Social workers can be considered the backbone of society. They help children in need, connect with seniors, care for the homeless, and ensure families and individuals are happy and healthy. They consult and comfort, working hard to guarantee that people are mentally, physically and emotionally well. They put the community’s needs first.

If you’re wondering how to become a social worker in Virginia, there are a number of steps you need to take, including applying to schools, taking courses, completing supervised clinical training and passing a licensing exam so you’re qualified to work in the state. This guide has information you need to begin your journey to become a social worker in Virginia.

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.

Common Steps to Become a Virginia Social Worker

There are multiple steps you need to become a social worker and earn your social worker license in Virginia. How to become a social worker in Virginia involves the following steps:

1. Complete necessary education.

To become a social worker in Virginia, you need the social work degree that matches the license level: an LBSW requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work, and an LMSW requires a master’s degree from an accredited school of social work. Earning your BSW puts you on track to become a licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW), while earning your Master of Social Work (MSW) prepares you to become a licensed master social worker (LMSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia. For LCSW licensure, Virginia requires a clinical course of study that includes a minimum 600-hour supervised clinical field placement/practicum. If an applicant is short of 600 practicum hours, Virginia allows the missing hours to be completed through additional supervised clinical practice hours beyond the standard post-master’s experience requirement.

2. Gain required experience.

Supervised experience is required to become an LCSW in Virginia; you need 600 hours of MSW clinical practicum experience and 3,000 hours of supervised post-master’s degree experience in clinical social work services (and related ancillary services that support clinical practice). At least 1,380 hours must be face-to-face client contact. You also need at least 100 hours of supervision, provided at a rate of 1–4 hours per 40 hours of work experience (and no more than 50 of the 100 supervision hours may be group supervision). The supervised experience must be completed within 2 to 4 consecutive years.

3. Take and pass the ASWB exam.

Virginia uses the ASWB exams for licensure (Bachelors for LBSW, Masters for LMSW, and Clinical for LCSW). For LCSW applicants, the ASWB Clinical exam comes after you complete the required supervised experience. Fees vary depending on the type of exam taken, but each exam includes 170 multiple-choice questions. Only 150 questions are graded; 20 questions are used to measure future test questions. You’ll have four hours to complete the exam.

4. Submit your application.

Send your completed application to the Virginia Department of Health Professions’ Board of Social Work (the Board). You can submit your application online.

5. Keep up with continued education and renewal requirements.

Once you’re a licensed social worker in Virginia, you must keep up with continued education and renewal requirements as outlined by the Board.

Learn more on how to become a social worker.

You have many options for social work degree programs, which you’ll need to enroll in to become a social worker in Virginia. These programs are offered online and in person, so you can choose the option that works best for you. A social work program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills to work with patients after you graduate.

Depending on your current level of educational experience, you may need to explore social work bachelor’s degree programs or social work master’s degree programs.

An MSW program prepares you to practice with various populations as a social worker. The curriculum combines classroom learning with hands-on practicum experience. Virginia has multiple CSWE-accredited MSW programs. Examples of Virginia-based universities with CSWE-accredited MSW programs include George Mason University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Liberty University, and Virginia State University.

Admission requirements vary by school, but MSW applications commonly require items like transcripts, recommendations, a résumé, and a personal statement. Some universities may require standardized test scores for certain graduate programs, so applicants should confirm requirements with the specific MSW program they’re applying to.

If you prefer a more flexible learning environment, an online MSW program in Virginia could be best for you. Online MSW programs can offer greater flexibility by combining online coursework (often a mix of live/synchronous and self-paced/asynchronous learning) with required field education. Many online programs are offered in a part-time format so you can continue working while you study or take your time with the course material. Even in an online MSW, you’ll still complete in-person field education (field placement). Many programs work with students to arrange placements in or near their communities, depending on the school’s field requirements and approved sites.

If you have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, you may be eligible for an advanced standing MSW pathway. Schools often require the BSW to be earned within a recent timeframe (for example, George Mason notes that advanced standing is typically a bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program, and you may be able to enroll in an advanced standing MSW degree program. Advanced standing programs can usually be completed more quickly. 

If you plan to pursue LCSW licensure in Virginia, you’ll need an MSW from an accredited social work program that includes a clinical course of study (along with the required supervised experience and exam for licensure). Virginia has multiple online (or online-format) CSWE-accredited MSW options. Examples include George Mason University, Radford University (online synchronous option), Virginia Commonwealth University, and Liberty University. 

For more details on these CSWE-accredited programs, see below.

To obtain your social work license in Virginia, you have three options: licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW), licensed master social worker (LMSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

The license you choose to apply for depends on the courses you take and how many hours of supervised clinical training you receive. How to become a LCSW in Virginia lists the most requirements. You’ll also need to take and pass specific exams. Your license allows you to practice in certain settings and verify that you’ve met certain standards.

Learn more about a LMSW License.

Learn more about how to become a LCSW.

The median salary for social workers was $61,330 in 2024, the BLS reports. The top 10% of social workers nationwide made more than $99,500, while the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,580. A social worker’s salary depends on many factors, such as years of experience and geographic area.

The table below breaks down average social worker salaries in Virginia as of May 2024 (with the table most recently updated in January 2026) from the BLS.

Information on the above social work salaries in Virginia table was obtained in January 2026 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Virginia.

Online and on-campus social work programs in Virginia can be expensive. Here is a Virginia social work scholarship to consider:

You can apply for financial aid with your school and research additional social work scholarships to help you afford full tuition.

There are a few social work organizations in Virginia you may want to explore. These organizations can connect you with job, networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities. Here are some local social work organizations:

Getting a social work license, whether it’s an LSW or an LCSW, can be a daunting process since there are so many requirements. Below are some FAQs to help you navigate how to become a social worker in Virginia.

Virginia doesn’t offer automatic reciprocity for social work licenses. Instead, most out-of-state social workers apply for a Virginia license by endorsement (if they already hold a comparable license in good standing). Virginia has also enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact (April 12, 2024), but it is not yet operational, so multistate privileges are not currently being issued.  In general, you can’t simply ‘transfer’ an out-of-state license and begin practicing in Virginia immediately; you typically must obtain a Virginia license by endorsement (or, once available, through the Social Work Licensure Compact process). 

Virginia offers licensure by endorsement for applicants who hold an active, unrestricted comparable license in good standing in another jurisdiction. Endorsement typically requires proof of a passing ASWB exam score at the appropriate level, but if you were originally licensed in a jurisdiction where a national exam was not required at the time, Virginia may accept documentation of that instead.

For the most accurate steps, use the Virginia DHP Board of Social Work’s licensure by endorsement pages and application checklists for the license level you’re seeking (LBSW, LMSW, or LCSW).

Virginia social workers must complete continuing education requirements to maintain their license. Depending on the type of social worker, there are different CE requirements:

Learn more about continuing education for social workers.

To look up your social work license in Virginia, use the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) online License Lookup tool. You can search by license number if you have it, or look up your record using your name and filters such as occupation, state, ZIP code, and license status. This search will display your license number and key details, including your current status and any available public information.

Information last updated in January 2026.