§30-30-4 License required; penalties; exceptions. - West Virginia Statutes

§30-30-4. License required; penalties; exceptions.

(a) After twenty-four months have passed from the effective date of this article, no person may represent that he or she is a social worker by using such titles as independent clinical social worker, certified social worker, graduate social worker, social worker or any other title that includes a facsimile of such words unless he or she is duly licensed under the provisions of this article or specifically exempted hereunder; nor may any person represent himself or herself to be a certified social worker, graduate social worker or other type of social worker by adding the letters ICSW, CSW, GSW, SW or any other letters, words or insignia which induce or tend to induce the belief that the person is qualified to engage in the practice of social work unless the person is licensed in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(b) After twenty-four months have passed from the effective date of this article, no person may engage in the private, independent practice of social work unless he or she is already licensed under this article.

(c) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both fined and imprisoned.

(d) Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent duly licensed physicians, surgeons, psychologists, attorneys, members of the clergy or any other professional from working within the standards and ethics of their respective professions and fulfilling their professional responsibilities: Provided, That no such professional may represent to the public, either by title or training, that he or she is engaged in the practice of social work: Provided, however, That any student enrolled in a recognized program of study leading to a social work degree may practice only under the supervision of a social worker duly licensed in accordance with the provisions of this article. Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent any person from volunteering his or her services in a manner as defined in subsection (c), section two of this article.