by the Council on Social Work Education or approved by the board; or (B) a foreign school that has a program of study that is approved by the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council on Social Work Education. (2) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual does not have a conviction for a crime that has a direct bearing on the individual's ability to practice competently. (3) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual has not been the subject of a disciplinary action by a licensing or certification agency of another state or jurisdiction on the grounds that the individual was not able to practice as a social worker without endangering the public. (4) Pass an examination provided by the board. (5) Pay the fee established by the board. (b) An individual who applies for a license as a bachelor's degree social worker under this article is exempt from the examination requirement under subsection (a)(4) if the individual does the following: (1) Furnishes satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual has received a bachelor's degree in social work from: (A) an eligible postsecondary educational institution that is accredited or approved for candidacy by the council on social work education or approved by the board; or (B) a foreign school that has a program of study that is approved by the foreign equivalency determination service of the council on social work education. (2) Furnishes satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual does not have a conviction for a crime that has a direct bearing on the individual's ability to practice competently. (3) Furnishes satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual has not been the subject of a disciplinary action by a licensing or certification agency of another state or jurisdiction on the grounds that the individual was not able to practice as a social worker without endangering the public. (4) Has at least two (2) years of experience in behavioral health and human services. (5) Files an initial application to the board before July 1, 2018. (6) Pays the fee established by the board. (c) An individual with a master's degree in social work is not eligible to apply for a license as a bachelor's degree social worker. (d) Employment and supervision hours earned under a bachelor's degree social worker license may not be counted toward the requirements for eligibility as a licensed clinical social worker. As added by P.L.192-2017, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-2 Clinical social worker license requirements

Sec. 2. An individual who applies for a license as a clinical social worker must meet the following requirements: (1) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual has received: (A) a doctoral degree in social work from an eligible postsecondary educational institution that at the time of graduation was accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education; or (B) at least a master's degree in social work from: (i) an eligible postsecondary educational institution accredited or approved for candidacy by the Council on Social Work Education; or (ii) a foreign school that has a program of study accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work or a program equivalent to a program approved by the Council on Social Work Education by the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council on Social Work Education. The graduate program under this subdivision must have emphasized direct clinical or client health services as provided under section 3.1 of this chapter. (2) Meet the clinical social work experience requirements under section 3.5 of this chapter. (3) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual does not have a conviction for a crime that has a direct bearing on the individual's ability to practice competently. (4) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual has not been the subject of a disciplinary action by a licensing or certification agency of another state or jurisdiction on the grounds that the individual was not able to practice as a social worker or clinical social worker without endangering the public. (5) Pass an examination provided by the board. (6) Pay a fee established by the board. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.33-1993, SEC.41; P.L.255-1996, SEC.22; P.L.147-1997, SEC.48; P.L.2-2007, SEC.334.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-3.1 Graduate school requirements

Sec. 3.1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a graduate program is considered to have emphasized direct clinical patient or clinic health care services if the graduate program meets the following requirements: (1) Required course work in clinical social work and related areas such as psychiatric social work, medical social work, social case work, case management, psychotherapy, group therapy, and any other course work accepted by the board. (2) Required supervised field placement that was part of the applicant's advanced concentration in direct practice, during which the applicant provided clinical services directly to clients. (b) An applicant who graduated from a graduate program that did not emphasize direct patient or client services may complete the clinical curriculum requirement by returning to a graduate program allowed under section 2(1)(B) of this chapter to complete the education requirements. (c) Course work that was taken at a baccalaureate level does not meet the requirements under this section unless an official of the graduate program certifies that the specific course, which a student enrolled in the same graduate program was ordinarily required to complete at the graduate level, was waived or exempted based on completion of a similar course at the baccalaureate level. As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.49. Amended by P.L.149-2022, SEC.3; P.L.23-2026, SEC.253.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-3.5 Clinical social work experience; requirements

