NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker Moving To Florida

[Brandi Kelley]

I am a LCSW in NYS but will moving to Florida over the summer. I have started the process of getting licensed in Florida however, this may not be complete before I arrive in Florida. I have posed this question to both the NYS and Florida boards of social work with little to no response or help with this. I plan to remain licensed in NYS as to keep supervising and working with my private clients via tele-health. However, I am not sure if I can live in Florida (temporarily unlicensed) and still work with NYS clients legally. I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience or can answer this question.  I have searched countless websites and there does not appear to be any straightforward answers. With COVID -19 allowances this information is even more difficult to follow. Ideally, I will be licensed in both states before moving but the invent that I am not licensed in Florida, I want to be sure I can legally live in Florida and continue to practice with NYS clients even if not yet licensed in Florida. Any insight about this would be greatly appreciated my fellow social workers!

[DSWstudentTSSW]

On 5/12/2021 at 11:46 AM, Brandi Kelley said:

I am a LCSW in NYS but will moving to Florida over the summer. I have started the process of getting licensed in Florida however, this may not be complete before I arrive in Florida. I have posed this question to both the NYS and Florida boards of social work with little to no response or help with this. I plan to remain licensed in NYS as to keep supervising and working with my private clients via tele-health. However, I am not sure if I can live in Florida (temporarily unlicensed) and still work with NYS clients legally. I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience or can answer this question.  I have searched countless websites and there does not appear to be any straightforward answers. With COVID -19 allowances this information is even more difficult to follow. Ideally, I will be licensed in both states before moving but the invent that I am not licensed in Florida, I want to be sure I can legally live in Florida and continue to practice with NYS clients even if not yet licensed in Florida. Any insight about this would be greatly appreciated my fellow social workers!

Oof! Technically, this is a NY state issue. Typically, it matters more where the *client* is physically located than the therapist. That being said, it may still impact your ability to have NY-based supervisees. Depends on what the NY board allows during non-covid times....

Here is what I found (I’m a statutes nerd and big advocate for licensure portability). 

Telehealth:

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/swteleprac.htm

 

Supervision: 

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/part74.htm

Supervision of a licensed master social worker providing clinical social work services in accordance with section 7701(1)(d) of the Education Law who is not using such services to satisfy the experience requirements for licensure as a licensed clinical social worker.

1. Supervision of the clinical social work services provided by the licensed master social worker shall consist of contact between the licensed master social worker and supervisor during which:
   1. the licensed master social worker apprises the supervisor of the diagnosis and treatment of each client;
   2. the licensed master social worker's cases are discussed;
   3. the supervisor provides the licensed master social worker with oversight and guidance in diagnosing and treating clients;
   4. the supervisor regularly reviews and evaluates the professional work of the licensed master social worker; and
   5. the supervisor provides at least two hours per month of in-person individual or group clinical supervision. The Department, in its discretion, may accept alternative means to meet the in-person supervision requirements of this subparagraph that cannot be successfully completed due to the State of Emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to an Executive Order for the COVID-19 crisis.

Edited May 14, 2021 by DSWHopeful2021