Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Chapter

Department of Health Professions

Board of Social Work

Regulations Governing the Practice of Social Work [18 VAC 140 ‑ 20]

Chapter Information

Description	Establishes qualification for licensure, sets a schedule and fee for renewal and establishes the standard of practice for licensure of social workers.
State Authority	Chapter 37 of Title 54.1
Federal Authority	None entered
Text of Regulation	Link to Virginia Administrative Code
Goals of Regulation	1) Complete continuing competency requirements that are reasonable but effective in assuring the public that practitioners are remaining current in professional knowledge and ethical issues. 2) Complete study of whether the non-clinical category of licensure is essential to protect the public.
Meetings	See all meetings (17) relating to this chapter.

Contact Information

Name / Title:	Jaime Hoyle / Executive Director
Address:	9960 Mayland Drive Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23233-1463
Email Address:	jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov
Telephone:	(804)367-4406 FAX: (804)527-4435 TDD: ()-

Action Title	Latest Stage	Status
Current Actions
Implementation of the Social Work Compact	NOIRA	Secretary of Health and Human Resources review in progress.
2022 Periodic Review changes to section 37	Proposed	Attorney General review in progress.
Acceptance of APA approved trainings as CE providers	Proposed	Attorney General review in progress.
Amendments resulting from 2022 periodic review	Proposed	Secretary of Health and Human Resources review in progress.

Action Title	Latest Stage	Status
Past Actions
Exempt action to allow change of supervisors without notification to the Board under certain circumstances	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/27/2023.
Exempt regulatory action to allow agency subordinates to hear credentials cases	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 11/08/2023.
Reduction in CE hours for continuation of approval to be a supervisor	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/17/2024.
Changes to endorsement and reinstatement; standards of practice	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/26/2022.
Acceptance of state examinations	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/27/2022.
Unprofessional conduct/practice of conversion therapy	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/16/2021.
Changes to supervision requirements	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/18/2021.
Correction to qualification for LBSW licensure	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 10/15/2020.
Reduction in fees and elimination of supervised experience requirement for LBSW	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/05/2020.
Change in returned check fee	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 02/06/2020.
Hours of ethics for continuing education	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 11/13/2019.
Reduction in CE requirement for supervisors	Fast-Track	Stage withdrawn on 07/22/2019 during the public comment period.
BSW and LSW licensure	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/08/2019.
Examination requirements	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/20/2018.
Definition of clinical social work services and supervision of applicant for reinstatement/reactivatn	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 02/07/2018.
Regulatory review changes	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 06/28/2017.
CE credit for volunteer practice	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/09/2017.
Licensure requirements	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 08/12/2016.
Fee increase and renewal cycle	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 12/30/2015.
Clinical course of study requirements	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/25/2013.
Regulatory reform	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/26/2013.
Licensure requirements	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/31/2013.
Clinical course of study	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 03/02/2011.
Clarification of supervision and continuing education	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 01/07/2010.
Change of addresses	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/01/2009.
Requirements for examination, supervision & practice standards	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 11/26/2008.
Experience and examination requirements	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 09/04/2008.
Continuing education for licensed social workers	Fast-Track	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/24/2008.
Change in fee for returned check	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 02/08/2006.
Delegation of certain fact-finding proceedings to an agency subordinate	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 07/27/2005.
Periodic review	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 01/28/2004.
Fee reduction	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/23/2003.
Continuing education requirements for licensure renewal	Final	Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/25/2001.

Action Title	Latest Stage	Status
Withdrawn Actions
Regulatory reduction 2022	Fast-Track	Stage withdrawn on 12/09/2022 before DPB completed its review.
Amendments to standards of practice	NOIRA	Stage withdrawn on 04/07/2006 after the comment period had ended.
Examination requirement	NOIRA	Stage withdrawn on 04/07/2006 after the comment period had ended.

Last Activity	Status
Periodic Reviews
6/3/2022 Agency Completed	Amend
7/26/2021 Filed	Pending
10/16/2012 Agency Completed	Amend
9/1/2001 Agency Completed	Amend