Social Work License Requirements By State

Alabama Social Work License Requirements

Social worker licenses in Alabama are granted by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE). The ASBSWE grants four types of social work licenses:

• Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
• Private Independent Practice (PIP)

All levels of licensure require:

• A degree in social work from a school that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Passage of an exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

Alabama Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) Requirements:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelors Examination
• Maintain four hours per month of supervision under a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) for two years

Alabama Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Requirements:

• Master of Social Work or Doctor of Social Work
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Masters Exam
• Demonstrate a minimum of two years of supervision of four hours per month

Alabama Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) Requirements:

• Master of Social Work or Doctor of Social Work
• Have a current LMSW license
• Have at least two years of post-graduate continuing supervision from an LICSW
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam

Alabama Private Independent Practice (PIP) Requirements:

• Master of Social Work or Doctor of Social Work
• Must maintain current LICSW license
• Have either three years of full-time (or five years of part-time) post-MSW practice experience, or one year of full-time (or two years of part-time) post-graduate experience after receiving the LICSW
• Must define your social work practice method, at least one area for which you wish to be certified
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam

Alabama Social Work Reciprocity:

The ASBSWE grants social workers from other states a license to practice in Alabama provided:

• The other state requires standards that are equivalent to Alabama’s for issuing a license
• You agree to practice social work according to ASBSWE rules
• If you’ve already taken the appropriate ASWB social work exam you don’t need to take one to become licensed in Alabama
• Your out-of-state license must be active and in good standing
• When applying for licensure via reciprocity in Alabama you must submit proof of the requisite hours of supervision and a complete record of any past or pending disciplinary actions

Alaska Social Work License Requirements

Social work licensing in Alaska is handled by the Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners (BCSWE). It issues three types of social worker licenses:

• Baccalaureate Social Worker (BSW) license
• Masters Social Worker (MSW) license
• Clinical Social Worker (CSW) license

All levels of licensure require:

• A degree in social work from a school that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Passage of an exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) – a temporary one-year license may be issued pending exam passage

Alaska Baccalaureate Social Worker (BSW) License Requirements: :

• A bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Three professional references
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelors Examination

Alaska Masters Social Worker (MSW) License Requirements: :

• A Master of Social Work or Doctor of Social Work degree
• Three professional references
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Masters Exam

Alaska Clinical Social Worker (CSW) License Requirements:

• A Master of Social Work or Doctor of Social Work degree
• Three professional references
• Must have two years of continuous full-time employment in post-graduate clinical social work, as well as 3,000 hours of employment within the past 10 years
• Must have 100 hours of direct clinical supervision
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam

Alaska Social Work Reciprocity:

The Alaska BCSWE may grant you a license to practice if you’re a social worker from another state, provided your state’s social work licensure requirements were equivalent to, or more stringent than, Alaska’s. However, only exams from the ASWB are recognized.

For the BSW, MSW, and CSW licenses this includes either passage of the ASWB’s Bachelors, Masters, or Clinical Exam, respectively, at least two years prior to application, or 1,500 hours of licensed social worker experience within the past five years that includes 45 hours of continuing education.

Arizona Social Work License Requirements

Social work licensing in Arizona is handled by the state’s Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE).

There are three levels of social work licensure in Arizona:

• Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

To be eligible for any of these levels you must graduate from an appropriate social work education program that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). You’ll also need to pass the appropriate examination through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

You can apply for a temporary license if you’re within 12 months of graduating from your education program and haven’t yet taken the ASWB exam.

Arizona Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Requirements:

• Have at least a bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Pass one of the following ASWB exams: Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical

Arizona Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Requirements:

• Have at least a Master of Social Work
• Pass one of the following ASWB exams: Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical

Arizona Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Requirements:

• Have at least a Master of Social Work
• Pass the ASWB’s Clinical exam
• Must have at least 3,200 hours of supervised clinical social work experience in the past 24 months:
• Including at least 100 hours of clinical supervision, of which at least 50 hours must have been under the supervision of an LCSW
• Including at least 1,600 involving psychotherapy and direct client contact

Arizona Social Work Reciprocity:

You can be eligible for a temporary LBSW, LMSW, or LCSW if you’re a licensed social worker in another state.

• You can apply for licensure via reciprocity at the same licensure level if:
• You’re a resident of Arizona and have had a social work license in another state for one year
• You’re not an Arizona resident but you’ve had a social work license in another state for three years

• When you apply for licensure via reciprocity you must complete the Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial.

