States Reach Key Step Toward Enacting Single Social Work License

Social workers will soon have the ability to obtain a license to practice across multiple states after Kansas on Friday became the final state needed to establish a compact aimed at combating behavioral health workforce shortages.

Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed into law a bill (HB 2484) to enact the Social Work Licensure Compact, making Kansas the seventh state to do so following approvals in Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Trade groups behind the effort have said the compact will allow social workers to serve patients across state lines, including through telehealth platforms, without seeking ...