Become a Social Worker in Arizona
Interested in learning what is required to become a social worker in Arizona? If so, this guide will be of use. With nearly 16,800 social workers in Arizona as of May 2024 (BLS), the state offers a strong community and potential career paths for those pursuing social work. Continue reading and learn how to become a social worker in the Grand Canyon State.
Arizona offers three types of social work licensure options: licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW), licensed master social worker (LMSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Below are the steps on how to obtain licenses in Arizona, which was retrieved from the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE) as of October 2021. Applicants who are licensed in another jurisdiction may be eligible for licensure by endorsement if they hold a license at a substantially equivalent or higher practice level, as determined by the Board. License renewal requires a minimum of 30 CEUs (clock hours) of continuing education during each renewal cycle (licenses renew every two years).
This career guide for how to become a social worker in Arizona explains educational requirements, how to get licensed, Arizona social work organizations to join and more. Once you complete the steps to become a Florida social worker, you can embark on a meaningful, fulfilling career helping others.
Information below was retrieved January 2026 and is only meant to be a high-level overview. Requirements may change, always check with the state licensing board for complete and up to date information.
University of Denver • Denver, CO
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
54-81 graduate-level credits
Concentrations
Mental Health and Trauma, Health, Equity and Wellness
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to be considered for admission
- Minimum undergraduate GPA is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree
- Official transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Career goals statement
Syracuse University • Syracuse, NY
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 24 months
Credits
36-60
Concentrations
Advanced Integrated Practice, Advanced Clinical Practice
Admission Requirements
- Minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred
- Transcripts
- Resume
- Essays
- Prerequisite coursework
- Letters of recommendation
Simmons University • Boston, MA
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Accelerated and Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 9 months
Credits
37-65
Concentrations
Mental Health Practice Optional Certificate, Trauma Practice Optional Certificate, Clinical Practice with Active Service Members, Veterans, and Families
Admission Requirements
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Recommendation forms
- Statement of professional and educational intent
Howard University • Washington, DC
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
45+
Concentrations
Direct Practice, Community, Administration and Policy (CAP) Practice
Admission Requirements
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- College transcripts
- A personal statement
- An application essay
- A resume
- Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution, award within four years of first term start date
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all social work foundation and undergraduate coursework
Hawaii Pacific University • Honolulu, HI
Master of Social Work
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
12-36 months
Credits
30-57
Concentrations
Military and Veterans Affairs, Child or Adult Protective Services, Health Care, Mental Health, Individual and Families, Social Agency Administration
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with at least 30 credits in Liberal Arts from an accredited four-year institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA, but applicants below that will be considered for provisional admission
- Completed courses in Statistics and Research Methods
- Applicants must have completed each course with a grade of a "C" or higher
- Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited program within the past five years
- Minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale in social work courses
- Online application
Applicants seeking licensure as a licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW) in Arizona must have completed a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). An LBSW will be able to practice non-clinical social work independently but may only practice clinical social work under board-licensed supervision.
This includes providing a copy of your driver’s license or other valid ID, official transcripts from your undergraduate institution and employment history. Arizona’s application fee is $250, and applicants must also submit either a valid DPS fingerprint clearance card or fingerprints with a $40 nonrefundable criminal history background check fee. A temporary license is a separate option for eligible applicants and carries a $50 fee.
Fingerprints or a valid DPS clearance card must be provided alongside your application. The Board charges a $40.00 non-refundable fee for the criminal history background check (fingerprints), unless you use a valid DPS fingerprint clearance card instead.
To be an LBSW, you need to receive a passing score on the bachelors, masters, advanced generalist or clinical examination offered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).
To become an LMSW in Arizona, you must have earned a master’s or higher degree in social work from a regionally accredited college or university in a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) (or a foreign equivalent the Board deems substantially equivalent). An LMSW is a master’s-level license that supports advanced social work practice; however, Arizona’s licensure framework restricts independent psychotherapy practice to the highest level of licensure (LCSW).
The LMSW and LBSW use the Board’s application process and share core requirements (e.g., application fee and fingerprint/background requirements), but the required education documentation differs (LMSW requires master’s-level social work education documentation).
Fingerprints or a valid DPS clearance card must be provided alongside your application. All new applicants must provide either verification of an active DPS fingerprint clearance card or a set of fingerprints on a blue-lined FD-258 card, with a $40 fee.
To be licensed as a master social worker in Arizona, an applicant must receive a passing score on the Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical ASWB exam.
