N.Y. Educ. Law § 7703
A state board for social work shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the commissioner for the purpose of assisting the board of regents and the department on matters of professional licensing, practice, and conduct in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight of this title. The board shall be composed of not less than twelve members, of which five shall be licensed clinical social workers, five shall be licensed master social workers and two members of the public. Members of the first board need not be licensed prior to their appointment to the board. The terms of the first appointed members shall be staggered so that four are appointed for three years, four are appointed for four years, and four are appointed for five years. An executive secretary to the board shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the commissioner and shall be licensed pursuant to this article.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 7703