Indiana Licensure Information
In order to practice as a school social worker (SSW) in Indiana it is important to know that school social work is a dual-licensed profession. Requirements are as follows:
515 IAC 8-1-48
- The LSW and/or LCSW social work license(s) obtained from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA): www.pla.in.gov IC 25-23.6-4-2
Beginning School Social Workers
How to Apply for an Original School Social Worker License
Applicants must have at least a MSW to obtain a School Social Worker license.
1. Complete the entire Application for Indiana Educator License, State Form 9331. Since the Office of Educator Licensing and Development communicates with applicants by e-mail, you must provide an e-mail address that you have easy access to.
2. In section E, if you answer yes to any of the three (3) criminal history questions, include related court documents and an explanation.
3. $35 Money Order or Cashier's Check made payable to "State of Indiana." ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
4. A copy of your valid Indiana Professional Licensing Agency License.
5. A copy of your CPR/ Heimlich Maneuver certification, click here for more information and a list of approved providers
6. Official transcripts that bear the sign and/or seal of the registrar, the degree and date conferred. Provide transcripts for ALL completed coursework at ALL institutions attended. Transcripts must be included with evaluation materials. Do NOT order transcripts to be sent directly to the Office of Educator Licensing and Development.
Submit all the above materials to:
Office of Educator Licensing and Development
151 W. Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2798
Beginning School Social Workers will apply for a two-year Initial Practitioner License from OELD: http://www.doe.in.gov/educatorlicensing/SSSW.html . The Initial Practitioner License may be renewed for an additional 2 year period in the event that the school social worker is not able to meet the standard for the 5 year Proficient Practitioner License within the 2 year time frame. Information regarding the responsibilities of the school social worker and those of the administrator regarding this process may be found at: http://www.doe.in.gov/educatorlicensing/SSSW.html
515 IAC 1-5-3.2 explains the requirement for a school/corporation to develop and implement a Beginning School Services Residency Program (SSRP)
515 IAC 1-5-3.2 Beginning school services residency program
Sec. 3.2.
(a) To be eligible for a proficient practitioner license under 515 IAC 4, the holder of an initial practitioner license that includes any content area established under 515 IAC 8-1-45, 515 IAC 8-1-46, 515 IAC 8-1-47, or 515 IAC 8-1-48 shall participate in a two (2) year beginning school services residency program.
(b) The beginning school services residency program shall:
(1) assist beginning school services personnel in the performance of their duties;
(2) identify skills and practices necessary for excellence in school services; and
(3) require the supervisor to complete an assessment of the performance of the
beginning school services personnel.
(c) A beginning school services residency program is a two (2) year program that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) An initial conference between the supervisor and the beginning school services personnel to discuss the following:
(A) The assessment schedule under subdivision (2).
(B) The minimum assessment criteria developed by the department under subsection (e)(1).
(2) An assessment of the beginning school services personnel before November 15 and April 15 during each of the first two (2) years of the beginning school services personnel's employment. The supervisor shall assess the beginning school services personnel by using the minimum assessment criteria provided by the department under subsection (e) (1).
(3) A growth plan for the beginning school services personnel if the supervisor determines after any assessment described in subdivision (2) that a beginning school services personnel is deficient in any area being assessed.
The growth plan must be in writing and include the following:
(A) Specific expectations of the supervisor.
(B) Actions to be taken by the beginning school services personnel to meet the expectations.
(C) A date for the actions to be completed.
(D) The next assessment date.
(4) If the supervisor creates a growth plan in accordance with subdivision (3), a reassessment of the beginning school services personnel shall occur prior to the next assessment required by subdivision (2).
(5) After April 15 of the second year of the program but before May 1 of that same year, the supervisor shall make a determination and provide a written explanation to the beginning school services personnel and superintendent that one (1) of the following determinations:
(A) The beginning school services personnel successfully completed the residency program.
(B) The beginning school services personnel failed to successfully complete the residency program.
(d) The beginning school services residency program may include a school corporation sponsored mentoring program.
(e) The department shall:
(1) develop minimum assessment criteria to be used by a supervisor when assessing a beginning school services personnel;
(2) develop forms for use by a supervisor in the assessment of the beginning school services personnel; and
(3) provide assistance in the development and implementation of a beginning school services residency program at the request of an entity under section 1(a) of this rule.
The appeal process for a practitioner that is denied approval of eligibility for a Proficient Practioner License may be found in 515 IAC 1-5-7.
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Succesful completion of the SSRP creates eligibility for the 5 year Proficient License. If awarded, this license must be renewed every 5 years. There are three options for renewing the five year Proficient Practitioner License:
How to Renew a School Social Worker License
1. Complete the entire Application for Indiana Educator License, State Form 9331. Since the Office of Educator Licensing and Development communicates with applicants by e-mail, you must provide an e-mail address that you have easy access to.
2. In section E, if you answer yes to any of the three (3) criminal history questions, include related court documents and an explanation.
3. $35 Money Order or Cashier's Check made payable to "State of Indiana." ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
4. Attach a copy, front and back, of your Indiana Educator license being renewed or a copy of your license information from the Indiana Educator License Lookup
select one (1) of the following:
- Indiana Professional Licensing Agency license - a copy of your IPLA license
- Six (6) semester hours completed at an accredited Indiana institution – Renew Online or submit the above materials to the Licensing Advisor at your Indiana Institution.The six (6) semester hours must have been completed after the issue date of the license you are renewing.
- Six (6) semester hours completed at an accredited Out-of-State institution - Submit all materials and official transcripts directly to the address below.The six (6) semester hours must have been completed after the issue date of the license you are renewing.
- Professional Growth Plan (PGP) – For more information on the Professional Growth Plan, click here
Submit all the above materials to:
Office of Educator Licensing and Development 151 W. Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2798
All Current School Services License Holders who choose to renew with a Professional Growth Plan:
All school professionals who choose to renew with a Professional Growth Plan will renew prior to their license expiration date. School social workers will renew with a letter from the immediate supervisor verifying that the applicant has succesfully completed a PGP – along with other application materials. See http://www.doe.in.gov/educatorlicensing/SSSW.html
Renewal of the Proficient License with a Professional Growth Plan: 515 IAC 4-2-19 includes:
- completion of a Professional Growth Plan
- 90 hours of profesional growth experiences (PGPs) during the 5 year license renewal time-frame
- verification from the immediate supervisor
- appeal process initially goes to the school superintendent and, if necessary, the Indiana Department of Education.
The proficient license must be renewed every five years. Continuing education activities (CEUs) may be used to identify PGP activities for the purposes of the Professional Growth Plan. 1 content hour of a professional development activity is equivalent to 1 PGP.
Accomplished License (10 years) 515 IAC 8-1-48 (c)
515 IAC 12-1-1 Accomplished practitioner license
Sec. 1. (a) An accomplished practitioner license is a renewable license that may be issued to the holder of a proficient practitioner license if any of the following requirements are met:
(1) The license includes a content area set forth in:
(A) 515 IAC 8-1-8 through 515 IAC 8-1-39; or 515 IAC 8-1-45 through 515 IAC 8-1-48; and
(B) the applicant holds a master's degree or higher from an institution of higher learning that substantially applies as determined by the department to the content area.
The individual MUST hold the Proficient Practitioner license for the full five years before they can convert to a 10 Year Accomplished Practitioner License.
Questions regarding school social work licensure can be directed to:
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