A CSWA is not a license to practice clinical social work without having an approved plan of supervision on file. If the CSWA is to go on a leave of absence for three weeks or more, the certificate must be placed on inactive status, by submitting a status change request in the portal. A supervision report will need to be submitted for hours prior to leave. The reporting period will begin again once the CSWA is reactivated. Supervision must occur a minimum of twice per month for at least one hour. One session for 2 hours does not meet this requirement. There is no maximum of supervision as long as the supervision meets the criteria in the rules and laws listed below. Not meeting the minimum requirement of supervision may result in board action, or loss of hours.
An initial plan is approved upon approval of the application. If there are any changes to the employer or clinical supervisor, a CSWA plan change must be submitted. Plan changes are submitted electronically by the CSWA in thier license portal. If possible, submit plan change prior to the change occurring. It is important to remember that if the CSWA has left the approved employer, or stopped seeing the approved supervisor, not only will hours not count, but practicing would be out of compliance and may result in board action.
A CSWA may only practice clinical social work outside of the approved plan of supervision if provided a QMHP or QMHA by the MHACBO. Under a QMHP/QMHA one may practice clinically but no hours will count until plan of supervision is approved. A CSWA may practice non clinical social work, go through on site orientation or shadow other clinicians, but may not see clients or act in a clinical capacity until the approval is given.
Once the supervisor approves the plan change, the plan is approved, and the CSWA may start counting hours as of the date the supervisor approved it. The board will still review the plan changes, but will backdate to the superviors approval date, if there are no issues.