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Become a Social Worker in Pennsylvania
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania was home to the fourth-highest concentration of child, family and school social workers in May 2024. As of January 2026, Graduates of a CSWE-accredited BSW program may be eligible to apply for Pennsylvania’s bachelor’s-level social work license by meeting state requirements and passing the ASWB Bachelor’s exam. To become an LSW or LCSW in Pennsylvania, a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is required. There are several accredited MSW programs in Pennsylvania to consider.
This career guide for how to become a social worker in Pennsylvania explains educational requirements, how to get licensed, Pennsylvania social work organizations to join and more. Once you complete the steps to become a Pennsylvania social worker, you can embark on a meaningful, fulfilling career helping others.
University of Denver • Denver, CO
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
54-81 graduate-level credits
Concentrations
Mental Health and Trauma, Health, Equity and Wellness
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to be considered for admission
- Minimum undergraduate GPA is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree
- Official transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Career goals statement
Syracuse University • Syracuse, NY
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 24 months
Credits
36-60
Concentrations
Advanced Integrated Practice, Advanced Clinical Practice
Admission Requirements
- Minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred
- Transcripts
- Resume
- Essays
- Prerequisite coursework
- Letters of recommendation
Simmons University • Boston, MA
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Accelerated and Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 9 months
Credits
37-65
Concentrations
Mental Health Practice Optional Certificate, Trauma Practice Optional Certificate, Clinical Practice with Active Service Members, Veterans, and Families
Admission Requirements
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Recommendation forms
- Statement of professional and educational intent
Howard University • Washington, DC
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
45+
Concentrations
Direct Practice, Community, Administration and Policy (CAP) Practice
Admission Requirements
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- College transcripts
- A personal statement
- An application essay
- A resume
- Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution, award within four years of first term start date
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all social work foundation and undergraduate coursework
Hawaii Pacific University • Honolulu, HI
Master of Social Work
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
12-36 months
Credits
30-57
Concentrations
Military and Veterans Affairs, Child or Adult Protective Services, Health Care, Mental Health, Individual and Families, Social Agency Administration
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with at least 30 credits in Liberal Arts from an accredited four-year institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA, but applicants below that will be considered for provisional admission
- Completed courses in Statistics and Research Methods
- Applicants must have completed each course with a grade of a "C" or higher
- Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited program within the past five years
- Minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale in social work courses
- Online application
Common Steps to Become a Social Worker in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, there are three social work licenses: Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Below are common steps on how to become an LSW and LCSW in Pennsylvania, retrieved from State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Title 49 Chapter 47 of the Pennsylvania Code:
Information below was retrieved January 2026 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.
To become an LSW or LCSW in Pennsylvania, you must hold a master’s degree in social work or social welfare from an accredited school/program (or a doctoral degree in social work). Pennsylvania’s Board materials describe the LCSW degree requirement as a CSWE-accredited program.
To be eligible to sit for an ASWB exam in Pennsylvania, you must submit an application to the Board for approval (typically through the PA Licensing System, PALS). After Board approval, ASWB issues an Authorization to Test, and you schedule the exam with Pearson VUE.
After you receive your Authorization to Test from ASWB, you register and schedule your exam through ASWB/Pearson VUE.
After you pass the ASWB Master’s exam, submit/complete the LSW licensure requirements in PALS, including Pennsylvania’s 3 hours of Board-approved child abuse recognition and reporting CE required for initial licensure.
For LCSW licensure, you must complete at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience after completing the MSW, completed in no fewer than 2 years, and Pennsylvania’s regulations require you to be licensed as a social worker (LSW) before LCSW licensure.
After completing the 3,000 supervised hours (over at least 2 years), apply for LCSW licensure and pass the ASWB Clinical exam (as required by the Board) to receive your LCSW.
Social Work Degree Programs in Pennsylvania
You have a few social work program options in Pennsylvania that will put you on the path to licensure. For LBSW licensure, you’ll typically need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited social work program (or an equivalent bachelor’s in social work/social welfare that meets Board requirements). Core classwork may include human behavior, social policy, research methods and a practicum.
For students ready for graduate studies, several schools across Pennsylvania offer a Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Doctoral degrees are available at a few of Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities, including the University of Pennsylvania’s Doctorate in Clinical Social Work and the University of Pittsburgh’s Ph.D. in Social Work. A doctoral degree in social work (such as a DSW) can meet Pennsylvania’s education requirement, but LCSW licensure also requires you to first hold an LSW, complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over at least two years, and pass the ASWB Clinical exam.
Depending on your program track option of full-time, part-time, or advanced standing, you can finish an MSW in as little as a year. Based on your undergraduate social work degree, you may need to take some prerequisite courses.
Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs
To earn an LSW or LCSW in Pennsylvania, you must hold a master’s degree in social work or social welfare from an accredited school (or a doctoral degree in social work). As a student, you should expect to develop core knowledge, skills, and values necessary for a social work professional.
