The Iowa Board of Social Work evaluates the qualifications of applicants for licensure and grants licenses to those who qualify.
The board establishes rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensed social workers and investigates complaints for unprofessional conduct. The board is the link between the consumer and the licensed social worker and, as such, promotes the public health, welfare and safety.
Licensees are responsible for meeting all licensure requirements and should review the rules carefully and frequently.
Complete application
Payment of the $123 fee
Education
Official transcript conferring your social work degree. Transcripts must be received directly from the university and can be sent to plpublic@idph.iowa.gov or via mail to:
Iowa Board of Social Work 6200 Park Avenue Des Moines, IA 50321
Examination
Applicant must pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) national exam.
LBSW = Bachelor Exam
LMSW = Masters Exam
LISW = Clinical Exam
Licensure in Another State
Applicants that have previously been licensed, registered or certified in another state must provide official verification of licensure for all states in which the applicant has received a license.
The license verification must include the following:
Issue date
Expiration date
Status of license including a reference to any pending or past disciplinary action.
The verification may be printed from another state licensing board’s website if it contains all of the information noted above. If an online verification is not available, the verification must be sent directly from the licensing board(s) to the Iowa Board of Social Work.
Licensees may renew your license 60 days before the current expiration date. Multiple renewal notifications will be sent if the license has not yet been renewed. Licensees are encouraged to renew early to avoid a late fee or lapse in licensure.
All continuing education requirements must be completed prior to submitting your application for renewal.
Administrative rules. The licensing boards adopt rules to interpret and implement the authority granted in Iowa Code. Administrative rules have the same force and effect of law.
The Iowa Practitioner Program (IPP) is available to licensees across multiple licensing boards in Iowa. The Iowa Practitioner Review Committee (IPRC) reviews self-reports made by licensees to determine eligibility for participation.
IPP was established in 1996 to support licensees who struggle with impairments due to alcohol or drug abuse, mental health conditions, and/or physical disorders.
The IPRC designs an individualized health contract to meet the needs of the licensee. State law mandates that information in the possession of the IPRC remain confidential. Participation in the program is not a matter of public record.
"Impairment" means an inability to practice with reasonable safety and skill as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, dependency, or addiction, or any mental or physical disorder or disability.
"Self-report" means the licensee providing written or oral notifications to the board that the licensee has received or may receive a diagnosis as having an impairment before the board's receiving a complaint or report alleging an impairment before the date of self-report.
The IPRC determines whether practitioners are eligible to participate in the program monitored by the committee. A person is ineligible to take part in the program for any of the following reasons:
The practitioner engaged in the unlawful diversion or distribution of controlled illegal substances to a third party, or for personal gain or profit;
The practitioner is already under a board order;
The practitioner has caused harm or injury to a patient;
The board is investigating the practitioner that concerns serious matters related to the practitioner's competence;
The practitioner failed to provide truthful information or refused to cooperate with the board or the IPRC; or
The practitioner has been subject to a civil administrative or criminal sanction for serious infractions of law, professional ethics, or administrative rules related to the practice.
Based upon the recommendation of an approved evaluator, the IPRC creates an individualized health contract, which provides a detailed description of the goals of the program, requirements for successful completion, and the practitioner's obligations.
Note: The IPRC may refer to the board participants who are not compliant with the terms of their contract for consideration of disciplinary action.
The chairperson of the board appoints the members of the IPRC. The IPRC includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Executive Director of the board or the director's designee from the board's staff;
A practitioner who has remained free of addiction for two or more years after completing a recovery program for drug or alcohol dependency, addiction, or abuse;
A physician/counselor with expertise in substance abuse/addiction treatment programs;
A psychiatrist or psychologist; and
A public member.
The program encourages practitioners who have impairments to get the help they need. All information received by IPP and IPRC remains confidential as long as the practitioner complies with the terms of their agreement or health contract.
By self-reporting to IPP, the practitioner may avoid formal disciplinary action by the licensing Board. Formal disciplinary action taken against a practitioner is a matter of public record. The board reports the action to the press, the National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB), insurance companies, and to other state and federal authorities. Participation in the program is confidential.
Health care practitioners must report knowledge of another practitioner's possible impairment to the board. Health care practitioners who fail to report colleagues with a possible impairment may be subject to disciplinary action by the board. It is in the practitioner's best interest to self-report an impairment before someone else files complaint or report.
If any of the following apply to a practitioner, it is in that person's best interest to self-report to IPP as soon as possible:
Charged with, and/or arrested for OWI, or for another alcohol or drug related offense;
Disciplined by another federal or state agency for alcohol or drug abuse;
Evaluated or treated for a substance use disorder, or is currently enrolled in a recovery program;
Diagnosed with a mental health condition and/or a physical health condition;
Practiced after drinking alcohol or taking an illegal or mind/mood altering substance;
Addiction/dependence on drugs, alcohol or prescription medication; and/or
Urged by friend(s), family or colleagues to get help for alcohol or drug abuse, or a mental or physical condition.
Quarterly reports are due annually by January 20, April 20, July 20, and October 20. Printable copies of the forms are available under Related Files at the bottom of this page.
