Governor Phil Murphy has officially signed into law a bill that enters New Jersey into the Social Work Licensure Compact, joining a growing number of states streamlining the licensure process for social workers across state lines.
The legislation enables New Jersey to participate in a multistate license system for social workers at the clinical, master’s, and bachelor’s levels. Under the compact, licensed social workers in member states will be able to practice in New Jersey—and vice versa—without needing to obtain a separate New Jersey license, provided they meet the compact’s requirements.
The Social Work Licensure Compact, which has been under development for several years, is designed to modernize the patchwork system of state-by-state licensure. For New Jersey, it promises to ease the burdens for out-of-state social workers looking to practice in the Garden State—particularly beneficial for residents near state borders and for telehealth services.
The bill includes detailed provisions governing how licenses will be issued, how disciplinary actions will be managed across states, and how member states will coordinate through the formation of a Social Work Licensure Compact Commission and its Executive Committee.
The compact also enhances flexibility during emergencies, such as natural disasters or public health crises, when rapid deployment of licensed professionals is essential.