In addition to coursework covering the history and philosophy of social work and social welfare, human behavior and the social environment, and an understanding of social change, your curriculum may include field placement experiences. Examples of CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Pennsylvania include:
| Institution & Program | Location | Study Length | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
California University of PennsylvaniaMaster of Social Work | California, PA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Carlow UniversityMaster of Social Work | Pittsburgh, PA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Edinboro UniversityMaster of Social Work | Edinboro, PA | 2 years | Full-Time |
Kutztown UniversityMaster of Social Work | Kutztown, PA | 2 years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Marywood UniversityMaster of Social Work | Scranton, PA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Temple UniversityMaster of Social Work | Philadelphia, PA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
University of PennsylvaniaMaster of Social Work | Philadelphia, PA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
University of PittsburghMaster of Social Work | Pittsburgh, PA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Widener UniversityMaster of Social Work | Chester, PA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Online MSW Programs in Pennsylvania
If you prefer to take your MSW courses online, there are several online and hybrid MSW options for you in Pennsylvania. This flexible educational path is ideal for students with a busy schedule who need to balance work, home life and school. The following online MSW programs offer classes online, traditional and advanced standing MSW programs to fit your needs.
Some of the MSW programs in Pennsylvania offer a clinical concentration. An MSW, online or on-campus, can meet the education requirement toward LCSW, but Pennsylvania LCSW licensure also requires LSW licensure, 3,000 supervised clinical hours over at least two years, and the ASWB Clinical exam.
| Institution & Program | Location | Study Length | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
Carlow UniversityMaster of Social Work | Pittsburgh, PA | 1.5+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Edinboro UniversityMaster of Social Work | Edinboro, PA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Kutztown UniversityMaster of Social Work | Kutztown, PA | 2 years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Temple UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Philadelphia, PA | 1.5+ years | Part-Time |
Widener UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Chester, PA | 2+ years | Part-Time |
Social Work Licenses in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania offers multiple licensure options in social work: licensed bachelor social worker, licensed social worker and licensed clinical social worker. Each level allows social workers to perform varying levels of work and assume different responsibilities. Pennsylvania also issues a Provisional Social Worker License for certain applicants who are progressing toward full licensure.
Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
- Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
- Field Requirements: None
- Exam: Bachelor’s level ASWB exam
- License Renewal: Biennial (every two years); renewal requires 30 hours of continuing education per renewal period, including 3 hours in ethics, 2 hours of Act 31 child abuse reporter training, and 1 hour in suicide prevention (renewal fee: $95).
Learn more on how to become a LBSW.
Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
- Education Requirements: Master’s degree in social work or social welfare from an accredited school/program (on the date the degree was awarded) or a doctoral degree in social work.
- Field Requirements: No supervised post-degree experience requirement for initial LSW licensure.
- Exam: Master’s level ASWB exam
- License Renewal: Biennial (every two years); renewal requires 30 hours of CE per renewal period, including 2 hours of Act 31 child abuse reporter training, 3 hours of ethics, and 1 hour of suicide prevention (renewal fee: $95). Initial licensure also requires 3 hours of Board-approved CE in child abuse recognition and reporting.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Education Requirements: Master’s degree in social work or social welfare from a CSWE-accredited program (or a doctoral degree in social work).
- Field Requirements: 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience completed after the MSW, in no fewer than 2 years (completed while holding the LSW, since the LCSW is only available to those already licensed as an LSW).
- Exam: ASWB Clinical exam
- License Renewal: Biennial renewal; 30 hours of CE per renewal period, including 2 hours Act 31 child abuse reporter training, 3 hours ethics, and 1 hour suicide prevention (renewal fee: $95).
Learn more about how to become a LCSW.
Social Work Salaries for Pennsylvania
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Typical salaries for other social work careers in the state vary:
Pennsylvania Social Work Careers | Number of Social Workers in Pennsylvania | Average Mean Social Work Salary |
|---|---|---|
Child, family and school social workers | 18,200 | $55,490 |
Healthcare social workers | 6,560 | $65,940 |
Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 4,150 | $55,260 |
Social workers, all other | 2,040 | $70,870 |
Social work teachers, postsecondary | 880 | $82,010 |
Information on the above social work salaries in Florida was retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Pennsylvania as of January 2026.
Learn more about different social work salaries.
Pennsylvania Social Work Scholarships
You can find various social work scholarships, fellowships and grants at most colleges and universities. Refer to your institution's financial aid department about your options.
- Kutztown University - Social Work Scholarship Opportunities
- University of Pittsburgh - School of Social Work, Scholarships and Fellowships
- University of Pennsylvania – Social Policy and Practice, Scholarships and Fellowships
Pennsylvania Social Work Organizations
For professional support, continuing education, advocacy, and networking, consider these Pennsylvania organizations. For licensing and official requirements, always use the Pennsylvania Department of State / State Board.
Several organizations in Pennsylvania offer resources for social work professionals.
FAQs
Pennsylvania has an out-of-state licensure pathway called licensure by reciprocity, but it is not automatic and generally applies only when the other jurisdiction also grants reciprocity to Pennsylvania licensees. In addition, Pennsylvania has licensure by endorsement and may consider some applicants under Act 41, which allows boards to review out-of-state licenses on a case-by-case basis when standard endorsement/reciprocity routes don’t apply.
Information last updated: February 2026