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A 2813

Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Reginald Atkins and 19 co-sponsors

New Jersey adopts the Social Work Licensure Compact, allowing multistate licenses to practice in member states via a home-state license, with ongoing state oversight.

Approved P.L.2025, c.51.
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Bill Summary · A 2813

Summary — A2813 (P.L.2025, c.51)

Enacted May 8, 2025 — “Social Work Licensure Compact”

What the bill does (purpose)

A2813 adopts the Social Work Licensure Compact in New Jersey, establishing a multistate licensing framework that allows licensed social workers (bachelor’s, master’s, or clinical level) to practice in other compact member states without obtaining a separate state license, provided they meet compact requirements. The compact aims to increase access to social work services, reduce duplicative licensing requirements, support mobility (including military families), facilitate telehealth, and improve member-state cooperation on licensure and discipline.

Key provisions

  • Establishes multistate licensure: a “multistate license” issued by a licensee’s home state (state of domicile) grants privilege to practice in all member states as a “multistate authorization to practice.”
  • Defines covered practitioners and terms (e.g., regulated social worker, home state, remote state, adverse action, disqualifying event).
  • Preserves state regulatory authority: member states retain authority to investigate, discipline, and hold a social worker accountable for compliance with the laws and professional standards of the state where the client is located.
  • Adverse actions and information exchange: sets procedures for reporting and sharing licensure, disciplinary, and investigative information through a commission-maintained data system.
  • Compact governance: creates the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission (with an Executive Committee) to adopt rules, operate a data system, and assess member-state fees.
  • Withdrawal: establishes the process for a state to withdraw from the compact.
  • Telehealth: explicitly allows use of telehealth under the compact framework.
  • Eligibility safeguards: the compact contemplates qualifying national exams, criminal background checks and disqualifying events, and requires an unencumbered license to obtain multistate status (details set by the commission).

Who is affected

  • Licensed social workers (bachelor’s, master’s, clinical) domiciled in New Jersey or other member states.
  • New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Consumer Affairs) — will implement compact requirements, exchange data with the commission, and continue disciplining practitioners in NJ.
  • Clients receiving social work services in New Jersey (including via telehealth) and regulators in other member states.

Fiscal impact and implementation considerations

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimate (Mar. 19, 2024): joining the compact will produce an indeterminate annual increase in State expenditures and an indeterminate decrease in State revenues.
    • Potential costs: ongoing board operating costs to regulate additional out‑of‑state practitioners practicing in NJ under compact privileges; possible one‑time data system modifications to meet commission requirements; annual commission/member fees.
    • Potential revenue changes: possible reduction in New Jersey license application/renewal fee revenue if NJ‑licensed social workers domiciled in other member states relinquish NJ single‑state licenses in favor of multistate privileges. OLS noted NJ board fees currently range roughly $120–$160 for initial/renewal licenses and regulated about 25,576 social workers (FY2023).
  • The State Board of Social Work Examiners funds operations from license fees and may adjust fees if necessary.

Legislative history / status

  • Introduced in Assembly: Jan. 9, 2024; reported out of Assembly Regulated Professions Committee (Feb. 22, 2024).
  • Assembly passage: Mar. 18, 2024 (77–0–0).
  • Received in Senate and referred to Senate Commerce Committee: Apr. 11, 2024; reported out Oct. 10, 2024; referred to Senate Budget & Appropriations: Oct. 21, 2024.
  • Senate passage (Substituted for S2688): Mar. 24, 2025 (39–0).
  • Approved and enacted as P.L.2025, c.51: May 8, 2025.

Related/context

  • Companion bill: S2688 (substituted).
  • New Jersey already participates in several other health-professional licensure compacts (e.g., nursing, medicine, psychology, counseling, physical therapy); this extends that multistate approach to social work.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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