(a) Application for licensure shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the commissioner. Each applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that he or she has met the requirements of § 20-195n. The application fee for a clinical social worker license shall be three hundred fifteen dollars. The application fee for a master social worker license shall be two hundred twenty dollars.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 20-195n concerning examinations, on or before October 1, 2015, the commissioner may issue a license without examination, to any master social worker applicant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that, on or before October 1, 2013, he or she held a master’s degree from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or, if educated outside the United States or its territories, completed an educational program deemed equivalent by the council.

(c) Each person licensed pursuant to this chapter may apply for renewal of such licensure in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e) of § 19a-88. A fee of one hundred ninety-five dollars shall accompany each renewal application for a licensed master social worker or a licensed clinical social worker. Each such applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of having satisfied the continuing education requirements prescribed in § 20-195u.

(d) (1) An individual who has been convicted of any criminal offense may request, in writing, at any time, that the commissioner determine whether such individual’s criminal conviction disqualifies the individual from obtaining a license issued or conferred by the commissioner pursuant to this chapter based on (A) the nature of the conviction and its relationship to the individual’s ability to safely or competently perform the duties or responsibilities associated with such license, (B) information pertaining to the degree of rehabilitation of the individual, and (C) the time elapsed since the conviction or release of the individual.

(2) An individual making such request shall include (A) details of the individual’s criminal conviction, and (B) any payment required by the commissioner. The commissioner may charge a fee of not more than fifteen dollars for each request made under this subsection. The commissioner may waive such fee.

(3) Not later than thirty days after receiving a request under this subsection, the commissioner shall inform the individual making such request whether, based on the criminal record information provided, such individual is disqualified from receiving or holding a license issued or conferred pursuant to this chapter.

(4) The commissioner is not bound by a determination made under this subsection, if, upon further investigation, the commissioner determines that an individual’s criminal conviction differs from the information presented in the determination request.