TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) - Florida lawmakers are working to address the state’s critical shortage of social workers by making it easier for out-of-state professionals to practice here without navigating complex licensing requirements.

A bipartisan bill would allow Florida to join a social worker licensure compact that 31 other states have already adopted, including all of Florida’s neighboring states. The legislation aims to tackle Florida’s ranking of 43rd in the nation for social worker availability, with approximately one social worker for every 2,000 residents.

“We just want to be here to help. And this compact will allow us to do that,” said Christina Cazanave-McCarthy, Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers Executive Director.

Under the current system, social workers must restart the entire licensing process to work in Florida, even if they hold active licenses in other states. The proposed compact would streamline this process by allowing social workers with clean, active licenses in their home states to apply for multi-state licenses.

“With having a compact it makes it easier for licensure, it makes it easier for people to practice in states while keeping up with the same standard the state currently has,” said Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, who is sponsoring the legislation.

The licensing barriers are particularly problematic given Florida’s transient population, according to Cazanave-McCarthy. “We have a high fluctuation of clients that come in and out of the state for all types of reasons, snowbirds, students that are here for a short time and return home, military families,” she said.

The shortage extends beyond general social work into behavioral health care, where Florida faces significant gaps in coverage. Hunschofsky emphasized that social workers play a crucial role in the behavioral health workforce.

“If we look at behavioral health care, we don’t have enough behavioral health workers, and social workers are an important part of the behavioral health workforce,” Hunschofsky said.

Cazanave-McCarthy said the current licensing complications create daily challenges. “Every day, my office receives phone calls from individuals trying to get licensed in our state, but cannot because of the complicated steps to get licensed through endorsement, because Florida has no reciprocity,” she said.

The bill has garnered bipartisan support, with versions filed in both chambers of the Florida Legislature. Supporters hope the compact will provide a game-changing solution to Florida’s social worker shortage while maintaining the state’s current licensing standards.

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