AK HB193

Establishes a new "associate social worker" license category requiring an associate degree in social work or a professional certificate in human services/social work plus paraprofessional experience, along with passage of a board examination.

Reduces Board of Social Work Examiners from two clinical social worker positions to one clinical social worker position, and adds one associate social worker position to the five-member board.

Extends temporary social worker licensing to include associate social workers, allowing individuals to practice for up to one year while completing examination requirements or providing proof of licensure from another jurisdiction.

Adds criminal penalties under class B misdemeanor for unlicensed persons using associate social worker titles or credentials ("L.A.S.W." or "Licensed Associate Social Worker").

Provides a one-year transition period for individuals with lapsed social worker licenses who qualified for exemptions to apply for license reinstatement without losing the right to use the "social worker" title during the application process.