Chapter 4757-21 | Scope of Practice for Social Workers

Rule 4757-21-01 | Scope of practice for a registered social work assistant.

• Effective: July 1, 2024
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) As prescribed in division (C) of section 4757.26 of the Revised Code the board adopts the following scope of practice for a registered social work assistant. Each licensee of the board has a personal professional scope of practice, which is determined by their education, training and supervised practice as defined in paragraph (A) of rule 4757-5-02 of the Administrative Code (ethics).

(B) A registered social work assistant may, under the direct supervision of an independent social worker, social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, independent marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or an advanced practice registered nurse-clinical nurse specialist or advanced practice registered nurse-certified nurse practitioner who is certified in psychiatric-mental health by the American nurses credentialing center, perform for a fee, salary, or other consideration, human services, social services and community services that may include but not limited to:

(1) Intake assessment and referral, screening, crisis intervention and resolution; and

(2) Community support, case management and outreach, record keeping, social assessment, visual observation of person in environment, assist in facilitation with groups and families, advocacy; orientation, education and prevention services.

Last updated July 2, 2024 at 10:36 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4757.10, 4757.26
Amplifies: 4757.26
Five Year Review Date: 7/1/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 6/11/1985 (Emer.), 7/3/1997, 10/18/2009

Rule 4757-21-02 | Scope of practice for a social worker.

• Effective: March 21, 2022
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Using the definition of social work as defined in division (C) of section 4757.01 of the Revised Code, the board adopts the following scope of practice for a social worker. Each social worker has a personal competency within the license's scope of practice, which is determined by their education, training and practice as defined in paragraph (A) of rule 4757-5-02 of the Administrative Code (ethics).

(A) A social worker may perform for a fee, salary, or other consideration, counseling and psychosocial interventions without supervision; and social psychotherapy under the supervision of an independent social worker, a licensed professional clinical counselor, an independent marriage and family therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or a registered nurse with a master's degree in psychiatric nursing.

(B) When practicing as an employee of a private individual, partnership, or group practice, a social worker may perform for a fee, salary, or other consideration, counseling, psychological interventions, and social psychotherapy only if supervised by an independent social worker, a licensed professional clinical counselor, an independent marriage and family therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist or a registered nurse with a master's degree in psychiatric nursing.

(C) A social worker may practice as an independent contractor.

(D) The scope of practice for a social worker may include the following range of psychosocial duties:

(1) Intervention planning;

(2) Psychosocial intervention;

(3) Counseling;

(4) Social psychotherapy under supervision;

(5) Evaluation;

(6) Prevention.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 8:37 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4757.26
Amplifies: 4757.26
Five Year Review Date: 7/3/2023
Prior Effective Dates: 9/3/2018

Rule 4757-21-03 | Scope of practice for an independent social worker.

• Effective: March 21, 2022
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Using the definition of social work as defined in division (C) of section 4757.01 of the Revised Code, the board adopts the following scope of practice for an independent social worker. Each independent social worker has a personal competency within the license's scope of practice, which is determined by their education, training and practice as defined in paragraph (A) of rule 4757-5-02 of the Administrative Code (ethics).

(A) An independent social worker may perform for a fee, salary or other consideration, counseling, pyschosocial interventions, and social psychotherapy without supervision in an agency setting, as a private practitioner, or as an independent contractor.

(B) The scope of practice for an independent social worker may include those duties as described in rule 4757-21-02 of the Administrative Code and the paragraphs that follow:

(1) Psychosocial assessment: intervention planning, psychosocial intervention, and social psychotherapy, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders and counseling.

(2) Program assessment, planning, and development, program implementation and evaluation.

(3) Organizational assessment, planning and development, intervention, accountability, and supervision.

(4) Specialized problem-oriented assessment, specialized project or case-oriented planning, specialized intervention, evaluation of consultation activities.

(5) Provide clinical supervision of social work assistants, social workers except for their training supervision, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists; and supervision of chemical dependency counselors and prevention specialists as specified in Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code. Provide clinical supervision per paragraph (A)(1) of rule 4757-23-01 of the Administrative Code for social worker trainees practice except the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(C) The scope of practice for an independent social worker with supervision designation may include those duties as described as follows:

(1) Psychosocial assessment: intervention planning, psychosocial intervention, and social psychotherapy, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders and counseling.

(2) Program assessment, planning, and development, program implementation and evaluation.

(3) Organizational assessment, planning and development, intervention, accountability, and supervision.

(4) Specialized problem-oriented assessment, specialized project or case-oriented planning, specialized intervention, evaluation of consultation activities, provide training supervision for social workers seeking licensure as independent social workers.

(5) Provide clinical supervision of social work assistants, social workers, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists; and supervision of chemical dependency counselors and prevention specialists as specified in Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code. Provide training supervision for social workers gaining supervised hours to meet the requirements of paragraph (C)(2) of rule 4757-19-02 of the Administrative Code to become licensed as independent social workers per rule 4757-23-01 of the Administrative Code. Provide training and clinical supervision per paragraphs (A)(1) and (A)(2) of rule 4757-23-01 of the Administrative Code for social worker trainees, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

Last updated March 21, 2022 at 8:37 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4757.10, 4757.27
Amplifies: 4757.26, 4757.27
Five Year Review Date: 7/3/2023
Prior Effective Dates: 9/19/1985 (Emer.), 9/20/2007