Become a Social Worker in Maryland

There are many reasons to become a social worker in Maryland. One is the cost of living compared to nearby Washington, D.C. Sperling’s Best Places to Live ranks U.S. cities’ cost of living, putting the U.S. average at 100. According to their findings, it costs less to live in Maryland than in Washington, D.C.; Maryland’s cost of living is about 112, and the District of Columbia’s is about 151 on their scale. This means you can work and live close enough to enjoy the nation’s capital without paying as much.

If you want to move to this exciting state or already live there, here’s a guide to becoming a social worker in Maryland.

Information below was retrieved November 2025 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.

1. Licensed bachelor social worker (LBSW): A person with a CSWE-approved bachelor’s degree in social work who has passed a state approved required examination. LBSWs can provide basic non-clinical social-work services.
2. Licensed master social worker (LMSW): A person with a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program who has passed a state approved required examination. LMSWs can provide social work services under supervision.
3. Licensed certified social worker (LCSW): To become an LCSW in Maryland, you must have earned a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program, completed 3,000 hours of supervised social work experience as an LMSW in two years and passed a state approved required examination. LCSWs can provide non-clinical social-work services independent of supervision and clinical social-work services with supervision.

Licensed certified social worker-clinical (LCSW-C): The highest level of license for social workers in Maryland requires you to have a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program, have completed 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work in two years with at least 1,500 of those hours consisting of direct patient contact, have completed 12 hours of clinical coursework (in some cases, this will have been completed during the master’s program) and have passed a state approved required examination. LCSW-Cs may provide clinical social services independent of supervision.

Social Work Degree Programs in Maryland

Choosing your social work degree program is an important decision. An associate’s degree with a social work focus can help students complete coursework that prepares them for an entry-level administrative role in social work or can help them earn a BSW more quickly. Eight Maryland schools offer bachelor’s degrees in social work. A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) can help prepare you for a future master’s program and could accelerate your graduate-level education. A BSW also prepares students for entry-level social work positions, such as caseworker or mental health assistant roles.

Below are the colleges and universities in Maryland offering accredited BSW programs:

• Bowie State University
• Coppin State University
• Frostburg State University
• Hood College
• McDaniel College
• Morgan State University
• Salisbury University
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Social Work Licenses in Maryland

To become a social worker in Maryland, you must hold proper licensure. There are four social work licenses in Maryland, with increasing levels of requirements, according to the state’s Department of Health. Licensure can be earned by examination or endorsement. If you haven’t passed a social work licensure exam yet, you’ll be required to apply for licensure by examination. If you have previous social work experience or are already licensed in another state, you may be eligible for licensure by endorsement.

Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW):

• Education Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
• Field Requirements: None
• Exam: ASWB bachelor’s exam
• License Renewal: Every two years, with continuing education documentation

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW):

• Education Requirements: A master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
• Field Requirements: None
• Exam: ASWB master’s exam
• License Renewal: Every two years, with continuing education documentation

Learn more about an LMSW License.

Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW):

• Education Requirements: Becoming an LCSW in Maryland requires a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
• Field Requirements: 3,000 hours of supervised experience over two years
• Exam: ASWB advanced generalist exam
• License Renewal: Every two years, with continuing education documentation

Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C):

• Education Requirements: A master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program with at least 12 hours of clinical coursework
• Field Requirements: 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work in two years with at least 1,500 of those hours consisting of direct patient contact and 100 hours of periodic direct face-to-face supervision
• Exam: ASWB clinical exam
• License Renewal: Every two years, with continuing education documentation

Social Work Salaries for Maryland

The nationwide median salary for social workers was $61,330 per year in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The typical social worker salary in Maryland tends to be higher, in part because of its proximity to the District of Columbia. Here are specifics for Maryland, from the BLS:

Information on the above social work salaries in Maryland was obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates – Maryland as of May 2024.

Maryland Social Worker Scholarships

Below are some state-level social worker scholarships for Maryland. However, don’t limit your scholarship search to what you see here. You can search online and use your library’s reference section to find social work scholarships offered by individual city, state or local agencies; religious and other foundations; community organizations; and professional associations affiliated with social work. Here are some places to start:

• University of Maryland School of Social Work Scholarships
• Maryland Graduate and Professional School Scholarship Program
• Scholarship America

Maryland Social Work Organizations

There are a number of social work organizations for Maryland students and social workers, ranging from general to specific in their scope. Most offer special benefits to their members, and many have fees to join. Here are some primary ones:

• Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work (GWSCSW): The GWSCSW is a nonprofit organization for clinical social workers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia. According to the website's mission statement, it strives “to promote the highest standards of clinical social work practice through education, advocacy, and community.”
• Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners: This is the state’s licensing agency and part of the Maryland Department of Health. Refer to its website for information on license application and renewal and continuing education.
• National Association of Social Workers - Maryland Chapter: According to its website, NASW-MD uses “advocacy, education, engagement, and collaboration” to “support social workers and their professional development, advance social justice, promote the social work profession, and advocate for professional social work standards.”
• The Network for Social Work Management: The Network for Social Work Management provides leadership training, networking opportunities and job search assistance for social work managers.