7706. Exempt persons. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to:
1. Apply to the practice, conduct, activities, services or use of any title by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medicine within the state pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one of this title or by any person registered to perform services as a physician assistant within the state pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one-B of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice psychology within this state pursuant to article one hundred fifty-three of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice nursing as a registered professional nurse or nurse practitioner within this state pursuant to article one hundred thirty-nine of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice occupational therapy within this state pursuant to article one hundred fifty-six of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, creative arts therapy, or psychoanalysis within the state pursuant to article one hundred sixty-three of this title or by any person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice applied behavior analysis within the state pursuant to article one hundred sixty-seven of this title; provided, however, that no physician, physician assistant, registered professional nurse, nurse practitioner, psychologist, occupational therapist, licensed mental health counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed creative arts therapist, licensed psychoanalyst, licensed behavior analyst or certified behavior analyst assistant may use the titles "licensed clinical social worker" or "licensed master social worker", unless licensed under this article.
2. Prevent or prohibit an individual possessing a baccalaureate of social work degree or its equivalent from the performance of activities and services within the scope of practice of licensed master social work as defined in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision one of section seventy-seven hundred one of this article under supervision by a licensed master social worker, a licensed clinical social worker or in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.
3. Prevent or prohibit a licensed master social worker from the performance of activities and services within the scope of practice of licensed clinical social work as defined in subdivision two of section seventy-seven hundred one of this article in a facility setting and under supervision in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.
4. Prevent or prohibit the performance of activities and services within the scope of practice of licensed master social work as defined in subdivision one of section seventy-seven hundred one of this article by individuals, churches, schools, teachers, organizations, or not-for-profit businesses which are providing instruction, advice, support, encouragement or information to individuals, families and relational groups.
5. Prevent or prohibit the performance of activities and services within the scope of practice of licensed master social work or licensed clinical social work as defined in section seventy-seven hundred one of this article by the following:
(a) any individual who is credentialed under any law, including attorneys, rape crisis counselors, credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors whose scope of practice includes the practices defined in section seventy-seven hundred one of this article from performing or claiming to perform work authorized by applicable provisions of this chapter and the mental hygiene law;
(b) provision of pastoral counseling services by any member of the clergy or christian science practitioner, from providing pastoral counselling services within the context of his or her ministerial charge or obligation;
(c) students who are enrolled in a baccalaureate of social work or professional graduate level social work program of study, and which are required to perform as part of the field work component of that program, services provided under the supervision of a field work supervisor approved by the program;
(d) on the part of a student or trainee who is enrolled in an institution or program registered by the department or accredited by an accrediting organization acceptable to the department to provide training in a discipline or profession, other than social work or clinical social work, that is licensed pursuant to this title, where such activities and services are authorized within the definition of the scope of practice of the profession, or discipline in which he or she is being trained as set forth in the education law or the commissioner's regulations, provided that such services are performed under the regular and ongoing supervision of a licensee in the profession or discipline in which he or she is being trained who assumes professional responsibility for the services performed under his or her supervision and that such activities and the provision of such services are a formal part of the professional training program in which he or she is enrolled;
(e) any federal, state, county or municipal employee performing clinical social work services upon the effective date of this section for the period during which they maintain such employment with such governmental unit within the context of such employment and shall be limited to the services provided upon such effective date; and
(f) any employee performing clinical social work services on the effective date of this section for the period during which they maintain such employment with such entity within the context of such employment, and shall be limited to the services provided prior to such effective date.
6. Prohibit the practice of licensed master social work or licensed clinical social work, to the extent permissible within the scope of practice of such professions, by any not-for-profit corporation or education corporation providing services within the state of New York and operating under a waiver pursuant to section sixty-five hundred three-a of this title, provided that such entities offering licensed master social work or licensed clinical social work services shall only provide such services through an individual appropriately licensed or otherwise authorized to provide such services or a professional entity authorized by law to provide such services.
7. Prevent a person without a license from performing assessments such as basic information collection, gathering of demographic data, and informal observations, screening and referral used for general eligibility for a program or service and determining the functional status of an individual for the purpose of determining need for services unrelated to a behavioral health diagnosis or treatment plan. Such licensure shall not be required to create, develop or implement a service plan unrelated to a behavioral health diagnosis or treatment plan. Such service plans shall include, but are not limited to, job training and employability, housing, general public assistance, in home services and supports or home-delivered meals, investigations conducted or assessments made by adult or child protective services, adoption home studies and assessments, family service plans, transition plans and permanency planning activities, de-escalation techniques, peer services or skill development. A license under this article shall not be required for persons to participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to implement a behavioral health services or treatment plan; provided however, that such team shall include one or more professionals licensed under this article or articles one hundred thirty-one, one hundred fifty-three or one hundred sixty-three of this chapter; and provided, further, that the activities performed by members of the team shall be consistent with the scope of practice for each team member licensed or authorized under title VIII of this chapter, and those who are not so authorized may not engage in the following restricted practices: the diagnosis of mental, emotional, behavioral, addictive and developmental disorders and disabilities; patient assessment and evaluating; the provision of psychotherapeutic treatment; the provision of treatment other than psychotherapeutic treatment; and/or the development and implementation of assessment-based treatment plans as defined in section seventy-seven hundred one of this article. Provided, further, that nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as requiring a license for any particular activity or function based solely on the fact that the activity or function is not listed in this subdivision.
Last modified: February 3, 2019