Calling all Social Workers

I mean for the LMSW.  As far as I know, in my state, we just have to take the exam.

I am from CA which is one of the more difficult states to get your clinical license. It usually takes two additional years to gain the hours, study and take the test. I knew some bright social workers who failed multiple times because it was very hard.

If you intend on returning to your state and getting your LMSW is as easy as taking a test, then do it if it will be an advantage to you.

I got my school SW credential before I left but I think it expired by now.

You can sit for your LMSW exam ( called LSW in some states) in every state in the US right after graduation from an MSW program. In order to qualify for the LISW ( called LCSW in some states, like NJ and CA) you need approximately 2 years of supervised clinical experience to sit for the exam. Though names of the licensure levels vary from state to state, ie LSW = LMSW, LCSW = LISW, the tests are national and  the same in every state for each level. The only difference, state to state, is that some require a higher score to pass; in NJ one must get a 75% to pass, in NM, 70%, etc.

I have never heard of an LMSW  Is this something new in the last 5 years?

What's the point really?

every state has some kind of equivalent to LMSW as far as I know.  It's the supervised period before your LCSW--you are still licensed at a masters level and able to work, but you are more closely supervised.  I think most states require two years of LMSW/LSW/etc. before you can apply for LCSW (which as stated also has other names in different states, but the majority of states call the fully licensed category "LCSW").  You can't usually get the LCSW without having the earlier license first.

Eek!  Sorry Olive, I should have been more clear.    It's already been explained, but I'll let you know where I'm coming from with this:

I'm from New Mexico, so here we have LBSW, LMSW, and LISW.  In this state, the LMSW only requires you to sit for the test.  At this point, that's the only level of licensure I'm interested in.  You're right that the LISW (or LCSW in other places) requires a couple of years field supervision and a test, but I have no intention of doing that any time soon.

I'll be graduating with my MSW a year from now (May 2009), and I would like to go over to the UK to work fairly soon after graduating (sometime in the summer of 2009).  I want to submit my GSCC application in January/February 2009, that way I can give myself enough time for corrections and whatnot if the application is bounced back to me for whatever reason.  I know you can submit your GSCC application before you graduate, so long as you submit proof of your degree to the Council afterward.  But I was wondering if the same holds true for licensure.  I obviously won't be able to get licensed until I graduate, but I don't want to wait until after I'm degreed and licensed to submit my GSCC application. 

So I was just wondering whether this is a problem.  Can you apply for GSCC qualification before you're licensed in your state?

I have never heard of an LMSW  Is this something new in the last 5 years?

What's the point really?

It is the level of licensure required in most states in order to work at a school, in addition to having a school sw license.

No, its not new. 

every state has some kind of equivalent to LMSW as far as I know.  It's the supervised period before your LCSW--you are still licensed at a masters level and able to work, but you are more closely supervised. 

A person with an LMSW is not necessarily more closely supervised at all. The level of supervision is determined by the job. If a person with an LMSW wants to go on to get their LCSW/LISW, then they must prove that they have had a certain amount of experience and supervision hours.

Many, many, sw's have great careers at the LMSW level and never need to go on to get the LISW/LCSW. The main benefit of the LISW/LCSW is that with that license, you are recognized by insurance co.'s and Medicaid as a third-party payee. This means that you can have a private practice and bill insurance co.'s. In many states, if you don't plan to go into private practice, getting licensed st the LISW/LCSW level is unnecessary.

Many, many, sw's have great careers at the LMSW level and never need to go on to get the LISW/LCSW. The main benefit of the LISW/LCSW is that with that license, you are recognized by insurance co.'s and Medicaid as a third-party payee. This means that you can have a private practice and bill insurance co.'s. In many states, if you don't plan to go into private practice, getting licensed st the LISW/LCSW level is unnecessary.

That's a fair point and totally correct.  I was thinking from my perspective as all of my MSW jobs required me to work toward the LCSW or to have the independent licensure.  Most of my jobs post grad school involved some clinical work and it was a pain to have someone who didn't get their LCSW, so we all got it.

As for the question about if it will impact things in the UK, I can't answer for certain as I came after years of practice with an LCSW, but I don't believe it will make a difference.  I sent in copies of my license, but they look much more closely at your qualifications (your uni degree) than they do your license.  Someone else can probably answer more definitively though.

ah!! When I left CA it was called an ASW. I don't know if that is the same name now. Yes, it demonstrates that you are wanting to go for further licensure.

The UK doesn't care whether you have a BSW or MSW let alone other letters after your name. It is a mindset that American SWers have to drop when they arrive or prepare to get a bit of ribbing from colleagues.

They just want to know if you 'qualified' as a social worker.

The UK doesn't care whether you have a BSW or MSW let alone other letters after your name. It is a mindset that American SWers have to drop when they arrive or prepare to get a bit of ribbing from colleagues.

They just want to know if you 'qualified' as a social worker.

If that's the case, then there's pretty much no reason for me to be sitting here stressing about the GSCC application.    Thanks!

You can't be a "qualified social worker" without the GSCC.  You do need it to even call yourself a social worker, so if you want to work here, you will have to do it.  Sorry.  It's just that they don't differentiate between masters and bachelors levels of training.

Oh no, that's not what I meant.  I mean there's no reason for me to stress about filling out the GSCC application in terms of whether or not my credentials (MSW, no license until after sending in the GSCC application, etc.) will be good enough.  I won't stress about it because I now know that as long as I have my social work degree, as well as the appropriate verification signatures, GSCC will qualify me.

Not filling out the application never crossed my mind.  After two (or so) years of reading/posting in this thread, I know I won't be able to get far in England without GSCC certification. 

yes, you will be just fine stating that you will be graduating with an MSW and as long as you can evidence the class work (which is a national curriculum generally!) there should be no problems.

Great to know!  Thanks so much, Olive. 

That makes a lot more sense.  I see what you meant now.  I was puzzled by that response.   Best of luck! (The forms are a pain, but you should be fine.)