The state’s Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (SCBSWE) issues the following types of social work licenses:
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) – This license allows you to engage in the application of social work at a basic generalist level, including
- Providing assessments and interventions
- Assisting with referrals
- Engaging in client education and community organizing
- Social work research and information gathering
- Cannot work in private practice; must work as an employee
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) – This license allows you to practice social work and engage in activities like those found within the LBSW scope of practice, but at a more advanced level and with the application of specialized knowledge. Activities permitted include:
- Treatment planning
- Case management and counseling
- Implementation and evaluation
- Outcome evaluations
- Cannot work in private practice; must work as an employee
Licensed Independent Social Worker Advanced Practice (LISW-AP) – This license allows you to engage in the LMSW scope of practice, as well as engage in private practice. And it goes further; this license is designed for social workers who want to make a difference at the systemic macro level through indirect non-clinical services. Activities associated with this license include:
- Administration of social work programs
- Community organizing
- Social policy development
- Client education
- Research
- Non-clinical supervision of employees
- Expert testimony
Licensed Independent Social Worker Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) – This license allows you to practice clinical social work using specialized knowledge and advanced skills, including in private practice, and to additionally function within the scope of practice of an LMSW. Clinical social work means you can help to restore and enhance the biopsychosocial functioning of families, individuals, couples, and groups. Activities associated with this license include:
- Counseling and psychotherapy
- Case management
- Supervision of employees
- Mediation and referral
- Consultation
- Evaluation and Research
- Expert testimony
LISW Supervisor – This addition to an LISW-CP or LISW-AP license allows you to supervise LMSWs so they can meet the supervised education experience requirements to become an LISW.
Steps Towards Social Work Licensure in South Carolina
To qualify for licensure from the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (SCBSWE) at any level you’ll need to do the following:
- Earn a degree in Social Work from a program that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); have your school send your official transcripts sent directly to the SCBSWE
- Pass an exam sponsored by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
- Apply online or by printing off the files listed below and mailing them to the SCBSWE; the application fee is $45
- Include a Verification of Lawful Presence form with your application
Once you’ve submitted an application you can check its status online.
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
Requirements
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
- Submit an application for licensure with the SCBSWE. Once the SCBSWE approves your application it will notify the ASWB that you’re cleared to test.
- Register with the ASWB for its Bachelors exam. Once you pass this the SCBSWE will issue your LBSW license.
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Requirements
- Earn at least a master’s degree in Social Work.
- Submit an application for licensure with the SCBSWE. Once the SCBSWE approves your application it will notify the ASWB that you’re cleared to test.
- Register with the ASWB for its Masters exam. Once you pass this the SCBSWE will issue your LMSW license.
- Once you become an LMSW you’re qualified to start accruing experience to fulfill the supervised experience requirements for the LISW-AP and LISW-CP licenses. You’ll need to locate an approved supervisor, and you can find a list of those here. Before you can start accruing hours of supervised experience you’ll need to get your supervision arrangement approved by the SCBSWE, which you can do by submitting this LISW Supervision Contract. The supervisor application fee is $45.
Licensed Independent Social Worker Advanced Practice (LISW-AP)
Requirements
- Earn at least a master’s degree in Social Work. You also need to have the following, and if you are lacking these you can find local opportunities to earn this education in South Carolina here:
90 academic hours of study covering advanced social work practice with organizations and communities
15 academic hours of study, or 20 hours of continuing education, in professional ethics; this must be completed while you’re gaining your supervised experience, or you can take an approved ethics course
Confirm you’ve completed these by submitting this form with your application
- Fulfill the LISW-AP supervised experience requirement, which is 3,000 advanced practice hours over at least two years but not more than four, including at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. This can only occur after you’ve been licensed as an LMSW. To verify you’ve completed your supervision, your supervisor will submit a Report of Supervised Experience to the SCBSWE, and you also need to submit your LISW Supervision Contract.
- Submit an application for licensure with the SCBSWE. Once the SCBSWE approves your application it will notify the ASWB that you’re cleared to test.
- Register with the ASWB for its Advanced Generalist exam. Once you pass this the SCBSWE will issue your LISW-AP license.
Licensed Independent Social Worker Clinical Practice (LISW-CP)
Requirements
- Earn at least a master’s degree in Social Work. You also need to have the following, and if you are lacking these you can find local opportunities to earn this education in South Carolina here:
45 academic hours of study each in psychopathology and psychodiagnostics
15 academic hours of study, or 20 hours of continuing education, in professional ethics; this must be completed while you’re gaining your supervised experience, or you can take an approved ethics course
Confirm you’ve completed these by submitting this form with your application
- Fulfill the LISW-CP supervised experience requirement, which is 3,000 of clinical supervision hours over at least two years but not more than four, including at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. This can only occur after you’ve been licensed as an LMSW. To verify you’ve completed your supervision, your supervisor will submit a Report of Supervised Experience to the SCBSWE, and you also need to submit your LISW Supervision Contract.
- Submit an application for licensure with the SCBSWE. Once the SCBSWE approves your application it will notify the ASWB that you’re cleared to test.
- Register with the ASWB for its Clinical exam. Once you pass this the SCBSWE will issue your LISW-CP license.
LISW Supervisor
- Become an LISW-AP or LISW-CP.
- Gain at least three years of work experience including at least 4,500 hours.
