History & Purpose:

The WV Board of Social Work Examiners was created by legislation in 1986. The Legislature finds that the profession of social work profoundly affects the lives of the people of the state. The profession of social work exists to provide humane and effective social services to individuals, families, groups, communities and society in order that social functioning may be enhanced and the quality of life improved. Failure to help individuals, whether through incompetence or irresponsibility, is a serious matter. Citizens have the potential to be greatly harmed by the services of ill-prepared and incapable persons acting as social workers. The purpose of this legislation is to protect the public by setting standards of qualification, education, training and experience for those who seek to engage in the practice of social work and to promote high standards of professional performance for those engaged in the profession of social work. The WV Board of Social Work Examiners was created for the purpose of carrying out the provisions set forth in this law.