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Become a Social Worker in Virginia
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.
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
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
Send your completed application to the Virginia Department of Health Professions’ Board of Social Work (the Board). You can submit your application online.
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.
Social Work Degree Programs in Virginia
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.
Master of Social Work (MSW) Program
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.
| Institution & Program | Location | Study Length | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
George Mason UniversityMaster of Social Work | Fairfax, VA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Governors State UniversityMaster of Social Work | University Park, IL | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Norfolk State UniversityMaster of Social Work | Norfolk, VA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Radford UniversityMaster of Social Work | Radford, VA | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityMaster of Public Health and Master of Social Work | Richmond, VA | 3 years | Full-Time |
West Virginia UniversityMaster of Social Work | Morgantown, WV | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Online MSW Programs in Virginia
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.
| Institution & Program | Location | Study Length | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
George Mason UniversityMaster of Social Work | Fairfax, VA | 3 years | Part-Time |
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityMaster of Social Work | Richmond, VA | 1.3+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
West Virginia UniversityMaster of Social Work | Morgantown, WV | 3 years | Part-Time |
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
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
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
Social Work Licenses in Virginia
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.
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) in Virginia
- Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Field Requirements: None (no post-degree supervised experience hours are required for LBSW licensure by examination under current Virginia regulations).
- Exam: Pass the ASWB Bachelor’s-level examination
- License Renewal: Required annually; all Virginia social work licenses renew by June 30. (Continued competency/CE is required prior to renewal in even-numbered years.)
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Virginia
- Education Requirements: Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Field Requirements: None
- Exam: ASWB Master’s-level examination
- License Renewal: Required annually; licenses renew by June 30 each year. (Continued competency/CE is required prior to renewal in even-numbered years.)
Learn more about a LMSW License.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Virginia
- Education Requirements: Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Field Requirements: Minimum 600-hour clinical practicum/field placement as part of a clinical course of study, plus 3,000 hours of board-approved, post-master’s supervised clinical experience. Within the 3,000 hours, at least 1,380 hours must be face-to-face client contact, and you must complete 100 hours of supervision (at a rate of 1–4 hours per 40 work hours). The supervised experience must be completed in a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 consecutive years, and no more than 50 of the 100 supervision hours may be in a group format.
- Exam: ASWB clinical-level examination
- License Renewal: Required annually; all Virginia social work licenses must be renewed by June 30 each year. (Continued competency requirements apply prior to renewal in even-numbered years.)
Learn more about how to become a LCSW.
Social Work Salaries in Virginia
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.
Virginia Social Work Career | Number of Social Workers in Virginia | Average Mean Social Worker Salary |
|---|---|---|
Child, Family and School Social Workers | 8,160 | $65,040 |
Healthcare Social Workers | 2,680 | $67,040 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 3,130 | $70,870 |
Social Workers, All Other | 1,000 | $81,620 |
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.
Virginia Social Work Scholarships
Online and on-campus social work programs in Virginia can be expensive. Here is a Virginia social work scholarship to consider:
- Hampton Roads Association of Social Workers Scholarship: This scholarship is listed as an external funding opportunity for MSW students and is administered through the Hampton Roads Community Foundation scholarship system. Because award amounts and deadlines can change by year, check the Foundation’s current scholarship listings and application portal for the latest details.
You can apply for financial aid with your school and research additional social work scholarships to help you afford full tuition.
Virginia Social Work Organizations
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:
- Virginia Society of Clinical Social Work: The VSCSW promotes the highest standards for clinical social work practice and professional education throughout the state. It has local chapters in Blue Ridge, Richmond, Roanoke, and Eastern Virginia.
- Virginia Association of School Social Workers: The VASSW offers professional networking and development, including an annual School Social Work State Conference (every other fall) and a Fall Institute in alternating years, along with smaller regional workshops held once or twice per year.
- National Association of Social Workers – Virginia Chapter: NASW-VA is Virginia’s chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and provides professional development and continuing education, along with advocacy and support for social workers across the Commonwealth.
FAQs
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).
Information last updated: January 2026