Social Worker FAQs

Thank you for visiting the Social Work FAQs. Here you will find the answers to many of your profession-specific questions. Please visit OPR’s General FAQs which will answer many of your general licensing questions, including online services access.

• Where do I find the online application?
• Do I need to be on the Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists to practice and obtain supervision hours towards licensure?
• Where do I apply to be on the Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists (Roster)?
• Does my supervisor need to be licensed in Vermont?
• How do I know which licensing path I need to apply for – examination or endorsement?
• How do I know my CE will be accepted?
• How do I submit a continuing education course for pre-approval as an individual licensee?
• How do I submit for pre-approval a continuing education course I wish to offer or teach?
• What do I do if my continuing education course is rejected?
• I stopped practicing and I want to inactivate my license. What do I do?
• Can I provide psychotherapy as a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW)?
• Can I earn supervision hours toward a clinical social worker license if I only hold a LMSW?
• Is the Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) license the first step to becoming a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)?
• What do I need to become licensed?
• What if my supervisor leaves the agency or the practice I am working at?
• What is the difference between direct service and indirect service hours?
• Can a licensee with a provisional license provide supervision?

Where do I find the online application?

All applications are found within OPR’s Online Services System.

Do I need to be on the Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists to practice and obtain supervision hours towards licensure?

YES, anyone practicing psychotherapy in Vermont, for supervision hours or otherwise, must be on the Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists. Any supervision hours obtained while not on the Roster (off the Roster) will not count towards licensure. Individuals who practice psychotherapy while not on the Roster may be subject to disciplinary action for unauthorized practice.

Where do I apply to be on the Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists (Roster)?

The Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists is found under the Board of Allied Mental Health.

Does my supervisor need to be licensed in Vermont?

No, as long as they meet Vermont’s requirements to be a supervisor for your profession. Requirements for being a supervisor in your profession can be found in the Administrative Rules for Social Workers.

How do I know which licensing path I need to apply for – examination or endorsement?

Those licensed in good standing in another state may be able to obtain a license in Vermont based on their licensure in that other state. This is called licensure by endorsement. Please refer to the application instructions, which are found on the profession's webpage, to determine whether you qualify for licensure by endorsement.

Applicants who do not hold a license in Vermont or another state must apply for a license by passing an examination. Please refer to the application instructions for further information. Application instructions are found on each profession's webpage.

How do I know my CE will be accepted?

You can refer to the administrative rules for your profession to ensure the course you are taking meets the requirements set forth in those rules. You can also check a list of already approved courses, available HERE. If the course has not been previously approved in Vermont or if you are unsure whether the course meets the rule requirements for continuing education, you may ask the office to review the course to determine whether it qualifies for continuing education credit. There is a $25 fee to have a course reviewed and pre-approved.

How do I submit a continuing education course for pre-approval as an individual licensee?

Please see the answer to this question on our General Licensing FAQ page for instructions.

How do I submit for pre-approval a continuing education course I wish to offer or teach?

Please see the answer to this question on our General Licensing FAQ page for instructions.

What do I do if my continuing education course is rejected?

If a course is rejected or denied and you wish to have it reviewed again, you will need to re-submit the course to the Office with any additional information and pay the fee. It is important to look at the reasons the course was denied approval by the Office so you can re-submit with all required information. For more information about what is required for continuing education courses in each profession, please review the administrative rules specific to the profession.

I stopped practicing and I want to inactivate my license. What do I do?

To inactivate your license, you can let your license expire at the end of the renewal cycle. The Office is not able to inactivate your license prior to expiration.

Can I provide psychotherapy as a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW)?

No, a LMSW cannot provide psychotherapy in VT. To provide psychotherapy in Vermont, you must be on the Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists (Roster) or hold a license in a profession that is authorized to provide psychotherapy, such as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker license.

Can I earn supervision hours toward a clinical social worker license if I only hold a LMSW?

No, to provide psychotherapy, including for the purpose of acquiring supervised hours, you must be on the Roster or hold another license that authorizes the practice of psychotherapy. There is no exception to this requirement. Individuals who practice psychotherapy without an authorizing license and while not on the Roster may be subject to disciplinary action, and supervision hours acquired in this way will not be countable toward licensure.

Is the Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) license the first step to becoming a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)?

No, the LMSW license is not a step toward licensure as a LICSW. The LMSW is a separate license for the practice of applying specialized knowledge and advanced practice skills in the areas of assessment, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation, case management, information and referral, supportive counseling, supervision, consultation, education, research, advocacy, community organization, and the development, implementation, and administration of policies, programs, and activities. See 26 V.S.A. § 3201(5). A LMSW may not provide psychotherapy unless on the Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists (Roster).

Individuals seeking a LICSW may do so without first getting a LMSW. However, prior to practicing psychotherapy and in order to obtain supervised hours for the LICSW application, individuals must first register on the Roster.

What do I need to become licensed?

Information regarding how to become licensed is available in the statutes, rules, forms and instructions posted on the Social Workers webpage. Application Instructions are found on the Forms & Instructions webpage.

What if my supervisor leaves the agency or the practice I am working at?

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure documentation of supervised hours. Unfortunately, the Office is unable to help find supervisors or recover documentation of supervision on behalf of applicants. The Office cannot give credit for undocumented supervision hours or forms not properly submitted by supervisors and applicants.

What is the difference between direct service and indirect service hours?

Direct service means time spent with a client directly, or consulting with another professional about the client. It may include any phone time or emergency time with the client, but overall it involves being with the client or the client’s other service providers. Indirect services are tasks such as creating case notes, staff meetings, supervision, workshops and conferences, general consultation, teaching, case management activities, advocacy, policy work, and any other social work other than direct client contact.

Of the 3,000 supervised practice hours required for LICSW licensure, 2000 must be direct hours. The other 1000 hours can be either direct or indirect service. See Administrative Rules for Social Workers Rules 1.2(d), 1.2(e) and 4.13 for the full definitions and requirements.

Can a licensee with a provisional license provide supervision?

A supervisee may choose to have supervision from a supervisor with a VT provisional license but the supervisee assumes the risk that the supervisor may not be qualified to provide supervision. The supervisor and the supervisee are subject to all Vermont laws. If that supervisor is later deemed unqualified to provide supervision (e.g., has fewer than 3 years of licensed practice or is not in good standing), the supervised hours acquired by the supervisee will NOT be counted toward licensure.

For more answers to commonly asked questions, please visit our General FAQ page.

For more information, please contact us.