HB56 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Frances Holk-JonesRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners; to amend Section 34-30-3, Code of Alabama 1975, and to add Section 34-30-34 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to provide further for the scope of practice of licensees.

Summary

HB56 creates an independent clinical social work licensure path in Alabama and defines the scope and limits of practice for licensees.

What This Bill Does

It sets education, supervised experience, exam, and certification requirements for licensed independent clinical social workers to practice privately. It grants licensed independent clinical social workers authority to diagnose and develop treatment plans within the social work scope, but bans activities outside their training (like prescribing meds or using electroconvulsive therapy). It adds a transitional provision allowing those who meet the requirements to practice before the board’s exam is ready, and clarifies that medicine or certain test labels cannot be claimed by these licensees; it also states health plans are not required to cover these services.

Who It Affects

• Licensed social workers who want to practice independently in Alabama; they must meet new degree, supervised experience, examination, certification, and fee requirements.
• Patients and clients in Alabama receiving social work services; they may receive diagnosis and treatment planning from licensed independent clinical social workers within the new scope, but some medical or testing activities remain outside their scope, and health-plan coverage is not guaranteed.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 34-30-3 to require a master's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-approved program, specified postgraduate experience under supervision, and passing a board exam for independent practice.
• Adds a requirement for an initial certification by mail and a board-set certification fee to practice independently as a licensed independent clinical social worker.
• Specifies the licensed independent clinical social worker may diagnose and develop treatment plans, but cannot perform acts outside the scope of social work (e.g., prescribing medications, hospital admission without medical supervision, certain tests, or electroconvulsive therapy).
• Adds Section 34-30-34 to state that licensed social workers cannot practice medicine or label tests as psychological evaluations.
• Includes a transitional provision allowing otherwise qualified individuals to practice privately before the board creates an examination for this purpose.
• Stipulates that nothing in this chapter requires health plans to cover or reimburse these services.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Board of Social Work Examiners, scope of practice of licensees