Sec. 3.5. (a) For purposes of this section, "virtual supervision" means supervision of an applicant for a license as a clinical social worker by a qualified supervisor through an electronic platform that provides for synchronous visual and audio interaction in real time, and which is compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Virtual supervision does not include telephone calls, electronic mail, or text messages. (b) The applicant for a license as a clinical social worker must have at least two (2) years of clinical social work experience after receiving a graduate degree in social work and under the supervision of a qualified supervisor as determined by the board. (c) If an individual is obtaining the clinical social work experience described in subsection (b) in Indiana, the individual must be licensed as a social worker under section 1 of this chapter. (d) A doctoral internship may be applied toward the supervised clinical social work experience requirement. (e) Except as provided in subsection (f), the clinical social work experience requirement may be met by work performed at or away from the premises of the qualified supervisor. (f) Except as provided in subsection (h), the clinical social work requirement may not be performed away from the qualified supervisor's premises if: (1) the work is the independent private practice of clinical social work; and (2) the work is not performed at a place with the supervision of a qualified supervisor available. (g) Any supervised clinical social work experience hours that an applicant accumulates under this chapter after being licensed as a social worker under section 1 of this chapter do not expire and may be used by the applicant to satisfy the supervised clinical social work experience requirements under this chapter. (h) Up to one hundred percent (100%) of the supervised clinical social work experience hours required under subsection (b) may be accounted for through virtual supervision by a qualified supervisor described in subsection (b). (i) After obtaining a temporary permit under section 11.5 of this chapter, any supervised clinical social work experience hours that an applicant accumulates under this chapter before the temporary permit expires may be used by the applicant to satisfy the supervised clinical social work experience requirements under this chapter during the following time after the applicant obtained the temporary permit: (1) For not more than four (4) years. (2) After the four (4) year period, if approved by the board. As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.50. Amended by P.L.177-2009, SEC.45; P.L.192-2017, SEC.7; P.L.160-2018, SEC.1; P.L.195-2018, SEC.11; P.L.215-2018(ss), SEC.12; P.L.83-2024, SEC.15.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-4 Examination; minimum requirements; examination in last term

Sec. 4. (a) As used in this section, "term" refers to an academic semester, trimester, or quarter. (b) An individual who satisfies the requirements of section 1 or 2 of this chapter may take the examination provided by the board. (c) An individual who: (1) is enrolled in the last term of the last year of a program leading to a degree that meets the requirements of: (A) section 1(1) of this chapter; or (B) section 1.5(a)(1) of this chapter; and (2) provides a letter of good standing from the director of the social work department or the director's designee; may take the examination provided by the board for a license as a social worker. (d) A letter of good standing provided under subsection (c)(2) by an individual who applies for a license as a social worker must include the following information: (1) The individual's first and last name. (2) The type of degree and program in which the individual is enrolled. (3) A statement confirming that the individual is currently in the final term of the program. (4) The anticipated date of completion of the program. (5) A statement confirming that the individual is in good academic standing. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.11-2023, SEC.81; P.L.83-2024, SEC.16; P.L.130-2025, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-5 Examinations; times and places

Sec. 5. The board shall provide for examinations to be given at least once annually at times and places established by the board. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-6 Issuance of license

Sec. 6. The board shall issue a license to an individual who: (1) achieves a passing score, as determined by the board, on the examination provided under this chapter; and (2) is otherwise qualified under this article. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.147-1997, SEC.51.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-9 Duration of license; renewal

Sec. 9. (a) Subject to IC 25-1-2-6(e), a license issued by the board is valid for the remainder of the renewal period in effect on the date the license was issued. (b) An individual may renew a license by: (1) paying a renewal fee on or before the expiration date of the license; and (2) completing not less than twenty (20) hours of continuing education per licensure year. (c) If an individual fails to pay a renewal fee on or before the expiration date of a license, the license becomes invalid. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.147-1997, SEC.52; P.L.177-2015, SEC.53.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-10 Reinstatement of invalid license

Sec. 10. (a) The board may reinstate an invalid license up to three (3) years after the expiration date of the license if the individual holding the invalid license meets the requirements under IC 25-1-8-6. (b) If more than three (3) years have elapsed since the date a license expired, the individual holding the license may renew the license by satisfying the requirements for renewal established by the board and meeting the requirements under IC 25-1-8-6. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.147-1997, SEC.53; P.L.269-2001, SEC.21.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-10.5 Reciprocity

Sec. 10.5. The board shall issue a license to an individual to be a bachelor's degree social worker, social worker, or clinical social worker, not more than thirty (30) days after the application is filed and completed, if the individual: (1) has a valid license or certificate to practice from another state or jurisdiction; (2) has passed an examination substantially equivalent to the level for which licensure is being requested; (3) does not have a pending disciplinary proceeding in another state; and (4) pays a fee. As added by P.L.192-2017, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.149-2022, SEC.4.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-11 Temporary permit; requirements; expiration; renewal

