Become a Social Worker in New York

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 and mental health and substance abuse social workers, and first for health care social workers.

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

Degree Pathways to Become a Social Worker in NY

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.

• Online Master’s in Social Work (MSW): There are several universities in New York that offer online MSW program options for future social workers.
• Advanced Standing MSW Program: If you’ve completed a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program and want to pursue licensure in New York as a social worker, an advanced standing MSW program may take less time than a traditional program to complete.
• Online Clinical Social Work (LCSW) Program: For LCSW applicants in New York, a clinical MSW program may help meet coursework requirements.
• Online MSW with No GRE: A few MSW programs offer admissions without requiring the successful completion of a GRE; however, they may have GPA and other requirements.
• Doctorate of Social Work (DSW): A DSW degree is not required to obtain licensure in New York but may help LMSW and LCSWs pursue advanced social work roles such as professor of social work or become an administrator.

Social Work Licenses 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. The information was retrieved from Article 154 of the Laws, Rules and Regulations on Social Work, as of November 2025.

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
• 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 (includes continuing education)

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: 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 (includes continuing education)

Learn more about how to become an LCSW.

Information on the above social work salaries in New York was retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates New York, as of November 2025.

Learn more about different social work salaries.

New York Social Work Scholarships

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 students up to $3,000 each year if they are studying full-time at a college in a field 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.

New York Social Work Organizations

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 many divisions of NASW NY, dividing the state into local areas for 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.