Social work; use of title.

(1) A social worker is not authorized to conduct clinical social work without obtaining and possessing a license or certification issued pursuant to this chapter.

(2) It shall be a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, for a person, for or without compensation, to hold himself or herself out to the public as a social worker either directly or through a governmental or private organization, entity, or agency unless that person:

(a) Possesses at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a social work program accredited by or from an institution that is an active candidate for accreditation as a social work program by the Council on Social Work Education; or

(b) Completes, at a university or college outside the United States or Canada, a social work program determined by the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council on Social Work Education to be equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work.

(3) This section does not apply to:

(a) A person who, prior to July 1, 2008, used the title “social worker” in his or her employment.

(b) Employees providing social work services under administrative supervision in long-term care facilities licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration.

(4) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement and enforce this section.