New York is a wonderfully diverse state, with big cities like New York City, Albany and Buffalo and smaller towns upstate. The state has the second-highest number of social workers in the nation for child, family and school social workers; health care social workers; and mental health and substance abuse social workers. 

If you want to become a social worker in New York, then here is a career guide that may help you along the way.

There are two types of social work licensure in New York: licensed master social worker (LMSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Both licenses are master’s level and permit social workers to provide clinical services. However, LMSWs must provide these services under supervision. The common steps to become a social worker in New York below were retrieved from Article 154 of the Laws, Rules and Regulations on Social Work.

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree program. 

Before pursuing a master’s degree in social work, you must complete a bachelor’s degree to meet admission requirements for graduate programs. Your earned bachelor’s degree can be in most topics, although graduate social work admissions may have a preference for those focused in social work or a related subject. If you complete a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, you may be qualified for advanced standing MSW programs. 

2. Complete a master of social work (MSW) degree. 

Both licenses for social workers in New York require a minimum completed MSW degree that offers at least 900 internship hours in the curriculum. The MSW degree program must also be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). For both licenses, MSW curriculum must offer coursework in social work values and ethics, diversity, social justice, at-risk populations, human behavior in the social environment and other focus areas. However, for LCSW license applications, New York also requires at least 12 credits focused on clinical social work.

3. Complete child abuse identification and reporting training.

New York state also requires LMSW and LCSW applicants to complete training related to the identification and reporting of child abuse from an approved training provider.

4. Apply for your social work license.

Once you meet the above requirements, you may then apply for a social work license in New York. New York authorizes social workers for Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination post-application. For LMSWs, you must pass the master’s level exam; for LCSWs, you must pass the clinical level exam.

5. For LCSWs, gain three years of supervised experience.

As a LMSW, you may work toward your LCSW license only after you are able to submit proof of 36 months of supervised social work practice in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning.

There are only two types of social work licensure in New York, and both require a master’s degree in social work. An MSW program with clinical coursework is required to become an LCSW in New York. Learn more about MSW programs in New York.

In New York, you can become a licensed master social worker (LMSW) or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). If you have not met the examination requirement, limited permits to practice may be available. Below information was retrieved from Article 154 of the Laws, Rules and Regulations on Social Work, as of October 2020.

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) License

With an LMSW, you may pursue career opportunities practicing as a social worker but under LCSW supervision. An LMSW may be ideal for social workers who want to work on case management on a macro level as opposed to working with individuals in therapeutic settings.

• Education Requirements: MSW from a CSWE-accredited program
• Experience Requirements: 900 Hours from the MSW degree
• Exam: ASWB—Master’s Level
• Fees: $294
• License Endorsement: No endorsement available in NY but licensure may be granted if out-of-state applicants meet the same requirements
• License Renewal: 36 hours of continuing education courses every three years; $224 fee

Learn more about the LMSW License. 

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) License

You can become a licensed clinical social worker only after earning your LMSW. As a LCSW, you can work unsupervised. If you like providing personal care to people, then you should become a social worker in New York by earning LCSW licensure. NY also offers an “R” designation for psychotherapy privilege for LCSWs that meet the requirements of psychotherapy experience.

• Education Requirements: MSW with a clinical focus from a CSWE-accredited program
• Experience Requirements: 900 hours from the MSW degree and three years of full-time postgraduate supervised clinical experience
• Exam: ASWB—Clinical Level
• Fees: $294
• License Endorsement: Out-of-state LCSW applicants who have at least 10 years of practice experience may apply for endorsement as a LCSW in NY
• License Renewal: 36 hours of continuing education courses every three years; $224 fee

Learn more about how to become an LCSW.

Learn more about different social work salaries.

If you want to learn how to become a social worker in New York but don’t think you can afford higher education, there is help. Along with applying for financial aid, you can look into social work scholarships in New York.

One of the opportunities you may want to apply for is the NYS Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness Program, which encourages people to become a social worker in New York in critical human service sectors or multilingual communities. This scholarship will award you a maximum of $26,000 in loan forgiveness.

For the New York City Board of Education Bilingual Scholarship Program, you must be fluent in Russian, Spanish, Haitian Creole or Chinese; have a cumulative GPA of 3.0+; and be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status. The scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition, not including fees. If students receive a scholarship, they must work in the New York City Public School System for two to five years after graduating.

The James F. Reville Scholarship is another option. This scholarship awards two students $3,000 each annually if they are studying in a full-time college in a field that is related to developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Be sure to also check with your preferred university and state social work organizations below for additional financial assistance opportunities.

When you become a social worker in New York, you can find other colleagues and valuable resources through social work organizations in New York.

