Health Occupations - Social Workers - Scopes of Practice

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0874*

SENATE BILL 874
J2 6lr2371
CF HB 1119
By: Senator M. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Health Occupations – Social Workers – Scopes of Practice 2

FOR the purpose of altering the scopes of practice for licensed social workers; and generally 3
relating to the practice of social work in the State. 4

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
Article – Health Occupations 6
Section 19–101 and 19–102 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9

BY repealing 10
Article – Health Occupations 11
Section 19–307 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

BY adding to 15
Article – Health Occupations 16
Section 19–307 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21

Article – Health Occupations 22

19–101. 23

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 24
2 SENATE BILL 874

(b) “Board” means the State Board of Social Work Examiners. 1

(c) “Certified” means having demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board that 2
the individual has completed 2 years of supervised social work practice as defined in § 3
19–302(d) or (e) of this title. 4

(c–1) “Conditional license” means a license issued by the Board under, and as 5
limited by, § 19–309.1 of this title to practice: 6

(1) Bachelor social work; or 7

(2) Master social work. 8

(d) “Independent practice” means to practice [bachelor social work or master ] 9
social work without the requirement of supervision by another social worker. 10

(e) “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise: 11

(1) One of four categories of licenses issued by the Board authorizing an 12
individual to practice: 13

(i) Bachelor social work; 14

(ii) Master social work; 15

(iii) Certified social work; or 16

(iv) Certified social work–clinical; or 17

(2) A conditional license issued by the Board. 18

(f) “Licensed bachelor social worker” means an individual licensed by the Board 19
to practice bachelor social work. 20

(g) “Licensed certified social worker” means an individual licensed by the Board, 21
on or before December 31, 2023, to practice certified social work. 22

(h) “Licensed certified social worker–clinical” means an individual licensed by the 23
Board to practice clinical social work. 24

(i) “Licensed master social worker” means an individual licensed by the Board to 25
practice master social work. 26

(j) “Practice bachelor social work” means to [use the education and training 27
required under § 19–302(b) of this title to: 28

SENATE BILL 874 3

(1) Practice social work under the supervision of a licensed certified social 1
worker, licensed certified social worker–clinical, licensed master social worker, or licensed 2
bachelor social worker who meets the conditions specified in regulations; or 3

(2) If approved by the Board in accordance with § 19 –302(f) of this title, 4
engage in independent practice ] PRACTICE SOCIAL WORK AS A LICENSED BACHELOR 5
SOCIAL WORKER IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 19–307 OF THIS TITLE. 6

(k) “Practice certified social work” means to [use the education, training, and 7
experience required under § 19 –302(d) of this title to practice social work ] PRACTICE 8
SOCIAL WORK AS A LICENSED CERTIFIED SOCIAL WORKER IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 9
19–307 OF THIS TITLE. 10

(l) “Practice clinical social work” means to [use the specialized education, 11
training, and experience required under § 19 –302(e) of this title to practice social work ] 12
INDEPENDENTLY PRACTICE CLINICAL SO CIAL WORK IN ACCORDA NCE WITH § 13
19–307 OF THIS TITLE. 14

(m) “Practice master social work” means to [use the education and training 15
required under § 19–302(c) of this title to: 16

(1) Practice social work under the supervision of a licensed certified social 17
worker, licensed certified social worker –clinical, or licensed master social worker who 18
meets the conditions specified in regulations; or 19

(2) If approved by the Board in accordance with § 19 –302(f) of this title, 20
engage in independent practice ] PRACTICE SOCIAL WORK AS A LICENSED MASTER 21
SOCIAL WORKER IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 19–307 OF THIS TITLE. 22

(n) (1) “Practice social work” means to apply [the theories, knowledge, 23
procedures, methods, and ethics derived from receiving a baccalaureate or master’s degree 24
from a program in social work that is accredited by or a candidate for accreditation by the 25
Council on Social Work Education, or an equivalent organization approved by the Council 26
on Social Work Education, to restore or enhance social functioning of individuals, couples, 27
families, groups, organizations, or communities through: 28

