(a) A person who has obtained a temporary license may not begin the supervision process toward independent non-clinical practice or independent clinical practice until the regular license is issued.
(b) To accrue supervised clinical experience required for the issuance of a LCSW:
  (1) an LMSW shall complete a supervision plan form prescribed by the Council, or a form with substantially equivalent information, and signed by both the LMSW and the Council-approved clinical supervisor;
  (2) the Council-approved clinical supervisor shall keep a supervision file on the LMSW that includes the supervision plan, list of locations where the LMSW provides supervised clinical services, and a log of clinical experience and supervision earned by the LMSW;
  (3) the Council-approved clinical supervisor shall submit a completed and signed supervision verification form prescribed by the Council when the LMSW submits an application for re-categorization; and
  (4) the LMSW shall submit an application for re-categorization of his or her licensure to LCSW upon fulfillment of the supervision requirements.
(c) An LMSW who plans to apply for the LCSW may not open an independent social work practice to provide clinical social work to clients.
(d) To accrue supervised experience required for an LBSW or an LMSW to apply for Independent Practice Recognition the LBSW or LMSW shall:
  (1) complete a supervision plan form prescribed by the Council, or a form with substantially equivalent information, and signed by both the LBSW or LMSW and the Council-approved supervisor;
  (2) the Council-approved supervisor shall keep a supervision file on the LBSW or LMSW that includes the supervision plan, list of locations where the LBSW or LMSW provides supervised services, and a log of experience and supervision earned by the LBSW or LMSW;
  (3) the Council-approved supervisor shall submit a completed and signed supervision verification form prescribed by the Council when the LBSW or LMSW submits an application for Independent Practice Recognition; and
  (4) submit an application for Independent Practice Recognition upon fulfillment of the supervision requirements.
(e) A licensee who is required to be supervised as a condition of initial licensure, continued licensure, or disciplinary action must:
  (1) submit one supervisory plan for each practice location to the Council for approval by the Council or its designee within 30 days of initiating supervision;
  (2) submit a current job description from the agency in which the social worker is employed with a verification of authenticity from the agency director or his or her designee on agency letterhead or submit a copy of the contract or appointment under which the licensee intends to work, along with a statement from the potential supervisor that the supervisor has reviewed the contract and is qualified to supervise the licensee in the setting;
  (3) ensure that the supervisor submits reports to the Council on a schedule determined by the Council. In each report, the supervisor must address the supervisee's performance, how closely the supervisee adheres to statutes and rules, any special circumstances that led to the imposition of supervision, and recommend whether the supervisee should continue licensure. If the supervisor does not recommend the supervisee for continued licensure, the supervisor must provide specific reasons for not recommending the supervisee. The Council may consider the supervisor's reservations as it evaluates the supervision verification the supervisee submits; and
  (4) notify the Council immediately if there is a disruption in the supervisory relationship or change in practice location and submit a new supervisory plan within 30 days of the break or change in practice location.
(f) This rule shall apply to all pending applications, supervision plans awaiting review or previously approved, as well as all future applications filed with the Council.

Source Note: The provisions of this §781.402 adopted to be effective November 19, 2020, 45 TexReg 8161; amended to be effective February 4, 2021, 46 TexReg 817