Become a Social Worker in New York
Table of Contents
- New York Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- New York Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
- New York Social Work Salary
- New York Social Work Scholarships
Disclaimer: Due to the rapidly changing nature of social work regulations, for the most up-to-date information on becoming a social worker in New York, contact the New York Social Work Licensing Board.
New York law recognizes two classes of social workers: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). The requirements are as follows:
Sponsored Online Social Work Programs
| School | Program Description |
|---|---|
| University of Denver |
|
| Fordham University |
|
| Simmons University |
|
| Case Western Reserve University |
|
| University of Southern California (USC) |
|
| Baylor University |
|
Sponsored Online Social Work Programs
New York LCSW
New York LCSW Education Requirement: A master’s degree in social work that includes 12 semesters of of clinical course work or equivalent clinical course work must be offered from an acceptable social work graduate program
New York LCSW Exam: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Level Examination
Field Requirement: Three years of post-master’s experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment plans, including 2,000 hours of direct client contact experience
Fee: $294 application fee, $260 ASWB examination fee
Additional Information: Applicant must be 21 years of age; complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by New York State approved provider
Endorsement: Available upon board approval
License Renewal: 36 hours of approved continuing education courses are required every three years registration period. No more than 12 hours of continuing education activities of the 36 month period, may consist of self-study educational activities; $179 renewal registration fee and the continuing education fee of $45
Return to top
New York LMSW
New York LMSW Education Requirement: A master’s degree in social work that includes 12 semesters of of clinical course work or equivalent clinical course work must be offered from an acceptable Social Work graduate program
New York LMSW Exam: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s Level Examination
Field Requirement: None
Fee: $294 application fee, $230 ASWB examination fee
Additional Information: Applicant must be 21 years of age; complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by New York State approved provider
Endorsement: None
License Renewal: 36 hours of approved continuing education courses are required every three years registration period. No more than 12 hours of continuing education activities of the 36 month period , may consist of self-study educational activities; $179 renewal registration fee and the continuing education fee of $45
Return to top
In order to become a licensed social work practitioner in New York, you will need to complete prerequisite coursework, examination requirements, and, in some cases, supervised work requirements. Also, certain levels of social work in New York can only be reached after earning a Master of Social Work. We are committed to keeping updated information on New York social work licensure policies available to you. If you are having trouble finding the information you are looking for on our site, or for the most current New York social work license information, please visit the New York State Board of Social Work Examiners.
Disclaimer: There may be additional methods of certification that have not been covered here. Please contact your state social work licensing department for more information.
New York Social Work Salary
| New York Social Work Career | Average Social Worker Salary |
|---|---|
| Child, Family and School Social Workers | $56,650 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $60,680 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $60,460 |
| All Other Social Workers | $64,530 |
| Salary Increase from BSW to MSW | +$9,000 |
Disclaimer: Social Worker Salary information is taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Information about social worker salaries in New York is subject to change. Please confirm salary information with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. Last updated: 08/27/2017.
New York Social Work Scholarships
NYS Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness
Type: Loan Forgiveness
Amount: Up to $26,000
Description: The Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness Program is being offered to increase the number of licensed social workers working in critical human service areas or communities with multilingual needs. The maximum award under this program will be $26,000. Awards will be paid in annual disbursements for each period of qualified service.
Type: Scholarship
Amount: Two $3,000 awards are presented annually in $750 installments to individuals enrolled in full-time institution in field related to intellectual and developmental disabilities
Description: James F. Reville dedicated much of his life to bettering the lives of people with developmental disabilities. He was president of the Welfare League Chapter from 1963 to 1964 and of NYSARC from 1965 to 1969. He was a member of the organization’s board of directors for several years and served as the chairman of the ways and means committee for the National Association for Retarded Children in 1970. Gov. Nelson Rockefeller appointed Reville to the Advisory Council on Mental Retardation Facilities and to the Developmental Disabilities Council.
New York City Board of Education Bilingual Scholarship Program
Type: Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Description: Applicants must be fluent in Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole or Russian (others, as determined by the needs of the New York City Board of Education), have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status. There is a non-refundable application fee of $15.00 payable to the New York City Board of Education. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and in one of the languages indicated above, and must take and pass several exams to demonstrate proficiency in English and the second language. Participants shall fulfill all requirements for and shall obtain state certification/bilingual extension. In exchange for tuition assistance, students must accept employment (two-to-five years) with the New York City Public School System after graduation. To work within the Board of Education, you must be licensed by the State Education Department and NYC Board of Education. The scholarships cover the full cost of tuition (excluding fees) and can be used for full- or part-time matriculated study. As a matriculated student, the applicant can apply for the Federal Student Loan Programs to cover other fees not paid by the Board of Education. Awards are made on a semester basis and are ongoing, depending on the availability of funds. For application, contact the New York City Board of Education.
Contact:
65 Court Street, Room 101
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 935-2449
Pamela Kilichowski-Conroy, Program Coordinator: (718) 935-2449
David Yam, Columbia Liaison: (212) 851-2359
Additional scholarship information is available on the national page of social work scholarships.
Return to top
Sponsored Online Social Work Programs
| School | Program Description |
|---|---|
| University of Denver |
|
| Fordham University |
|
| Simmons University |
|
| Case Western Reserve University |
|
| University of Southern California (USC) |
|
| Baylor University |
|
Sponsored Online Social Work Programs
Licensure information including requirements, renewals, and fees were retrieved as of August 2018. Information may have changed since, check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.