Public Health Committee
February 26, 2020
Submitted By: Stephen Wanczyk-Karp, LMSW
On behalf of the National Association of Social Workers, CT Chapter representing over 2,400 members we ask the Public Health Committee to amend section 5. (2) of SB 146 by adding chapter 383b to the list of chapters that have two-year licenses.
There are only ten states in the country that do not renew a social work license every two years, and of these 10 states, three have tri-annual renewals. We see no justification for having an annual renewal of the Licensed Master Social Worker and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker license.
Connecticut is amongst the highest cost states for social wok licensing. While fees change periodically in other states, CT has consistently been the highest cost state or the second highest cost state, on an annual basis, when it comes to licensing of social workers. This has led to practitioners seeking employment in neighboring states where the fees are lower and the renewal schedule is every other year. For example, Massachusetts charges $173 to apply for the clinical license and $82 to renew the license biannually, compared to $315 to apply in CT and $195 to renew annually.
From the perspective of being a social work provider, CT is a very high cost state for a profession that is not a high paid one. Our state is a severe outlier in licensing fees. We also are a state that unnecessarily spends more to renew social work licenses than surrounding states by insisting on an annual renewal schedule.
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