Become a Social Worker in California

California LCSW Education Requirement: All applicants must possess a Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work. Applicants with out-of-state education, experience or licensure must complete an 18-hour course on California Law and Professional Ethics (California graduates have already met this requirement).

California LCSW Exam: Applicants are required to pass two new exams that replace existing exams as follows: California Law and Ethics Examination which consists of 75 multiple choice questions (replaces the Standard Written Exam); Association of Social Work Board’s (ASWB) National Clinical Exam (replaces the Clinical Vignette Exam) must be taking after having achieved field requirements (see below) and passing the California Law and Ethics exam

Field Requirement: 3,200 hours of supervised work experience (minimum 2,000 hours focused on clinical psychosocial diagnosis, assessment and treatment, and counseling; minimum 750 hours focused on face-to-face psychotherapy is required as part of the 2,000 hours; maximum 1,200 hours focused on client-centered advocacy, consultation, evaluation and research); 104 weeks of supervision (any week of at least one hour of individual supervision or two hours of group supervision counts as a supervised week; at least 52 of the 104 weeks must include a minimum one-hour meeting with a supervisor); 52 hours must be individual supervision and 13 of those must be with a current LCSW; no more than five hours of supervision may be credited during any single week

Fee: $75 registration fee, $230 ASWB examination fee, $100 California Law and Ethics examination fee, $100 initial license (prorated); $32 DOJ fingerprint processing fee; $17 FBI fingerprint processing fee

Additional Information: All hours of experience must be gained within the most recent six years from the time you apply for LCSW examination eligibility. Fingerprints are required.

Endorsement: None

License Renewal: You must renew your registration with BBS every year in order for your supervised experience to count towards examination eligibility requirements. Supervised experience will not count if registration expires or lapses.

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California ACSW Education Requirement: Master of Social Work (MSW)

California ACSW Exam: None

Field Requirement: None

Fee: $75 application fee, $49 fingerprinting fee ($32.00 DOJ fingerprinting fee; $17.00 FBI fingerprinting fee)

Additional Information: Upon graduation from an MSW program, individuals may apply to become an ACSW through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, at which point they may begin to fulfill the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) field requirements.

Endorsement: None

License Renewal: Renewal is required every year. Registration renewal fee is $75.

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Amount: Up to $10,000

Description: The MHLAP was created by the Mental Health Service Act, passed by California voters in November 2004. The Act provided funding to develop a loan forgiveness program in order to retain qualified mental health professionals working within the Public Mental Health System (PMHS). Awardees may receive up to $10,000 to repay educational loans over a one-year period.

Disclaimer: Information about the Mental Health Loan Assumption Program (MHLAP) in California is subject to change. Please confirm information with your state before applying for grant. Last updated: 08/22/2018.

Allied Healthcare Scholarship

Type: Scholarship

Amount: Up to $8,000 for one year of school

Description: If awarded, recipients agree to a twelve (12) month service obligation practicing full time, direct patient care at a qualified facility in California. Qualified facilities include those designated by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources Administration (HRSA) or California’s Shortage Designation Program, a liaison to the federal Shortage Designation Branch (SDB) of Health Resources and Services Administration as Medically Underserved Area (MUA), Medically Underserved Population (MUP), Health Professional Shortage Area- Primary Care (HPSA-PC), or a Primary Care Shortage Area.

Additional scholarship information is available on the national page of social work scholarships.


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Disclaimer: Information about the Allied Healthcare Scholarship in California is subject to change. Please confirm information with your state before applying for scholarship. Last updated: 08/22/2018.