New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI,
Issue 19 / October 7, 2025
TITLE 16 OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
LICENSING
CHAPTER 63 SOCIAL WORKERS
PART 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
16.63.1.1 ISSUING AGENCY: Regulation and Licensing Department – Board of
Social Work Examiners, P.O Box 25101, Santa Fe, NM 87504
[16.63.1.1 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.1 NMAC, 10/07/2025]
16.63.1.2 SCOPE: All baccalaureate social workers, masters
social workers, clinical social workers, and independent social workers.
[16.63.1.2 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.2 NMAC,10/07/2025]
16.63.1.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: These parts are promulgated to the Social
Work Practice Act, Sections 61-31-1 to 25 NMSA 1978.
[16.63.1.3 NMAC - Rp, 16.63.1.3 NMAC,10/07/2025]
16.63.1.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[16.63.1.4 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.4 NMAC,10/07/2025]
16.63.1.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: October 7, 2025, unless a different date cited at the end of this section.
[16.63.1.5 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.5 NMAC, 10/07/2025]
16.63.1.6 OBJECTIVE: To define terms relevant to social work
licensing, public versus non-public records, license display, and board
governance.
[16.63.1.6 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.6 NMAC, 10/07/2025]
16.63.1.7 DEFINITIONS:
A. Appropriate supervision:
(1) Supervision shall be provided by
an individual qualified by the board of social work examiners. Applicants and
supervisors will engage in the process of supervision in accordance with the
guidelines established by the board.
(2) Subject to subparagraph 3, below
supervision for an LMSW seeking licensure as an LCSW or LISW shall be provided
by an LISW or LCSW or by a licensed psychiatrist psychologist or a license
professional clinical counselor who has been approved by the Board.
(3) Any clinical work done by a LMSW
must be completed under supervision.
(4) The relationship between the
supervisor and supervisee must be designed to promote the development of
professional social work skills for the delivery of social work services. These
skills include the integration of theory and practice, the development and
application of intervention techniques, the development and constant
improvement of social work standards and ethics, and the continued acquisition
of professional knowledge. Within the limits set forth by the board,
teleconferencing and group supervision will be accepted.
(5) Supervisors shall evaluate and
oversee the manner in which the above skills
development is reflected in the supervisee’s practice. The supervisor’s
responsibility insures that the supervisee acquires the necessary skills
required for advanced and professional social work practice. Supervisors shall
immediately notify the board if there is a problem in the supervisory process
or the supervisor sees the applicant as unsuitable for this highest level of
licensure.
(6) Supervisors who are overseeing
supervision of individuals as masters social workers (LMSW) after aspiring to
achieve licensure at the independent
clinical level must comply with the board’s supervisory requirements as
follows:
(a) Complete a minimum six hour board
approved supervision course for initial approval. This course for initial
approval may not be included as part of continuing education required for
license renewal;
(b) Submit an
application to become a board approved supervisor, prior to commencing
supervision of the applicant; and
(c) Execute a contact with a supervisee
that includes the frequency of supervision, type of supervision, education
goals, and a schedule for evaluation. The contract shall be maintained by the
supervisor for four years following the completion of supervision. The contract
may be requested by the board or the regulation and licensing department for
review during the period of supervision or for a period of four years following the completion of
supervision.
(7) Direct supervision: means face to face
supervision between two licensees, which may include supervision through
video-teleconferencing platforms that comply with ethical and confidentiality
rules. At least 70 of the 100 required hours must be obtained through direct
supervision.
(8) Group Supervision: means supervision
other than direct supervision, rendered to no more than eight individual per
group at a time. No more than 50 hours of the 100 required hours may be
obtained through group supervision.
(9) Interdisciplinary Supervision: The
board may accept supervision by other licensed clinical professionals to include, clinical psychologist, psychiatrists and
professional clinical counselors. The supervising individual must be in good
standing with their own professional licensing board. Board approval must be
received prior to the commencement of supervision and no more than 30 hours of
the required 100 hours may be obtained through non LISW/LCSW supervision. When
the board approved supervisor is outside of the employing agency or
organization, final decisions regarding clinical rest with the employment
agency or organization.
