Michigan Registered Social Services Technician (RSST) Guide - 2024

Michigan Registered Social Services Technician (RSST) Licensure Process

The Registered Social Service Technician is the first step in social works licensure in Michigan. You will perform roles such as emergency intervention, determine clients’ needs through interviews, point out resources and solutions, and relay relevant client info to your supervisor.

You must meet several categories of requirements to qualify for the RSST license. These are;

Educational Requirements

Supposing you do not have the Limited Social Service Technician License (LSST), you must have obtained an Associate degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) approved university or college. Here you can find all schools offering social work degree programs in Michigan.

OR 

Studied a minimum of four courses relevant to the scope of social work for two years (60 semesters) with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0. Your school must send the Certificate of Education of Social Service Technician Registration form by email to bpldata@michigan.gov or by mail to: Bureau of Public Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, Michigan.

• For degrees obtained outside the United States or Canada, you must complete a credential evaluation from the CSWE and mail it to bpldata@michigan.gov or the Bureau of Public Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, Michigan.
• In addition, show proof of supervised social work experience by completing and submitting the Verification of Social Work Experience Form from your supervisor.
• If you have the Limited Social Service Technician License (LSST), you must only show proof of supervised social work experience by completing and submitting the Verification of Social Works Experience Form from your supervisor.

Again, here you can find all schools offering social work degree programs in Michigan.

Examination Requirements

Register and sit for the ASWB Bachelor’s qualifying examination and pay the $230. Afterward, have the ASWB send your result to the board, then send your license.

Experience Requirements

You will need to acquire at least 2,000 hours of social work experience for a period not less than one year under the supervision of an LBSW or LMSW license holder or their equivalent in another state. Also, you should have current employment related to the duties of a social or human services worker.

Reference Requirements

You will need one supervisory reference from an LBSW or LMSW license holder or equivalent in another state.

Applying for Licensure as a Registered Social Service Technician

1. Register, Login, and Apply online for RSST registration on the Michigan MiPlus platform.
2. Get your school to submit a Certificate of Education for Social Service Technician to the board.
3. Complete a criminal background check. After approving your application, the board will send you an application confirmation letter to guide you on how to complete your criminal background check.
4. Complete two hours or more of Implicit Bias training in the five years preceding the licensure application. This is a new regulation that took effect on June 1, 2022.
5. Complete a course in identifying victims of human trafficking.
6. Submit a Verification of Social Service Employment form.
7. Submit a completed Verification of Social Work Experience form, which will bear your supervisor’s attestation that you completed your work experience.
8. Pay the application fee of $97.20 via a credit or debit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover).