<<Prev Rule

Texas Administrative Code

Next Rule>>
TITLE 22EXAMINING BOARDS
PART 34TEXAS STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORKER EXAMINERS
CHAPTER 781SOCIAL WORKER LICENSURE
SUBCHAPTER CAPPLICATION AND LICENSING
RULE §781.404Recognition as a Council-approved Supervisor and the Supervision Process

    (N) Providing supervision without Council-approved supervisor status is grounds for disciplinary action.

    (O) A supervisor shall refund all supervisory fees the supervisee paid after the date the supervisor ceased to be Council-approved.

    (P) A supervisor is responsible for developing a well-conceptualized supervision plan with the supervisee, and for updating that plan whenever there is a change in agency of employment, job function, goals for supervision, or method by which supervision is provided.

  (9) A Council-approved supervisor who wishes to provide supervision towards licensure as an LCSW or towards specialty recognition in Independent Practice (IPR) or Advanced Practitioner (LMSW-AP), which is supervision for professional growth, must comply with the following:

    (A) Supervision toward licensure or specialty recognition may occur in one-on-one sessions, in group sessions, or in a combination of one-on-one and group sessions. Session may transpire in the same geographic location, or via audio, web technology or other electronic supervision techniques that comply with HIPAA and Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 611, and/or other applicable state or federal statutes or rules.

    (B) Supervision groups shall have no fewer than two members and no more than six.

    (C) Supervision shall occur in proportion to the number of actual hours worked for the 3,000 hours of supervised experience. No more than 10 hours of supervision may be counted in any one month, or 30-day period, as appropriate, towards satisfying minimum requirements for licensure or specialty recognition.

    (D) The Council considers supervision toward licensure or specialty recognition to be supervision which promotes professional growth. Therefore, all supervision formats must encourage clear, accurate communication between the supervisor and the supervisee, including case-based communication that meets standards for confidentiality. Though the Council favors supervision formats in which the supervisor and supervisee are in the same geographical place for a substantial part of the supervision time, the Council also recognizes that some current and future technology, such as using reliable, technologically-secure computer cameras and microphones, can allow personal face-to-face, though remote, interaction, and can support professional growth. Supervision formats must be clearly described in the supervision plan, explaining how the supervision strategies and methods of delivery meet the supervisee's professional growth needs and ensure that confidentiality is protected.

    (E) Supervision toward licensure or specialty recognition must extend over a full 3000 hours over a period of not less than 24 full months for LCSW or Independent Practice Recognition (IPR). Even if the individual completes the minimum of 3000 hours of supervised experience and minimum of 100 hours of supervision prior to 24 months from the start date of supervision, supervision which meets the Council's minimum requirements shall extend to a minimum of 24 full months.

    (F) The supervisor and the supervisee bear professional responsibility for the supervisee's professional activities.

    (G) If the supervisor determines that the supervisee lacks the professional skills and competence to practice social work under a regular license, the supervisor shall develop and implement a written remediation plan for the supervisee.

    (H) Supervised professional experience required for licensure must comply with §781.401 of this title and §781.402 of this title and all other applicable laws and rules.

  (10) A Council-approved supervisor who wishes to provide supervision required as a result of a Council order must comply with this title, all other applicable laws and rules, and/or the following.

    (A) A licensee who is required to be supervised as a condition of initial licensure, continued licensure, or disciplinary action must:

      (i) submit one supervisory plan for each practice location to the Council for approval by the Council or its designee within 30 days of initiating supervision;

      (ii) submit a current job description from the agency in which the social worker is employed with a verification of authenticity from the agency director or his or her designee on agency letterhead or submit a copy of the contract or appointment under which the licensee intends to work, along with a statement from the potential supervisor that the supervisor has reviewed the contract and is qualified to supervise the licensee in the setting;

      (iii) ensure that the supervisor submits reports to the Council on a schedule determined by the Council. In each report, the supervisor must address the supervisee's performance, how closely the supervisee adheres to statutes and rules, any special circumstances that led to the imposition of supervision, and recommend whether the supervisee should continue licensure. If the supervisor does not recommend the supervisee for continued licensure, the supervisor must provide specific reasons for not recommending the supervisee. The Council may consider the supervisor's reservations as it evaluates the supervision verification the supervisee submits; and

      (iv) notify the Council immediately if there is a disruption in the supervisory relationship or change in practice location and submit a new supervisory plan within 30 days of the break or change in practice location.

    (B) The supervisor who agrees to provide Council-ordered supervision of a licensee who is under Council disciplinary action must understand the Council order and follow the supervision stipulations outlined in the order. The supervisor must address with the licensee those professional behaviors that led to Council discipline, and must help to remediate those concerns while assisting the licensee to develop strategies to avoid repeating illegal, substandard, or unethical behaviors.

    (C) Council-ordered and mandated supervision timeframes are specified in the Council order.


Source Note: The provisions of this §781.404 adopted to be effective November 19, 2020, 45 TexReg 8161; amended to be effective February 4, 2021, 46 TexReg 819; amended to be effective February 27, 2022, 47 TexReg 779; amended to be effective September 21, 2022, 47 TexReg 5852; amended to be effective June 15, 2023, 48 TexReg 2959; amended to be effective March 27, 2024, 49 TexReg 1935

Previous Page

Link to Texas Secretary of State Home Page | link to Texas Register home page | link to Texas Administrative Code home page | link to Open Meetings home page