- Obtain 45 academic hours or continuing education hours on the subject of supervision.
- Submit an application to add this designation to your LISW license to the SCBSWE.
Renewing Your Social Work License
Licenses issued by the SCBSWE expire every two years, and you can renew online. The renewal fee is $90. To be eligible for renewal you’ll need to complete 40 hours of continuing education every renewal cycle, which you must attest to at the time of renewal.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Social Worker in South Carolina?
You can become licensed as a social worker in South Carolina in as soon as four years after you graduate from high school. That’s typically how long it takes to earn a BSW degree and qualify for the LBSW license. By investing about two years beyond that to earn an MSW degree you can qualify for an LMSW. Add two years of qualifying experience, for a total of eight years, and you can qualify for either the LISW-AP or LISW-CP licenses. If you want to qualify to supervise other LISWs it will take three additional years.
Social Work Degrees in South Carolina
The SCBSWE has singled out the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) as the recognized accrediting agency for education programs that qualify you for licensure. It also recognizes education programs it deems to have equivalent standards to the CSWE, which includes doctoral programs in Social Work. Altogether there are eight CSWE-accredited social work programs in South Carolina, including at least one that is offered online.
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW)
If you want to qualify for the LBSW license you’ll need to earn a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. There are six such programs in South Carolina. These programs are at least 120 semester credits, and as part of CSWE accreditation they include a field education experience that’s at least 400 hours.
Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW)
An MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program is the minimum education requirement you need to apply for an LMSW license. It’s also the minimum level of education you need to qualify for the LISW-AP or LISW-CP, plus some additional course-specific requirements within the MSW program. There are two CSWE-accredited MSW programs in South Carolina, one of which is offered online. These are typically at least 30 semester credits, and being CSWE-accredited means they include a field education experience that’s at least 900 hours.
Doctoral Degree in Social Work
You can qualify for an LMSW, LISW-AP, or LISW-CP license with a doctoral degree in Social Work and approval from the SCBSWE. For the latter two you’ll still need to meet certain specific course requirements, however the SCBSWE states that either a PhD in Social Work or a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) can be qualifying degrees for theses licenses. The CSWE doesn’t accredit programs at the doctoral level, however because they represent the highest level of education in this field they are still considered to be qualifying.
Reciprocity
You can be eligible for a social work license in South Carolina if your out-of-state license had the same education and exam requirements as South Carolina. Follow the steps listed above for your desired license and additionally:
- Have your state’s board of social work submit verification of your out-of-state license to the SCBSWE
- Have the ASWB forward your exam scores to the SCBSWE
Social Work Salaries in South Carolina
In 2020 the US Department of Labor reported the following average annual salaries for social work career trajectories, specifically in South Carolina:
- Social and Community Service Manager – $67,790
- Healthcare Social Worker – $57,470
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker – $34,710
- Child, Family, and School Social Worker – $38,380
- Social Worker, All Other – $45,700
Social Work Resources in South Carolina
South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers – This local chapter of the NASW is at the forefront of important issues for this field. It offers opportunities for professional development, education, trainings, and the latest updates on legislative developments. Members serve as experts in areas including substance abuse and addiction, child welfare, LGBT issues, sexual violence and women’s issues, and more.
South Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work – Advancing this niche field within the broader discipline of social work, the non-profit SCSCSW has been faithfully representing the interests of its members since 1984. Its benefits include sponsored study groups and salon presentations on today’s most relevant topics, which also qualify as continuing education.
School Social Workers Association of South Carolina – Students are at the forefront of this organization’s mission. Its purpose is to improve the qualify of education and life for students and their families in South Carolina, and they strive to accomplish these important goals by advocating for the strong development and the highest professional standards for school social workers.
Career Opportunities in South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Social Services – This cabinet state-level agency plays a vital role in addressing some of the most pressing issues faced by residents across the state. It hosts a range of programs including those devoted to issues like refugee resettlement, child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, improving community education, and foster care services.
South Carolina Department of Mental Health – The state’s preeminent agency for addressing mental health challenges, this department partners with local affiliates while simultaneously running statewide programs. Clients range from families and children to adolescents, adults and the elderly. Related agencies include four psychiatric hospitals, an alcohol and drug addiction treatment facility, three veterans nursing care facilities, and others.
Greenville County School District – Among the top-50 largest public school districts in the nation and the largest in South Carolina, each year upwards of 70,000 students rely on the caring and expertise of 9,800 employees for an education that will last them a lifetime. This district is comprised of 106 schools, including 51 elementary schools, 20 middle schools, and 14 high schools.
Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center – Under the umbrella of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, this center provides clients with a range of program options including in-patient and out-patient. It offers emergency services, case management, vocational services, homeless outreach programs, parent-child interaction programs, and much more.
LRADAC – Previously known as the Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, this non-profit agency offers a wide range of intervention, prevention, and treatment programs for its clients. Last year it served 5,000 patients, including youths, teens, and adults.
Charleston County School District – Comprised of 80 schools in total including 16 high schools, 26 middle schools, and dozens of elementary schools, last year this district was responsible for the education of 50,000 students thanks to the dedication of 6,500 staff.
Prisma Health – This health system includes eight hospitals and dozens of primary care centers and specialty medicine clinics. As the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in the state, its children’s hospital includes a facility dog program, child life services, five different camps, and the medical day treatment program known as the Wonder Center.
