Sec. 3.5. (a) For purposes of this section, “virtual supervision” means supervision of an applicant for a license as a clinical social worker by a qualified supervisor through an electronic platform that provides for synchronous visual and audio interaction in real time, and which is compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Virtual supervision does not include telephone calls, electronic mail, or text messages.

     (b) The applicant for a license as a clinical social worker must have at least two (2) years of clinical social work experience after receiving a graduate degree in social work and under the supervision of a qualified supervisor as determined by the board.

     (c) If an individual is obtaining the clinical social work experience described in subsection (b) in Indiana, the individual must be licensed as a social worker under section 1 of this chapter.

     (d) A doctoral internship may be applied toward the supervised clinical social work experience requirement.

     (e) Except as provided in subsection (f), the clinical social work experience requirement may be met by work performed at or away from the premises of the qualified supervisor.

     (f) Except as provided in subsection (h), the clinical social work requirement may not be performed away from the qualified supervisor’s premises if:

(1) the work is the independent private practice of clinical social work; and

(2) the work is not performed at a place with the supervision of a qualified supervisor available.

     (g) Any supervised clinical social work experience hours that an applicant accumulates under this chapter after being licensed as a social worker under section 1 of this chapter do not expire and may be used by the applicant to satisfy the supervised clinical social work experience requirements under this chapter.

     (h) Up to one hundred percent (100%) of the supervised clinical social work experience hours required under subsection (b) may be accounted for through virtual supervision by a qualified supervisor described in subsection (b).

     (i) After obtaining a temporary permit under section 11.5 of this chapter, any supervised clinical social work experience hours that an applicant accumulates under this chapter before the temporary permit expires may be used by the applicant to satisfy the supervised clinical social work experience requirements under this chapter during the following time after the applicant obtained the temporary permit:

(1) For not more than four (4) years.

(2) After the four (4) year period, if approved by the board.

As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.50. Amended by P.L.177-2009, SEC.45; P.L.192-2017, SEC.7; P.L.160-2018, SEC.1; P.L.195-2018, SEC.11; P.L.215-2018(ss), SEC.12; P.L.83-2024, SEC.15.