(i) Assessment; 29

(ii) Planning; 30

(iii) Intervention; 31

(iv) Evaluation of intervention plans; 32

(v) Case management; 33

4 SENATE BILL 874

(vi) Information and referral; 1

(vii) Counseling that does not include diagnosis or treatment of 2
behavioral health disorders; 3

(viii) Advocacy; 4

(ix) Consultation; 5

(x) Education; 6

(xi) Research; 7

(xii) Community organization; 8

(xiii) Development, implementation, and administration of policies, 9
programs, and activities; or 10

(xiv) Supervision of other social workers as set fo rth in regulations ] 11
SOCIAL WORK KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, VALUES, AND ETHICS TO ENHANCE OR RESTORE 12
THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL FUNC TIONING, WELL–BEING, AND CONDITIONS OF 13
INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES. 14

(2) “Practice social work” includes , AS APPROPRIATE TO THE 15
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND LICENSE CATEGORY OF THE LICENSEE: 16

(i) [Counseling for alcohol and drug use and addictive behavior; 17
and] PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION; 18

(ii) [Using technology as set forth in regulations ] CASE 19
MANAGEMENT, CARE COORDINATION, AND SERVICE PLANNING; 20

(III) COUNSELING, SUPPORT, AND PROBLEM –SOLVING 21
INTERVENTIONS; 22

(IV) CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SAFETY PLANNING; 23

(V) CONSULTATION AND INTE RDISCIPLINARY 24
COLLABORATION; 25

(VI) INFORMATION AND REFERRAL; 26

(VII) ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND 27
COMMUNITIES; 28

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(VIII) PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT , ADMINISTRATION, POLICY 1
ANALYSIS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION; 2

(IX) SUPERVISION AND TRAIN ING OF OTHER SOCIAL WORKERS 3
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS TITLE; 4

(X) RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND THE APPLICATION OF 5
EVIDENCE–INFORMED PRACTICE; 6

(XI) THE USE OF TELEHEALTH , ELECTRONIC PRACTICE , AND 7
OTHER TECHNOLOGIES C ONSISTENT WITH PROFE SSIONAL STANDARDS AND 8
REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD; AND 9

(XII) CLINICAL ASSESSMENT , DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND 10
PSYCHOTHERAPY PERFOR MED BY A LICENSED CERTIFIED SOCIAL 11
WORKER–CLINICAL. 12

[(3) For an individual licensed as a master social worker, “practice social 13
work” also includes: 14

(i) Supervision of other social workers if the master social worker 15
meets the requirements set out in regulations; 16

(ii) Formulating a diagnosis, under the supervision of a licensed 17
certified social worker–clinical; 18

(iii) Treatment of biopsychosocial conditions, under the supervi sion 19
of a licensed certified social worker–clinical; and 20

(iv) Treatment of behavioral health disorders, including substance 21
use disorders, addictive disorders, and mental disorders, and the provision of 22
psychotherapy under the supervision of a licensed certified social worker–clinical. 23

(4) For an individual licensed as a certified social worker, “practice social 24
work” also includes: 25

(i) Supervision of other social workers; 26

(ii) Formulating a diagnosis, under the supervision of a licensed 27
certified social worker–clinical; 28

(iii) Treatment of biopsychosocial conditions, under the supervision 29
of a licensed certified social worker–clinical; and 30

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(iv) Treatment of behavioral health disorders, including substance 1
use disorders, addictive disor ders, and mental disorders, and the provision of 2
psychotherapy under the supervision of a licensed certified social worker–clinical. 3

(5) For an individual licensed as a certified social worker–clinical, “practice 4
social work” also includes: 5