You could join the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) New York State Chapter, which is the second-largest chapter of the NASW. There are ten divisions of the NASW NY, dividing up the state for local opportunities.

There’s also the New York State Society for Clinical Social Work, which protects the rights of social workers and creates and maintains high standards of practice and professional education.

Another organization for social workers is the National Association of Black Social Workers, which has an ABSW New York City chapter. The group established the Black Family Counseling Unit and has a functioning job bank as well as two day care centers that have been in operation for 30 years.

Sponsored Online Social Work Programs

University of Denver

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

The University of Denver’s Online MSW Program is delivered by its top-ranked school of social work and offers two programs. Students can earn their degree in as few as 12 months for the Online Advanced-Standing MSW or 27 months for the Online MSW.

• Complete the Online Advanced-Standing MSW in as few as 12 months if you have a BSW; if you do not have a BSW, the Online MSW Program may be completed in as few as 27 months.
• No GRE Required
• Customizable pathway options include Mental Health and Trauma or Health, Equity and Wellness concentrations

Request more info from the University of Denver.

University of Southern California

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

The MSW@USC is the online Master of Social Work from top-ranked USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. USC offers virtual and in-person field education, and students focus on adults, youth or social change.

•  Minimum completion time: 16 months
• Online classes taught by USC faculty 
• Virtual field training to build skills and confidence

Request more info from USC.

Fordham University

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

Fordham’s skills-based, online MSW program integrates advanced relevant social work competencies, preparing students to serve individuals and communities while moving the profession forward. This program includes advanced standing and traditional MSW options.

•  Traditional and advanced standing online MSW options are available.
• There are four areas of focus: Individuals and Families, Organizations and Community, Evaluation, and Policy Practice and Advocacy.
• Pursue the degree on a full-time or part-time track.

Request more info from Fordham University.

Simmons University

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

Aspiring direct practitioners can earn their MSW online from Simmons University in as few as 9 months. GRE scores are not required, and the program offers full-time, part-time, accelerated, and advanced standing tracks.

• Prepares students to pursue licensure, including LCSW 
• Full-time, part-time, and accelerated tracks 
• Minimum completion time: 9 months

Request more info from Simmons University.

Howard University

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

The online Master of Social Work program from Howard University School of Social Work prepares students for advanced direct or macro practice in culturally diverse communities. Two concentrations available: Direct Practice and Community, Administration, and Policy Practice. No GRE. Complete in as few as 12 months.

• Concentrations: Direct Practice and Community, Administration, and Policy Practice
• Complete at least 777-1,000 hours of agency-based field education
• Earn your degree in as few as 12 months

Request more info from Howard University.

Syracuse University

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

Syracuse University’s online Master of Social Work program does not require GRE scores to apply and is focused on preparing social workers who embrace technology as an important part of the future of the profession. Traditional and Advanced Standing tracks are available.

• Traditional and Advanced Standing tracks
• No GRE required
• Concentrate your degree in integrated practice or clinical practice

Request more info from Syracuse University.

Case Western Reserve University

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

In as few as a year and a half, you can prepare for social work leadership by earning your Master of Social Work online from Case Western Reserve University’s school of social work.

• CSWE-accredited
• No GRE requirement
• Complete in as few as one and a half years

Request more info from Case Western Reserve University.

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You may have some questions about how to become a social worker. Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Learning how to become a social worker in New York can be a confusing process, and you’ll need to do as much research as possible before deciding to pursue this career.

If you’re an LMSW, there is no social work license reciprocity in New York, which means you can’t automatically become an LMSW in New York just because you’re licensed in another state. However, if you meet all of New York’s requirements, which includes passing the ASWB master’s test, then you may be able to qualify for an application in New York.

On the other hand, if you are an LCSW, you can apply for endorsement. If you’ve had a license as a clinical worker in another state and completed at least 10 years of practice within the past 15 years, you may qualify to apply for New York state licensing. 

You’ll be required to complete social work continuing education (CE) credits in New York when you become a social worker in the state. You’ll need a total of 36 credits for every three years of your licensing registration period.

Acceptable course content includes social work ethics, social work practice, knowledge and skills, administrative supervision of licensed master social work and clinical supervision of licensed clinical social work practice, theories and concepts of human behavior in the social environment, clinical interventions, evidence-based models and principles of clinical social work practice, psychotherapy and clinical social work diagnosis.

To look up your social work license in New York, visit the Office of the Professions page on the NYSED.gov website. All you have to do is select your job title and put your first and last name, and then conduct a search for social work license verification in New York. You can also search by license number within a profession if that’s easier.

Information on this page was last retrieved in September 2020.