B. Qualified applicants:
(1) means graduates from those
programs having received accreditation by CSWE and those programs having
candidacy status, conditional status, or under review status with CSWE.
(2) For those applicants who graduated
from an institution of higher education before CSWE began to accredit programs
(prior to 1974), the New Mexico board of social work examiners will require:
(a) a letter from university’s registrar’s
office stating that the applicant’s course of study culminated in a degree
which was the equivalent of an emphasis or major in social work;
(b) demonstrated social work experience;
(c) documentation of social work licensure
in a previous state; and
(d) concurrence among the majority
professional members of the board that the transcripts reflect sufficient
coursework in social work.
C. CSWE (council on social work education) accreditation:
means those programs having received accreditation by CSWE and those programs
having candidacy status or under review status with CSWE.
D. ASWB (association of social work board) refers to the
organization composed of state and other jurisdictional boards and is
responsible for administering licensing examinations and certifying continuing
education course.
E. LBSW: a licensed baccalaureate social worker.
F. LMSW: a licensed masters social worker.
G. LISW: a licensed independent social worker.
H. LCSW: a licensed clinical social worker.
I. Cultural Awareness: Knowledge and sensitivity regarding
cultural and impact of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification or
expression, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, oppression immigration
status, political beliefs, physical or mental disability, class, economic
status and martial status while treating issues that
clients present.
J. NASW: National Association of Social Workers.
[16.63.1.7 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.7 NMAC, 10/07/2025]
16.63.1.8 SCOPE OF PRACTICE: The scope of practice of any licensed social
workers is set forth at 61-31-6 of the Act. The scope of practice for the
clinical and independent social worker is further defined as set forth in
16.63.11. The scope of practice for masters social worker is further defined as
set forth in 16.63.10 NMAC. The scope of practice for the baccalaureate social
worker is further defined as set in 16.63.9.NMAC.
[16.63.1.8 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.8 NMAC, 10/07/2025]
16.63.1.9 AREA OF SPECIALIZATION: The board does not license by specialization.
Licensee may request that the board’s website reflect a licensee’s area or
areas of specialization based upon proof of accreditation by ASWB or NASW.
[16.63.1.9 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.9 NMAC, 10/07/2025]
16.63.1.10 COOPERATION WITH THE BOARD:
A. A social worker shall give full cooperation and assistance
to the board of social work examiners and its committees, functions and duties
with respect to licensing and disciplinary matters. Applicants and licensees
shall respond promptly to any matters or inquiry by the board.
B. Failure to cooperate with the board in an investigation as
required by 16.63.1.13 NMAC herein will constitute unprofessional behavior and
may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension,
revocation or denial of license, as provided by the Social Work Practice Act,
Sections 61-31-1 through 61-31-25 NMSA 1978, as amended.
[16.63.1.10 NMAC -
Rp, 16.63.1.1 NMAC,10/07/2025]
16.63.1.11 [RESERVED]
[16.63.1.11 NMAC -
Repealed, 10/07/2025]
16.63.1.12 [RESERVED]
[16.63.1.12 NMAC -
Repealed, 10/07/2025]
16.63.1.13 [RESERVED]
[16.63.1.13 NMAC -
Repealed, 10/07/2025]
HISTORY OF 16.63.1
NMAC:
Pre-NMAC History: The material in this part was derived from
that previously filed with the Commission of Public Records- States Records
Center and Archives:
Rule 1, General
Provisions, 12/1/89.
Rule 1, General
Provisions, 8/13/90.
Rule 1, General
Provisions, 4/15/91.
Rule 1, General
Provisions, 5/22/92.
Rule 1, General
Provisions, 12/5/94.
Rule 2,
Definitions, 12/1/89.
Rule 2,
Definitions, 4/15/91.
Rule 2,
Definitions, 5/22/92.
Rule 2,
Definitions, 12/5/94.
History of Repealed
Material:
16.63.1 NMAC,
General Provisions, filed 01/05/1995, was repealed and replaced with 16.63.1
NMAC, General Provisions, effective 10/07/2025.