What the official sources support
Applicability and exclusions are shown with each finding. “Qualified” or “conflicting” findings are not simplified into an operational answer.
Authority, credentials, and scope
Regulator, governing authority, credential names, regulated titles, scope boundaries, exemptions, and prohibited activities.
Credential ladder
Published research · ConfirmedThe social-work board administers bachelor, master, certified, and certified-clinical license levels with different role boundaries.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LCSW-C research in MD.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Application and practice status
Application, education, examination, background check, fees, temporary authority, endorsement, and supervised versus independent practice.
Clinical independence
Published research · ConfirmedDo not infer independent clinical authority from the words social worker; verify the exact credential, supervision, and setting.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LCSW-C research in MD.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Supervision and workforce evidence
Supervisor qualifications, written agreements, settings, hours, reporting, license verification, and hiring or credentialing evidence.
Interstate pathways
Published research · ConfirmedFull licensure, telehealth authority, and any compact privilege are separate pathways and must be verified before serving a client located elsewhere.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LCSW-C research in MD.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Cross-border and practice structure
Telehealth location rules, registration, compact privileges, ownership, entity naming, fee sharing, and multidisciplinary practice.
Records and closure
Published research · ConfirmedThe practice must reconcile board duties with Maryland confidentiality, access, retention, subpoena, minor, mandatory-reporting, and closure rules.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LCSW-C research in MD.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Client-facing operations and records
Disclosure, consent, telehealth, emergencies, advertising, confidentiality, access, retention, minors, subpoenas, closure, fees, billing, and termination.
Credential ladder
Published research · ConfirmedThe social-work board administers bachelor, master, certified, and certified-clinical license levels with different role boundaries.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LCSW-C research in MD.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Maintenance, complaints, and monitoring
Renewal, continuing education, audits, inactive status, reinstatement, complaints, discipline, effective dates, exclusions, and unresolved interpretations.
Clinical independence
Published research · ConfirmedDo not infer independent clinical authority from the words social worker; verify the exact credential, supervision, and setting.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LCSW-C research in MD.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11