(1) A license to practice as a social worker in Montana may be issued to the holder of an out-of-state social worker license at the discretion of the board, provided the applicant completes and files with the board an application for licensure and the required application fee. The candidate must meet the following requirements:

(a) The candidate holds a valid and unrestricted license to practice as a social worker in another state or jurisdiction, which was issued under standards equivalent to or greater than current standards in this state. Official written verification of such licensure status must be received by the board directly from the other state(s) or jurisdiction(s).

(b) The candidate holds a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) or an equivalent Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-approved degree, and shall supply a copy of the certified transcript sent directly from a college, university, or institution accredited by the CSWE.

(c) The candidate shall supply proof of successful completion of the Association of Social Work Boards' (ASWB) clinical examination or another board-approved licensing examination. The ASWB generalist examination is not an approved examination for purposes of obtaining licensure as a clinical social worker. Candidate scores on the examination must be forwarded directly to the board.

(d) The candidate shall submit proof of completion of 3000 hours of supervised social work experience as defined in 37-22-301, MCA. The candidate may verify the experience hours by affidavit, and need not supply a supervisor's signature upon reasonable explanation of why the supervisor's signature is unavailable to the candidate.

(e) The candidate shall submit proof of continuous practice as a social worker in another jurisdiction for the two years immediately preceding the date of application in Montana.

(f) The candidate shall submit three reference letters as provided in 37-22-301, MCA.

(g) The candidate shall answer questions about the applicant's character and fitness to practice on a form prescribed by the board, and the candidate shall provide all information required by the board in response to these questions.

(2) All candidates must submit the fingerprint and background check required by the board.

(3) The board may verify qualifications for licensure by reference to information supplied in a candidate's official record with the national registry of the ASWB. The candidate must request that this information be provided to the board in the manner required by the ASWB and the board. The candidate shall be solely responsible for paying any fee associated with this service.