Arkansas Social Work License Requirements

Licensing for social workers in Arkansas is handled by the state’s Social Work Licensing Board (SWLB). It issues three categories of social work licenses:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)

To be eligible for all types of licenses you need a degree in social work from a program that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). You’ll also need to pass the appropriate examination through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

The SWLB may grant a one-year provisional license prior to passage of the appropriate ASWB exam at the LSW and LMSW levels.

Arkansas Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Pass the ASWB Bachelors exam

Arkansas Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Requirements:

• Have a Master of Social Work
• Pass the ASWB Masters exam

Arkansas Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) Requirements:

• Have a Master of Social Work
• Pass the ASWB Clinical exam
• Have two years (4,000 hours) of post-graduate LCSW supervised social work experience in a clinical or non-clinical setting

Arkansas Social Work Reciprocity:

• If you’re licensed in another state at a similar level of social work and have passed the appropriate ASWB exam then you can apply for licensure via reciprocity.

Washington D.C. Social Work License Requirements

Social work licensing in Washington DC is managed by District of Columbia’s Board of Social Work, which grants the following four credentials:

• Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA)
• Licensed Graduate Social Work (LGSW)
• Licensed Independent Social Work (LISW)
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Work (LICSW)

To qualify for any level of licensure you need to:

• Graduate from a social work program that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Pass the appropriate Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam

Washington D.C. Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA) Requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Pass the ASWB Bachelors exam

Washington D.C. Licensed Graduate Social Work (LGSW) Requirements:

• Have a Master or Doctor of Social Work degree
• Pass the ASWB Masters exam

Washington D.C. Licensed Independent Social Work (LISW) Requirements:

• Have a Master or Doctor of Social Work degree
• Pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam
• Be licensed at lower levels for at least two years
• Have 3,000 hours of post-masters or post-doctoral social work experience
• Have 100 hours of supervised experience under an LISW

Washington D.C. Licensed Independent Clinical Social Work (LICSW) Requirements:

• Have a Master or Doctor of Social Work degree
• Pass the ASWB Clinical exam
• Be licensed at lower levels for at least two years
• Have 3,000 hours of post-masters or post-doctoral social work experience
• Have 100 hours of supervised experience under an LICSW

Washington D.C. Social Work Reciprocity:

• While the DC Board of Social Work doesn’t have reciprocity agreements with any other state, if you’re a licensed social worker in another state you can apply for licensure in DC via endorsement at an equivalent level if you have fulfilled the DC requirements working in another state.

Hawaii Social Work License Requirements

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Professional and Vocational Licensing Division issues three social work credentials:

• Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

To qualify for any level of licensure you need to:

• Graduate from a social work program that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Pass the appropriate Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam

Hawaii Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Pass the ASWB Bachelors exam

Hawaii Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Requirements:

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Social Work
• Pass the ASWB Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical exam

Hawaii Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Requirements:

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Social Work
• Pass the ASWB Clinical exam
• One of the following:
• At least 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical social work experience completed in no fewer than two years
• A QCSW or DCSW credential issued by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• A BCD credential issued by the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work (ABE)

Hawaii Social Work Reciprocity:

• You can be eligible for any level of licensure if you have the requisite education, have passed the appropriate exam, and in the case of the LCSW credential can meet the experience or credential requirements.

Idaho Social Work License Requirements

The Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners issues three types of social work credentials:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Each requires you to earn an appropriate degree from a program that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and to pass the appropriate exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

Idaho Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• ASWB Bachelors exam

Idaho Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• ASWB Masters exam

Idaho Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised experience
• ASWB Clinical exam

Idaho Social Work Reciprocity:

• You can qualify for a social work license in Idaho via endorsement if you meet the education and exam requirements, plus experience requirements for the LCSW credential.

Iowa Social Work License Requirements

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Board of Social Work issues three types of social work credentials:

• Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)

To qualify for licensure at any level you’ll need the appropriate degree in Social Work from a school that’s approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and you must pass the appropriate exam that’s sponsored by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

Iowa Bachelor Social Worker License Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• ASWB Bachelors exam

Iowa Master Social Worker License Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• ASWB Masters exam

Iowa Independent Social Worker License Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• Over at least two years, have completed at least 4,000 hours of supervised professional practice at the MSWL-level, including at least 110 hours of direct supervision
• ASWB Clinical exam

Iowa Social Work Reciprocity:

• If you hold a social work license in another state that had the same education and examination requirements as Iowa’s then you can apply for licensure in Iowa by providing verification of your out-of-state license, confirmation of your education, and proof of passing the ASWB exam to the Iowa Board of Social Work.

