Become a Social Worker in Texas

Table of Contents
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
- Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
- Texas Social Work Salary
Disclaimer: Due to the rapidly changing nature of social work regulations, for the most up-to-date information on becoming a social worker in Texas, contact the Texas Social Work Licensing Board.
Texas law recognizes four classes of social workers: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Practice (LMSW-AP), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW). 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
Texas LCSW
Texas LCSW Education Requirement: Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
Texas LCSW Exam: Texas Jurisprudence Examination, Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Level Examination (score of 70 or higher)
Field Requirement: 24 months and 100 hours of supervised (LMSW-AP) clinical experience
Fee: $111 application fee, $39 jurisprudence ASWB examination fee, $260 ASWB examination fee; if upgrading from LMSW only $20 fee is assessed
Additional Information: None
Endorsement: Available upon board approval
License Renewal: Renewal is required every two years. Requirements for renewal are the successful completion of 30 hours of continuing education, including 6 hours of professional ethics and social work values and a $106 renewal fee.
Return to top
Texas LMSW-AP
Texas LMSW-AP Education Requirement: Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
Texas LMSW-AP Exam: Texas Jurisprudence Examination, Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Advanced Generalist Level Examination
Field Requirement: 24 months and 100 hours of supervised non-clinical experience
Fee: $111 application fee, $39 jurisprudence ASWB examination fee, $260 ASWB examination fee; if upgrading from LMSW only $20 fee is assessed
Additional Information: None
Endorsement: Available upon board approval
License Renewal: Renewal is required every two years. Requirements for renewal are the successful completion of 30 hours of continuing education, including 6 hours of professional ethics and social work values and a $106 renewal fee.
Return to top
Texas LMSW
Texas LMSW Education Requirement: Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
Texas LMSW Exam: Texas Jurisprudence Examination, Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s Level Examination
Field Requirement: None
Fee: $91 application fee, $39 jurisprudence ASWB examination fee, $230 ASWB examination fee; if upgrading from LBSW only a $20 fee is assessed
Additional Information: None
Endorsement: Available upon board approval
License Renewal: Renewal is required every two years. Requirements for renewal are the successful completion of 30 hours of continuing education, including 6 hours of professional ethics and social work values and a $86 renewal fee.
Return to top
Texas LBSW
Texas LBSW Education Requirement: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
Texas LBSW Exam: Texas Jurisprudence Examination, Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelor’s Level Examination
Field Requirement: None
Fee: $91 application fee, $39 jurisprudence ASWB examination fee, $230 ASWB examination fee
Additional Information: None
Endorsement: Available upon board approval
License Renewal: Renewal is required every two years. Requirements for renewal are the successful completion of 30 hours of continuing education, including 6 hours of professional ethics and social work values and a $86 renewal fee.
Return to top

In order to become a licensed social work practitioner in Texas, you will need to fulfill prerequisite coursework, examination requirements, and, in certain cases, supervised work requirements. Also, certain levels of social work in Texas can only be reached after completing an on-campus or online master of social work program. We are dedicated to keeping up-to-date information about social work licensing in Texas available to you. If you are experiencing any difficulty finding the information you are looking for here, or for the most current social work license information for Texas, please visit the Texas 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. Last updated 08/21/2018.
Texas Social Work Salary
Texas Social Work Career | Average Social Work Salary |
---|---|
Child, Family and School Social Workers | $43,980 |
Medical and Public Health Social Workers | $57,980 |
Healthcare Social Workers | $41,740 |
All Other Social Workers | $69,860 |
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 Texas is subject to change. Please confirm salary information with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. Last updated: 08/21/2018.
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.