Guide to Becoming Licensed as a Social Worker

Obtaining your license is a key part of becoming a social worker. Licenses ensure that you have all the knowledge to safely practice in the field—and show clients and employers you are qualified and professional. But with requirements varying by state, obtaining a license can be confusing at times.

In this guide, we’ll explain the general licensure requirements at each professional tier of social work—from the licensed baccalaureate social worker to the licensed independent clinical social worker level—to help you better understand the process.

Types of Social Work License Levels

If you’re interested in becoming a social worker, you have a couple of potential licensure paths to choose from. In this section, we explain the various social work licenses and the educational requirements necessary for each. Keep in mind, however, that social work licensure varies by state, so it’s best to consult your state regulatory board to learn what licenses are available in your jurisdiction.

• Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
• Certified Social Worker (CSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
• Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP)
• Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA)
• Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (LAPSW)
• Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW)

Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW). An LBSW is a common social work license, requiring only an undergraduate degree from an accredited school of social work. It lets you perform general services in the field, although you’ll likely have to be supervised when first starting out.

Certified Social Worker (CSW). A CSW is a broad social work certification that requires either a bachelor’s or master’s degree, depending on the state. In Utah, you need a master’s degree or higher to apply as a CSW, while in New Jersey, you only need a bachelor’s degree and one year of field experience.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). LCSWs are social workers with advanced training in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. In most states, LCSWs can provide clinical services independently and may supervise LMSWs and other pre-licensed social workers.

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). An LMSW is a graduate-level social work license that requires a Master of Social Work (MSW). LMSWs can work in a wide range of settings, but clinical services usually must be provided under the supervision of an independently licensed clinical social worker (such as an LCSW or LICSW), in accordance with state law.

Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW). Certain states, like West Virginia, refer to graduate-level social workers as LGSWs instead of LMSWs—but they both require a graduate degree in social work and supervision when performing clinical work.

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). This license is similar to the LCSW license. It affords social workers the same authority as the master’s-level licenses, but unlike LGSWs, they can perform clinical services without supervision and even open their own practice.

Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP). In Nebraska, the LMHP license allows social workers to provide mental health services, but it does not include independent diagnosis of major mental illnesses or disorders, except in consultation with a licensed independent mental health practitioner, a qualified physician, or a licensed clinical psychologist.

Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA). This social work certification is only offered in Oregon. It permits you to begin working in the clinical field after graduating with a master’s degree, as long as you have an approved plan of supervision. With the CSWA, you can gain experience to become a LCSW license holder.

Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (LAPSW). This license allows social workers to take on responsibilities like case management, policy administration and counseling—although it does not authorize independent clinical work. To obtain the LAPSW license, you will need post-master’s supervised work experience.

Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW). According to Washington state’s Behavioral Health Workforce (PDF, 502KB), this license authorizes social workers to perform duties such as case management, biopsychosocial assessments, and community organization, among others. But it does not authorize you to offer clinical services or practice psychotherapy without supervision.

Requirements to Obtain a Social Work License

The requirements to obtain a social work license vary by state and license level, but they generally require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, passing an exam, field experience and, at times, a background check. The table below lists requirements for each license.

Education

You typically need at least a master’s degree to become a licensed social worker, but in some states, it’s possible to get an entry-level license with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. If you’d like to obtain a license more advanced than an LBSW or CSW, however, you will need to complete a Master of Social Work program (MSW). A master’s degree may open doors to advanced social work licensure, including LMSW, LCSW, LGSW, and LICSW licenses.

Whether you’re completing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program, it’s advisable to select one that’s been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Accreditation ensures the quality of social work curricula as well as the quality of instruction.

For students who work full-time or need a flexible course schedule for other reasons, the CSWE accredits online and distance education programs, in addition to traditional programs. That means you can pursue your education from home.

Both BSW and MSW programs include supervised field experience as outlined by the CSWE. This is commonly referred to as the social work practicum or internship. For candidates hoping to enter independent and/or clinical practice, supervised postgraduate hours are also required.

Practice Experience

Some states require social workers to accumulate a certain amount of experience in the field before applying for a license, or require them to work under supervision after receiving their license. Some also have licenses available for those who do not have post-graduate experience. In states that offer the LBSW license, for instance, social workers must be supervised by a graduate-level social worker. In Alabama, supervised experience lasts two years.

Similarly, to achieve a clinical license, you have to complete a minimum number of supervised clinical hours after graduating with your MSW degree. For example, Arkansas requires completion of 4,000 clinical hours, but some states like California require just over 3,000 hours.

ASWB Social Work Exam

Used in the United States and some provinces in Canada, the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exams are used as a measure of social work licensure and are accepted by many social work regulatory organizations. There are five categories of exams:

• Associate
• Bachelor’s
• Master’s
• Advanced Generalist
• Clinical

Your state licensing board may be able to inform you which level of examination you should pursue based on your licensing application.For the most up to date information on exam fees, scoring, time to complete and more, please visit the ASWB candidate handbook.

Associate Social Work Exam

The associate ASWB exam was taken for the first time by 415 candidates in 2024, with a passing rate of 66.7%. The content for the associate ASWB exam is shared with the bachelor’s exam. Some states offer an associate-level license for those without social work degrees, but this is very limited.

Bachelor’s Social Work Exam

The 2024 bachelor’s ASWB exam had a pass rate of 67.2%. Candidates who have completed their bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) may expect to find the following bachelor’s exam content.

Master’s Social Work Exam

The master’s ASWB exam was taken for the first time by 20,000 people in 2024, with a pass rate of 73%. This exam is for those who have completed their Master of Social Work (MSW) program or an online MSW program.

Advanced Generalist Social Work Exam

The advanced generalist ASWB exam was taken by 84 candidates in 2024, with a pass rate of 50%. However, ASWB indicates that pass rates for groups of 200 or more are most representative of the candidate population.

Clinical Social Work Exam

The clinical ASWB exam was taken over 23,000 times in 2024, with a pass rate of 75.3%. The ASWB clinical exam content may include human growth and development, diversity, biopsychosocial history, assessments, treatment planning, and more topics.

The number of exams and pass rates for associate, bachelor’s, master’s, advanced generalist, and clinical exams was retrieved from ASWB pass rates for 2025.

Become a Licensed Social Worker in Your State

Social work licensure and certificate requirements or standards are set forth to help the public understand standards for the safe and professional practice of social workers.

Regulatory boards for social work licensure and/or certification generally require that applicants receive their social work degree from a school of social work or program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Social Work Licensure by State

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
• Washington, D.C.

Should I Obtain a Social Work License?

A social work license may open an array of opportunities within the field of social work and is required for many positions. Often, with a clinical license, you may gain additional role responsibilities such as assessment, diagnosis and providing treatment.

Social Work License Renewal

Most social work licenses require renewal. Like all licensure requirements, this varies by state but generally involves continuing education hours and a renewal fee.

New York requires LCSWs and LMSWs to complete 36 continuing education hours every three years to renew their licenses. In Oregon, you must renew your CSWA license each year.

Social Work Certification

For social workers looking for credentials in addition to a license, the National Association of Social Work (NASW) offers focused credentials to showcase their specialized training. All licensed social workers can apply for a credential of their choosing, as long as they meet the requirements detailed on the NASW website.

There are two types of certifications offered by the NASW: professional social work credentials and advanced practice specialty credentials. The latter includes a range of areas in which social workers can become certified, including case management, addiction, gerontology, military, and youth and family services.

Still unsure about getting your social work license? Below are answers to some common questions about becoming a licensed social worker.