Sec. 11. (a) The board may issue a temporary permit to an individual to profess to be a clinical social worker if the individual pays a fee and the individual. (1) has a valid license or certificate to practice from another state and the individual has passed an examination substantially equivalent to the level for which licensure is being requested; (2) is practicing in a state that does not license or certify social workers or clinical social workers, but is certified by a national association approved by the board and the individual has applied for a license from the board; or (3) has been approved by the board to take the examination and has graduated from a school or program approved by the board and the individual has completed any experience requirement. (b) A temporary permit expires the earlier of: (1) the date the individual holding the permit is issued a license under this article; (2) the date the board disapproves the individual's license application; or (3) one hundred eighty (180) days after the initial permit is issued. (c) The board may renew a temporary permit if the individual holding the permit was scheduled to take the next examination and the individual: (1) did not take the examination; and (2) shows good cause for not taking the examination. (d) A permit renewed under subsection (c) expires on the date the individual holding the permit receives the results from the next examination given after the permit was issued, and may not be extended if the applicant has failed the examination. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.255-1996, SEC.23; P.L.147-1997, SEC.54; P.L.195-2018, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-11.5 Temporary permit to practice social work; expiration

Sec. 11.5. (a) The board shall issue a temporary permit to practice social work to an individual who: (1) meets the educational requirements for a license as a social worker; and (2) pays a fee for the temporary permit set by the board. (b) The board shall issue a temporary permit to practice bachelor's degree social work to an individual who: (1) meets the educational requirements for a license as a bachelor's degree social worker; and (2) pays a fee for the temporary permit set by the board. (c) A temporary permit issued under this section expires one (1) year after the date the permit is issued, without regard to the number of times the individual passes or fails the required examination to become a licensed social worker or a licensed bachelor's degree social worker. The temporary permit may not be renewed. As added by P.L.195-2018, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.192-2019, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-12 Notification of retirement from practice

Sec. 12. (a) An individual who is licensed under this article shall notify the board in writing when the individual retires from practice. (b) Upon receipt of the notice, the board shall: (1) record the fact the individual is retired; and (2) release the individual from further payment of renewal fees and continuing education requirements. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.147-1997, SEC.55.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-14 Exemption from examination requirement

Sec. 14. An individual who applies for a license under this article may be exempted by the board from the examination requirement under this chapter if the individual: (1) is licensed or certified to practice as a social worker or clinical social worker in another state and has passed an examination substantially equivalent to the level for which the individual is requesting licensure; (2) has engaged in the practice of social work or the practice of clinical social work for not less than three (3) of the previous five (5) years; (3) has passed a licensing examination substantially equivalent to the licensing examination under this article; (4) has passed an examination pertaining to the social work and clinical social work laws and rules of this state; and (5) has not committed any act or is not under investigation for any act that constitutes a violation of this article; and is otherwise qualified under section 1 or 2 of this chapter and pays an additional fee. As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.255-1996, SEC.24; P.L.147-1997, SEC.56; P.L.11-2023, SEC.82.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-16 Certain individuals shall be licensed as clinical social worker; conditions

Sec. 16. If an individual is enrolled in a master's or doctoral level program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education not later than July 1, 1997: (1) the individual may complete the requirements for certification as a clinical social worker under this article as those requirements existed on June 30, 1997; and (2) the board shall license the individual as a clinical social worker. As added by P.L.220-2011, SEC.409.

Ind. Code § 25-23.6-5-17 Mental health diagnosis evaluation; requirements; documentation

Sec. 17. (a) This section applies if an individual licensed under this chapter performs an evaluation to determine a mental health diagnosis of a patient and determines that the patient either: (1) has not seen: (A) a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5; (B) an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under IC 25-23; or (C) a physician assistant licensed under IC 25-27.5; within the previous twelve (12) months; or (2) may have a physical condition that requires medical attention. (b) The individual performing the evaluation shall do the following: (1) Advise the patient to schedule, and offer to assist the patient with the scheduling of, a physical examination at the earliest opportunity with: (A) a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5; (B) an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under IC 25-23; or (C) a physician assistant licensed under IC 25-27.5. (2) Provide the patient with a list of practitioners specified in subdivision (1) that the patient may contact to schedule a physical examination, including the: (A) name; (B) address; and (C) telephone number; of the practitioners. (3) Coordinate patient care as appropriate with the practitioner who is providing physical medical care to the patient, unless the patient has declined to consent to the coordination of care. (c) An individual performing the evaluation shall document all actions taken under subsection (b) in the patient's medical record. As added by P.L.138-2021, SEC.6.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/25Fetched: 10/17/2026