To qualify for LCSW licensure, an applicant must have earned a master’s or higher degree in social work from a regionally accredited college or university in a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) (or a foreign equivalent the Board deems substantially equivalent). The license also requires additional clinical hours and experience. In Arizona, the LCSW is the independent level of social work licensure (psychotherapy is restricted to the highest level), and supervision is required to qualify for independent licensure, not because ‘non-clinical cases’ require ongoing supervision after you’re licensed.
Arizona requires at least 24 months (post-master’s) of supervised clinical social work experience, including 1,600 hours of direct client contact and at least 100 hours of clinical supervision (with limits such as no more than 400 hours in psychoeducation). Verification of these hours must be included in the application, unless the applicant is submitting an exemption request.
Fingerprints or a valid DPS clearance card must be provided alongside your application. All new applicants must provide either a valid DPS fingerprint clearance card or submit fingerprints on a blue-lined FD-258 card with the Board’s $40 criminal history background check (fingerprint) fee.
To be an LCSW, you need to receive a passing score on the clinical examination offered by the ASWB.
Social Work Degree Programs in Arizona
Arizona offers a bachelor’s-level social work license (LBSW), which requires a baccalaureate degree in social work from a regionally accredited school in a CSWE-accredited program (or a substantially equivalent foreign degree). Although you must have either a master’s or doctoral degree in social work or social welfare to obtain an Arizona social work license, a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) can help you earn an advanced standing position in your graduate studies, accelerating your time to complete the degree.
Examples of CSWE-accredited BSW programs offered in Arizona include Arizona State University (BSW), Northern Arizona University (BSW), Grand Canyon University (BSW), and University of Phoenix (BSSW).
For students ready for graduate studies, a handful of schools across Arizona offer accredited MSW programs. Some advanced-standing MSW pathways (typically for students who already hold a CSWE-accredited BSW) can be completed in about one year. Based on your undergraduate social work degree, you may need to take some prerequisite courses. Foundation classwork involves human behavior, research and clinical practice.
Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs
To obtain an LMSW or LCSW in Arizona, you must have a master’s or higher degree in social work from a regionally accredited college or university in a CSWE-accredited program (or a foreign equivalent the Board deems substantially equivalent). As a student, you should expect to develop core knowledge, skills and values necessary for a social work professional. The following are some Arizona MSW programs that are CSWE-accredited (confirm current status in the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs):
Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs
If you prefer to take your MSW courses online, there are a few options in Arizona. This flexible educational path is ideal for students with a busy schedule and needs to balance work, home life and school. Arizona-based online MSW options include Arizona State University (online MSW and online advanced standing) and Northern Arizona University (online MSW option; track availability and pacing vary).
| Institution & Program | Location | Study Length | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
Arizona State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Phoenix, AZ | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Northeastern Arizona UniversityMaster of Social Work | — | 2 years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Social Work Salaries in Arizona
Arizona Social Work Careers | Number of Social Workers in Arizona | Average Mean Social Work Salary |
|---|---|---|
Child, Family and School Social Workers | 7,770 | $52,200 |
Healthcare Social Workers | 2,830 | $70,610 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 3,610 | $49,530 |
Social Workers, All Other | 2,580 | $67,720 |
Information on the above social work salaries in Arizona was retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: Arizona in January 2026.
Arizona Social Work Scholarships
For those just starting on their path to social work, there are statewide scholarships and programs in place to assist you. While each state has different offerings, below are some financial assistance options to help you on your path to become an LBSW, LMSW or LCSW in the state of Arizona.
- Arizona State University School of Social Work Scholarships
- University of Arizona College of Social & Behavioral Sciences Scholarships
- Grand Canyon University (GCU) Scholarships and Grants
- Marilyn Kurns and Family School of Social Work Scholarship
Arizona Social Worker Organizations
There are countless local and national associations and organizations with goals to promote, develop and protect the practice of social work and social workers. Better social work means better solutions for issues such as welfare, child welfare, elderly welfare, health care reform and other issues affecting disadvantaged populations in Arizona and beyond.
The NASW Arizona Chapter is dedicated to promoting the quality and effectiveness of social work practice in a state rich with diversity.
- School Social Work Association of Arizona (SSWAAZ)
The SSWAAZ was formed to promote communication, collaboration and cooperation among school social workers in the state of Arizona; the association sponsors conferences, continuing education opportunities and more.
FAQs
Arizona doesn’t have automatic license reciprocity with other states. However, the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE) permits licensure by endorsement for social workers who hold an active, in good standing license in another state at the same practice level and in the same discipline for at least one year. Arizona also offers universal recognition for some out-of-state licensees who establish Arizona residency and meet state requirements.
Information last updated: January 2026