Social Work: FAQs
Q: What are the requirements to obtain a social worker’s license in New Mexico?
- Graduate with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university.
- Pass a board-approve exam
- Pass the Jurisprudence exam with a grade of no less than 70 percent.
- Verification of meeting the New Mexico Cultural requirements.
- For Independent practice you must submit 2 years and 3600 hours of supervised practice.
Q: How long is a provisional license valid?
A provisional license is valid for one year from the date of issue.
Q: May I be issued more than one provisional license?
No. You may only be issued one provisional license per level of licensure.
Q: Can a provisional license be extended?
- Only in certain extenuating circumstances, such as serious, physician-verified illness or death in the immediate family, and military service.
- The extenuating circumstances must be presented in writing for the Board Administrator's consideration on a case by case basis.
- The extended provisional license will not exceed four months under any circumstances.
Supervision and Postgraduate Experience
Q: What are the supervision and postgraduate experience requirements that need to be met to become a licensed independent social worker?
- Complete a minimum of 3,600 hours of post graduate social work experience and 90 hours of supervision which has been accumulated over no more than a 60-month period and cannot be completed in less than two years.
- At least one hour of supervision must be documented for every 40 hours worked.
Q: Who is an appropriate supervisor?
Supervision must be provided by a licensed independent social worker.
Q: How do I document the supervision and post graduate social work experience hours?
- The supervisor(s) must fill out the form entitled "Supervisor's Verification of Applicant's Social Work Experience and Supervision" and submit directly to the Board Office.
- This information is listed on pages 5 and 6 of the Application for Licensure.
- A separate form should be used by each supervisor