Mind, Body & Spirit!

Should those who teach at a higher institution for social workers be exempt from obtaining their license for social work?

Texas House Representative Garnet Coleman has recently introduced HB 3331 that does just that. The HB 3331 has been introduced to make this a law.

What does this mean?

This means that the any person who works for a university that teaches future social workers do not have to take the licensing exam and be identified as a social worker.

Here are some questions that I have thought about:

Why should the staff of a university be exempt from taking the exam?

Are those who teach any different from those who want to practice in the field of social work and be identified as a Social Worker?

What examples are the staff members of the university that teaches future social workers setting for their students?

Why is it necessary to be made into law?

Most importantly –

What does this mean for persons who are licensed?

This means that anyone who works for a university that educates future social workers do not have to take the same exam that social work students are being prepared for. If the state can exempt those who work for a university, then who else can ask for exemption and have it made into law. If a passing grade of a licensing exam is required to identify as a social worker, then those who are teaching in the social work field do not have to be licensed to be identify themselves as one. This makes no sense to me. I worked hard and studied even harder to pass that exam to refer to myself as a social worker, and now the State of Texas is attempting to make it a law that someone does not have to take an exam to be identified as a social worker. It seems a bit unfair to me.

Why is this important to State Rep. Coleman?

Below is information about the Bill and the status of it:

Link   HB 3331

Bill: HB 3331

Caption Text:

“Relating to the exemption of certain persons who teach social work at institutions of higher education from the licensing requirements for social workers.”

Author: Coleman

Subjects:

Education–Higher–Faculty (I0236)
Education–Higher–Institutions & Programs (I0223)
Education–Higher–Private Schools (I0238)
Occupational Regulation–Health Occupations (I0540)
SOCIAL WORK & SOCIAL WORKERS (S0030)

House Committee: Human Services

Status: In committee – Human Services.

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HB 3331 is now in the Human Services Committee.  If you are a State of Texas licensed Social Worker and want to retain the respect of your license, please contact these people below. Let them know how important it is to not exempt those who teach social work in the universities.

The Human Services Committee members include:

Richard Pena Raymond – 512-463-0558 (District 42)

Naomi Gonzales – 512-463-0622 (District 76)

Elliott Naishtat – 512-463-0668 (District 49)

Geanie Morrison – 512-463-0456 (District 30)

Bryan Hughes – 512-463-0271 (District 5)

Chuck Hopson – 512-463-0592 (District 11)

Todd Hunter – 512-463-0672 (District 32)

Jodie Laubenberg – 512-463-0186 (District 89)

Van Taylor – 512-463-0594 (District 66)