(i) Supervision of other social workers; 6

(ii) Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of biopsychosocial 7
conditions, mental and emotional conditions and impairments, and behavioral health 8
disorders, including substance use disorders, addictive disorders, and mental disorders, as 9
defined in § 7.5–101 of the Health – General Article; 10

(iii) Petitioning for emergency evaluation under Title 10, Subtitle 6 11
of the Health – General Article; and 12

(iv) The provision of psychotherapy.] 13

(o) “Private practice” means the provision of psychotherapy by a licensed certified 14
social worker–clinical who assumes responsibility and accountability for the nature and 15
quality of the services provided to a client: 16

(1) In exchange for direct payment or third –party reimbursement; 17
or 18

(2) On a pro bono basis as determined in regulations adopted by the 19
Board. 20

(p) “Psychotherapy” means the assessment and treatment of mental disorders 21
and behavioral health disorders. 22

(q) “Reactivation” means the process of obtaining a license less than 5 years after 23
the Board placed an individual on inactive status. 24

(r) “Reinstatement” means the process of obtaining a license less than 5 years 25
after the Board placed an individual on nonrenewed status. 26

(s) “Reissuance” means the process of obtaining a license more than 5 years after 27
the Board placed an individual on inactive or nonrenewed status. 28

(t) “Supervision” means a formalized professional relationship between a 29
supervisor and a supervisee that: 30

(1) Provides evaluation and direction of the supervisee; and 31

SENATE BILL 874 7

(2) Promotes continued development of the supervisee’s knowledge, skills, 1
and abilities to provide social work services in an ethical and competent manner. 2

19–102. 3

(a) The General Assembly finds that the profession of social work profoundly 4
affects the lives, health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State. 5

(b) The purpose of this title is to [protect the public ] ENSURE THAT 6
INDIVIDUALS AND COMM UNITIES IN THE STATE RECEIVE COMPETE NT, ETHICAL, 7
AND EFFECTIVE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES by: 8

(1) [Setting minimum qualification, education, training, and experience 9
standards for the licensing of individuals to practice social work; and ] ESTABLISHING 10
CLEAR STANDARDS OF EDUCATION, SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE, AND PROFESSIONAL 11
PREPARATION FOR EACH CATEGORY OF SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE; 12

(2) Promoting and maintaining high professional standards for the practice 13
of social work ACROSS CLINICAL, COMMUNITY, ORGANIZATIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, 14
AND POLICY–ORIENTED AREAS; AND 15

(3) ENSURING ETHICAL, ACCOUNTABLE, AND QUALIFIED PRACTI CE 16
BY REQUIRING SOCIAL WORKERS TO BE PREPAR ED, LICENSED, AND ENGAGED IN 17
ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 18

[19–307. 19

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a license 20
authorizes the licensee to practice social work while the license is in effect. 21

(b) A licensed social worker may practice social work only within the scope of the 22
specific category of license issued by the Board. 23

(c) (1) A licensed bachelor social worker may not: 24

(i) Engage in independent practice unless the licensed bachelor 25
social worker is approved by the Board to engage in independent practice in accordance 26
with § 19–302(f) of this subtitle; 27

(ii) Make a clinical diagnosis of a behavioral health or emoti onal 28
disorder; 29

(iii) Provide psychotherapy; or 30

(iv) Engage in private practice. 31

8 SENATE BILL 874

(2) A licensed master social worker may not: 1

(i) Engage in independent practice unless the licensed master social 2
worker is approved by the Board to engage in in dependent practice in accordance with § 3
19–302(f) of this subtitle; 4

(ii) Treat behavioral health or emotional disorders or provide 5
psychotherapy without the supervision of a licensed certified social worker–clinical; 6

(iii) Diagnose a behavioral health disorder without the supervision of 7
a licensed certified social worker–clinical; or 8

(iv) Engage in private practice. 9

(3) A licensed certified social worker may not: 10

(i) Treat behavioral health or emotional disorders or provide 11
psychotherapy without the supervision of a licensed certified social worker–clinical; 12

