NASW-ND Advocacy
Advocacy Committee Action
Interim Committee/Interstate Licensure Compact
- An interstate compact is a legal contract between two or more states/territories that would enable social workers to practice in each other’s jurisdiction, giving members of the profession more license mobility.
- State legislatures must enact compact legislation to become a member state of a compact. Seven states must pass the compact legislation in order for the compact to become active.
- On April 12, 2024 Kansas became the seventh state to pass Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Legislation. That was a threshold that had to be met for states to create a Compact Commission that will govern the compact and ensure coordination between the participating states. In all, 22 states have passed the compact legislation. They are Missouri on July 7, 2023, followed by South Dakota on February 4, 2024; Utah; Washington state, and Kentucky in March; Virginia, Nebraska, Vermont, and Maine in April; Georgia, Iowa, Alabama, Ohio, Louisiana, Tennessee and Minnesota in May; Colorado, Louisiana, Arizona and Rhode Island in June; and New Hampshire in July. The legislation has been introduced in about a dozen other states. Additional states can join the Compact Commission after they pass the legislation.
- In the state of ND, the Interim Workforce Committee concluded their study on the interstate social work licensure compact. After review, the committee voted to support the compact and move forward with legislation during the 2025 legislative session.
- RESOURCES
Removal of ASWB Exam Requirement for Social Work Licensure
- In August 2022, the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) released its 2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis: Final Report which provided data on US and Canadian test-taker participation and performance on the ASWB social work licensing exams between 2011 and 2021 (with a particular focus on two time periods, 2011 to 2021 and 2018 to 2021). The Final Report reviews performance on five social work exams: Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, and Clinical.
- Differences were observed in pass rates among racial/ethnic subgroups, as well as in pass rates among age and language subgroups. Disparities in pass rates, both nationally and in North Dakota cause major concern in usage of the ASWB exam.
- Many factors may contribute to the disparity in pass rates. Until these factors are more fully researched, understood, and addressed, there is little doubt that the disparities will continue to exist, and North Dakota will continue to experience a serious and unfortunate shortage of licensed social workers from diverse groups.
- NASW-ND opposes the use of the ASWB social work licensure exam.
- The NASW-ND Advocacy Committee has sent a letter to the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners urging them to take action on the removal of the ASWB licensure exam requirement for BSW and MSW licensure.
- NDBSWE concluded that they would like further insight from North Dakota social workers, universities, legislators, and stakeholders regarding the exam. They plan to send out a survey and hold a social work town hall to obtain this information.
- RESOURCES
Interim Studies
SB 2012 - Social Work Licensure Compact & Medicaid Provider Reimbursement - Legislative Management Study
HCR 3017 - Increased inpatient mental health care for children - Legislative Management Study
Legislative Session
The Advocacy Committee meets weekly during legislative session to review legislative proposals of interest to social workers and social work clients.
North Dakota is one of four states in which the legislature meets biennially, or in odd-numbered years. The next legislative session will occur in 2025!
Chapter Action
- ACTION ALERT! - SAY NO to Conversion Therapy: HB 1332
This bill seeks to overturn social work rules that state “conversion or reparative therapy” is a violation of the social work code of ethics if practiced by a ND licensed social worker.
- 5 Steps to Becoming an Effective Voter: November 4, 2022
With the election upcoming, timing is critical to cast your ballot. Make your voice heard this election season by following these 5 simple steps to effective voting.
- STATEMENT: September 27, 2022
NASW-ND was appalled to hear of the Indigenous ancestral remains of 70 relatives and numerous artifacts desecrated in 250 boxes on the UND campus. Click the above link to read more.
RESOLUTION: March 22, 2022
- The NASW-ND Board of Directors adopted a resolution addressing the impact of proposed legislation around the country that attempts to silence or limit conversations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
STATEMENT: January 20,2024
- The NASW_ND Board of Directors released a statement regarding the removal of the ASWB exam requirement for social work licensure in ND.