The Social Workers’ Licensing Act of 1991 created New Jersey’s State Board of Social Work Examiners. The Board protects the consumers of New Jersey by setting the standards for qualification, education, training and experience for those who seek certification or licensure to practice as a social worker in New Jersey. This board licenses and regulates social workers in three categories in New Jersey. More specifically, the board certifies at the bachelors level and licenses at the masters level.
There are three levels of certification or licensure for social workers:
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Certified Social Worker (C.S.W.) - provides social work services, such as assessment, consultation and counseling, planning and community organization, policy and research, administration, and client-centered advocacy.
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Licensed Social Worker (L.S.W.) - may provide all of the social work services mentioned above, plus clinical social work services, (when supervised by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker).
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W.) - may provide all of the social work and clinical social work services mentioned above, and may engage in clinical supervision of individuals.
Social workers use their training and skills to enhance, protect or restore an individual’s capacity for social functioning, when there is an impairment due to physical, environmental or emotional factors.