{"data":{"id":"us-vt/26-v.s.a.-3210","jurisdiction":"us-vt","citation":"26 V.S.A. § 3210","heading":"Unprofessional conduct","body":"(a) The following conduct and the conduct set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 129a by a person licensed under this chapter constitutes unprofessional conduct. When that conduct is by an applicant or a person who later becomes an applicant, it may constitute grounds for denial or discipline of a license:\n(1) failing to use a correct title in professional activity;\n(2) conduct that evidences unfitness to practice licensed master’s or licensed independent clinical social work;\n(3) engaging in any sexual conduct with a client, or with the immediate family member of a client, with whom the licensee has had a professional relationship within the previous two years;\n(4) harassing, intimidating, or abusing a client or patient;\n(5) practicing outside or beyond a licensee’s education, training, experience, or competence;\n(6) having a conflict of interest that interferes with the exercise of the licensee’s professional responsibilities, discretion, and impartial judgment;\n(7) failing to inform a client when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and failing to take reasonable steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes the client’s interest primary and protects the client’s interest to the greatest extent possible;\n(8) taking unfair advantage of any professional relationship or exploiting others to further the licensee’s personal, religious, political, or business interests;\n(9) engaging in dual or multiple relationships with a client or former client in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client;\n(10) failing to take steps to protect a client and to set clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries, in instances where dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable;\n(11) failing to clarify with all parties which individuals will be considered clients and the nature of the licensee’s professional obligations to the various individuals who are receiving services, when a licensee provides services to two or more people who have a spousal, familial, or other relationship with each other;\n(12) failing to clarify the licensee’s role with the parties involved and to take appropriate action to minimize any conflicts of interest, when the clinical social worker anticipates a conflict of interest among the individuals receiving services or anticipates having to perform in conflicting roles such as testifying in a child custody dispute or divorce proceedings involving clients; or\n(13) using conversion therapy as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 8351 on a client younger than 18 years of age.\n(b) After hearing, and upon a finding of unprofessional conduct, an administrative hearing officer may take disciplinary action against a licensee or applicant.","path":["Title 26: Professions and Occupations","Chapter 061: Social Workers","Subchapter 001: GENERAL PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/26/061/03210","current_through":"2025 session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T17:17:08Z","sha256":"8e36d3262411c385637fbea5bb4ed83ccbd10b39e81af360a27865499a545fa2","source_id":"us-vt","stale":false,"prev":"us-vt/26-v.s.a.-3209","next":"us-vt/26-v.s.a.-3211"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}