(ii) Diagnose a mental disorder without the supervision of a licensed 13
certified social worker–clinical; or 14

(iii) Engage in private practice.] 15

19–307. 16

(A) (1) A LICENSE ISSUED BY THE BOARD AUTHORIZES THE LICENSEE TO 17
PRACTICE SOCIAL WORK WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SPECIFIC LICENSE CATEGORY 18
AND CONSISTENT WITH THE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE 19
OF THE LICENSEE. 20

(2) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SUBTITLE, A LICENSEE 21
MAY PRACTICE SOCIAL WORK. 22

(B) (1) A LICENSED BACHELOR SOCIAL WORKER MAY: 23

(I) PERFORM GENERALIST SO CIAL WORK FUNCTIONS , 24
INCLUDING PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, SERVICE PLANNING, 25
RESOURCE REFERRAL, CLIENT ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING; 26

(II) CONDUCT SOCIAL HISTOR IES, HOME STUDIES, AND BASIC 27
PSYCHOSOCIAL EVALUATIONS; AND 28

(III) ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY O RGANIZATION, OUTREACH, AND 29
PROGRAM SUPPORT. 30
SENATE BILL 874 9

(2) A LICENSED BACHELOR SOCIAL WORKER MAY NOT: 1

(I) DIAGNOSE A MENTAL , EMOTIONAL, OR BEHAVIORAL 2
DISORDER; 3

(II) PROVIDE PSYCHOTHERAPY; 4

(III) PROVIDE CLINICAL TREATMENT; OR 5

(IV) ENGAGE IN INDEPENDENT PRACTICE, EXCEPT AS 6
APPROVED BY THE BOARD. 7

(C) (1) A LICENSED MASTER SOCIAL WORKER MAY: 8

(I) PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF A LICENSED BACHEL OR 9
SOCIAL WORKER; 10

(II) CONDUCT PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENTS, DEVELOP 11
TREATMENT PLANS , AND PROVIDE COUNSELI NG, PSYCHOTHERAPY, OR OTHER 12
CLINICAL SERVICES UN DER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED CERTIF IED SOCIAL 13
WORKER–CLINICAL; 14

(III) ENGAGE IN CASE MANAGE MENT, CARE COORDINATION , 15
CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION; AND 16

(IV) PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIV E, POLICY, RESEARCH, OR 17
COMMUNITY PRACTICE SERVICES CONSISTENT WITH GRADUATE–LEVEL TRAINING. 18

(2) A LICENSED MASTER SOCIAL WORKER MAY NOT: 19

(I) PRACTICE CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK INDEPENDENTLY; 20

(II) DIAGNOSE A MENTAL , EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, OR 21
ADDICTIVE DISORDER WITHOUT SUPERVISION; OR 22

(III) ENGAGE IN INDEPENDENT PRACTICE OF SOCIAL WORK , 23
EXCEPT AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD. 24

(D) A LICENSED CERTIFIED SOCIAL WORKER–CLINICAL MAY: 25

(1) INDEPENDENTLY PRACTICE CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK; 26

10 SENATE BILL 874

(2) DIAGNOSE AND TREAT ME NTAL, EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, OR 1
ADDICTIVE DISORDERS; 2

(3) PROVIDE PSYCHOTHERAPY AND OTHER THERAPEUTI C 3
INTERVENTIONS; 4

(4) CONDUCT ADVANCED PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENTS, TREATMENT 5
PLANNING, AND EVALUATION; AND 6

(5) PROVIDE CLINICAL SUPERVISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD 7
REGULATIONS. 8

(E) A LICENSED BACHELOR SOCIAL WORKER, A LICENSED MASTER SOCIAL 9
WORKER, OR A LICENSED CERTIFIED S OCIAL WORKER MAY ENG AGE IN 10
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD. 11

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
October 1, 2026. 13