2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 43 - Mental Health
Part 4 - Social Workers
§ 12-43-406. Scope of part

(1) The practice of social work includes, but is not limited to, the following professional services: Assessment; differential diagnosis; treatment planning and evaluation; measurement of psychosocial functioning; crisis intervention; out-reach; short- and long-term treatment; psychotherapy; therapeutic intervention; client education; case management; mediation; advocacy; discharge, referral, and continuity of care planning; consultation; supervision; research; administration; education; social-group work; community organization; and social policy analysis and development. Social work practice also may encompass other current or developing modalities and techniques that are consistent with this scope.

(2) No person may state that he or she is engaged in the practice of social work as a social worker, or refer to himself or herself as a social worker, unless the person is licensed pursuant to this part 4 or possesses an earned social work degree, as defined in section 12-43-401 (11). No person may practice as a clinical social worker unless licensed pursuant to section 12-43-404 (2) or licensed to practice social work and supervised pursuant to section 12-43-404 (1) or (2).

(2) A person may not state that he or she is engaged in the practice of social work as a social worker, or refer to himself or herself as a social worker, unless the person is licensed pursuant to this part 4 or has completed an earned social work degree, as defined in section 12-43-401 (11). A person may not practice as a clinical social worker unless licensed pursuant to section 12-43-404 (2) or licensed to practice social work and supervised pursuant to section 12-43-404 (1) or (2).

(3) No person may supervise the practice of social work for the purpose of licensure compliance or disciplinary proceedings unless licensed pursuant to section 12-43-404; except that, in cases where no LCSW is available for supervision for licensure, the licensee may apply to the board for approval to be supervised by a person with equivalent experience as determined by the board.

(4) Nothing in this part 4 shall be construed to prevent members of other professions licensed under the laws of this state from rendering services within the scope of practice so long as they do not represent themselves to be social workers or their services as social work.

(5) Nothing in this part 4 prevents the practice of psychotherapy by persons registered with the state board of registered psychotherapists pursuant to section 12-43-702.5.