Kansas Social Work License Requirements

The Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board issues three types of social work credentials:

• Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW)

To qualify for licensure at any level you’ll need:

• A Social Work degree from a school that’s approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• To pass an exam sponsored by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

Kansas Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• ASWB Bachelors exam

Kansas Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• ASWB Masters exam

Kansas Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW) Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• ASWB Clinical exam
• 4,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience in a clinical setting

Kansas Social Work Reciprocity:

• If you hold an active license in another state, and the education, exam, and experience requirements for obtaining that license were similar to those required by Kansas, then you can apply for licensure via reciprocity.

Kentucky Social Work License Requirements

The Kentucky Board of Social Work issues three types of social work credentials:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• Certified Social Worker (CSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

To qualify for licensure at any level you’ll need:

• A Social Work degree from a school that’s approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• To pass an exam sponsored by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

KentuckyLicensed Social Worker (LSW) Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or an equivalent Social Welfare program
• ASWB Bachelors exam

Kentucky Certified Social Worker (CSW) Requirements:

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Social Work
• ASWB Masters exam

Kentucky Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Requirements:

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Social Work
• ASWB Clinical exam
• Two years of supervised social work practice as a CSW

Kentucky Social Work Reciprocity:

• You can apply for licensure in Kentucky if you hold an equivalent level of social work licensure in another state and have met Kentucky’s education, exam, and experience requirements

Louisiana Social Work License Requirements

The Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners issues four types of social work credentials:

• Registered Social Worker (RSW)
• Certified Social Worker (CSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

To qualify for licensure at any level you’ll need a degree in Social Work from a school that’s approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Louisiana Registered Social Worker Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Social Work

Louisiana Certified Social Worker Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work

Louisiana Licensed Master Social Worker Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Masters exam

Louisiana Licensed Clinical Social Worker Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work
5,760 hours of post-graduate social work practice experience, including 3,840 hours that are supervised
• Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical exam

Louisiana Social Work Reciprocity:

• Louisiana maintains reciprocity agreements with other states that have comparable credentialing requirements, and where no agreements exist the board may still grant credentials via endorsement if the out-of-state credential had similar requirements to Louisiana’s.

Maine Social Work License Requirements

Maine’s State Board of Social Worker Licensure issues five types of social work credentials:

• Licensed Social Worker (LS)
• Licensed Social Worker, Conditional (LSX)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LM)
• Licensed Master Social Worker, Conditional Clinical (MC)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LC)

To qualify for licensure at any level you’ll need to pass an exam sponsored by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

Licensed Social Worker (LS) Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a school approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• ASWB Bachelors exam

Maine Licensed Social Worker, Conditional (LSX) Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree that is sufficiently related to social work or social welfare
• Evidence of current employment in a social work setting
• An agreement form detailing how 96 hours of consultation will be performed in the first 3,200 hours of social work employment, including 12 hours of social work ethics and psychosocial assessment

Maine Licensed Master Social Worker (LM) Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work from a school approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• ASWB Masters exam

Maine Licensed Master Social Worker, Conditional Clinical (MC) Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work from a school approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• An agreement form detailing how 96 hours of clinical consultation will be performed in the first 3,200 hours of social work employment (for MSW degrees with a clinical concentration); 192 hours of clinical consultation during the first 6,400 hours of social work employment for MSW degrees without a clinical concentration
• ASWB Masters exam

Maine Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LC) Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work from a school approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Licensed Master Social Worker, Conditional Clinical license with completed clinical consultation
• ASWB Clinical exam

Maine Social Work Reciprocity:

• You can apply for an equivalent social work license in Maine if you hold a similar valid social work license in another state and meet Maine’s education and exam requirements. The State Board of Social Work Licensure recognizes equivalent experience gained in out-of-state social work.

At least a master’s degree in Social Work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

A reference form from a 2nd-year field placement supervisor

ASWB’s Masters exam

Mississippi Social Work License Requirements

The Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists issues social work licenses at three levels:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

To be eligible for any level you must pass an exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

Mississippi Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a school that’s either accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• ASWB Bachelors exam

Mississippi Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work from a school that’s either accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or a doctoral degree in Social Work (DSW or PhD)
• ASWB Masters exam

Mississippi Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Requirements:

• Must be an LMSW in good standing
• 100 hours of face-to-face supervision by an LCSW over at least two years
• 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact hours
• ASWB Advanced Generalist or Clinical exam

Mississippi Social Work Reciprocity:

• If you hold a valid social work license in another state that’s equivalent to Mississippi’s levels and have passed the appropriate ASWB exam, you can apply for licensure in Mississippi via reciprocity/endorsement.