3/14/2021 12:37 pm
Date / Time filed with the Register of Regulations 		VA.R. Document Number: R____-______
Virginia Register Publication Information

Transmittal Sheet: Response to Petition for Rulemaking
Initial Agency Notice
X
Agency Decision
Promulgating Board: Board of Social Work
Regulatory Coordinator: Elaine J. Yeatts

(804)367-4688

elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov
Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle

Executive Director

(804)367-4406

jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov
Contact Address: Department of Health Professions

9960 Mayland Drive

Suite 300

Richmond, VA 23233
Chapter Affected:
18 vac 140 - 20: Regulations Governing the Practice of Social Work
Statutory Authority: State: Chapter 37 of Title 54.1

Federal:
Date Petition Received 01/26/2021
Petitioner Florine Edmunds
 Petitioner's Request
To extend the requirement for passage of the licensing examination and allow an additional one to three years for remediation, training and equitable opportunities. To reduce the passing score by 10 points and provide study sheets for retaking examination.
 Agency Plan
The petition will be published on February 15, 2021 with a comment period ending March 10, 2021. The Board will consider the petition and any comment received at its meeting on March 12, 2021.
Publication Date 02/15/2021  (comment period will also begin on this date)
Comment End Date 03/10/2021
 Agency Decision
Take no action
Agency Response Date 03/14/2021
 Agency Decision Text
In accordance with Virginia law, the petition was filed with the Register of Regulations and published on February 15, 2021 with comment accepted through March 10, 2021. The petition was also posted on the Virginia Regulatory Townhall at www.townhall.viginia.gov. There was one comment on the petition from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that owns the licensing examination.   At its meeting yesterday, the Board declined to initiate rulemaking in response to the petition. The consensus was that lowering the cut score for passage of the national examination would jeopardize acceptance of Virginia applicants for licensure in other states. Additionally, the passing score is determined by an analysis by experts and determined by ASWB for all candidates, and there is no basis for Virginia choosing a different score.   Likewise, the Board did not agree to further extend the period during which someone can be approved to sit for the examination. In its comment, ASWB noted that Virginia is more generous than many other states in the number of times someone can attempt passage and the amount of time given to do so.