(a) A person may apply for a provisional license as a social worker by paying the appropriate fee and filing an application with the executive council. The executive council may issue a provisional license to a person who meets the requirements of this section.
(b) An applicant for a provisional license must:
(1) be licensed or certified in good standing as a social worker in another state or jurisdiction that has licensing or certification requirements determined by the executive council to be substantially equivalent to the requirements of this chapter;
(2) have passed a national or other examination recognized by the executive council relating to the practice of social work; and
(3) be sponsored by a person licensed under this chapter with whom the provisional license holder may practice social work.
(c) An applicant is not required to comply with Subsection (b)(3) if the executive council determines that compliance constitutes a hardship to the applicant.
(d) A provisional license is valid until the date the executive council approves or denies the provisional license holder's application for a license under Section 505.359.