To be eligible for a license to practice as a social worker, the applicant must:

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 30-30-14

  • Applicant: means any person making application for a license or a permit under this article. See West Virginia Code 30-30-3
  • Board: means the Board of Social Work. See West Virginia Code 30-30-3
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • License: means a license issued under this article. See West Virginia Code 30-30-3
  • Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10

(1) Submit an application to the board;

(2) Be at least eighteen years of age;

(3) Be of good moral character;

(4) Have a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program accredited by the council on social work education;

(5) Have passed an examination approved by the board;

(6) Have satisfied the board that he or she merits the public trust by providing the board with three letters of recommendation from persons not related to the applicant;

(7) Not be an alcohol or drug abuser, as these terms are defined in section eleven, article one-a, chapter twenty-seven of this code: Provided, That an applicant in an active recovery process, which may, in the discretion of the board, be evidenced by participation in an acknowledged substance abuse treatment and/or recovery program may be considered;

(8) Not have been convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction within five years preceding the date of application for license which conviction remains unreversed;

(9) Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in any jurisdiction if the offense for which he or she was convicted related to the practice of social work, which conviction remains unreversed; and

(10) Meet any other requirements established by the board.