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Sort and compare social worker licensing requirements side-by-side across all 50 states.
| State | Clinical License | Supervised Hours | ASWB Clinical | Fees | CE Hours | Compact | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | LICSW | 24 months at 4 hours per month minimum | Yes | Approximately $405-$440 (application + exam + license fee) | LBSW & LMSW: 30 hours per renewal period (min 10 classroom); LICSW: 40 hours per renewal period (min 20 classroom); all levels require 3 hrs ethics; LICSW additional: 3 hrs clinical SW education + 3 hrs supervision education if supervising; LCSW-PIP requires 50 hours total | Yes | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $590-$620 (application + exam + license fee) | 45 hours per 5-YEAR cycle (not per 2-year renewal cycle) for LMSW and LCSW | No | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | LCSW | 3,200 | Yes | Approximately $520-$550 (application $250 + fingerprint $40 + exam $230-$260) | 30 hours per renewal period for all license levels | Yes | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | LCSW | 4 | Yes | Approximately $370-$435 (application + exam + background check) | 48 hours per renewal period for all license levels | Yes | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $860 (ASW registration $150 + LCSW application $250 + ASWB exam $260 + initial license $200) | 36 hours per biennial renewal for LCSW; 7 hours HIV/AIDS, 7 hours child abuse, 15 hours alcoholism/chemical dependency; one-time: suicide risk assessment, telehealth courses; first renewal: only 18 hours required | No | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | LCSW | 3,360 | Yes | Approximately $300-$330 (application $70 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | CPC requirements confirmed; details on PDH count on CPC sub-page (not fully fetched) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | LMSW: approximately $450 (application $220 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $575 (application $315 + exam $260) | 15 hours per year; at least 2 hours in mental health treatment of veterans; at least 1 hour in cultural competency; retain certificates for minimum 3 years (first renewal exempt) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | LCSW | 3,200 | Yes | Approximately $545-$645 (application $205 + exam $230-$260 + license $115 + background $65) | LBSW: 20 hours; LMSW: 30 hours; LCSW: 40 hours per renewal period | Yes | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $280-$310 (application $50 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 40 hours of approved continuing education units | No | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | LCSW | At least 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy with clients over no fewer than 100 weeks | Yes | LCSW path: approximately $615 (RCSWI $150 + LCSW application $100 + license $105 + ASWB Clinical exam $260) | 30 hours per biennial renewal period (first-time renewals exempt for initial 3 years) | No | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $340-$370 (application $110 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 35 hours per renewal period | Yes | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | LBSW: approximately $290 (application $60 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $678 (application $418 + exam $260) | 45 hours per triennial renewal period | No | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $300-$330 (application $70 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 30 hours per 24-month period (biennial); previously 20 hours annually (equivalent to 40 biennial); transitioned to 30 biennial as of October 2025 — net reduction | No | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | LSW: approximately $50 (application only, no exam); LCSW: approximately $310 (application $50 + Clinical exam $260) | 30 hours per biennial renewal period (both LSW and LCSW) | No | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | LCSW | 2 years of post-degree clinical social work experience in a clinical setting | Yes | LBSW: approximately $280 (application $50 + Bachelor's exam $230); LSW: approximately $280 (application $50 + Master's exam $230); LCSW: approximately $310 (application $50 + Clinical exam $260) | 30 hours (LSW/LMSW) / 40 hours (LCSW) per biennial cycle; 6 hours ethics required. Note: verified audit differentiates CE by license level; previous data showed 40 hours for all levels with Category I/II split. | No | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | LISW | 4,000 hours — among the highest nationally (tied with KS, MI, MN) | Yes | Approximately $430-$460 ($200 licensing fee + exam fee) | 27 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | LSCSW | 4,000 | Yes | Approximately $460-$510 (application + exam + license fee depending on level) | 40 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $256-$286 (application + exam fee) | LSW: 15 hours; CSW: 30 hours; LCSW: 30-40 hours per renewal cycle | Yes | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | LCSW | 5 | Yes | Approximately $372-$402 for LCSW (application + background check + exam fee) | 20 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | LCSW | 3,200 | Yes | Approximately $346-$376 (application + license + background check + exam fee) | 25 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | LCSW-C | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $435-$465 (application + exam + license fee) | LBSW: 30 hours per 2-year cycle; LGSW/LCSW/LCSW-C: 40 hours per 2-year cycle | Yes | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $312-$342 (application + exam for LICSW track) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | LMSW (Clinical) | 4 | Yes | Approximately $280-$310 (application + exam) | 45 | No | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | LICSW | 4 | Yes | Approximately $353 (application $60 + CBC $33.25 + exam $260) | 40 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | LCSW | 1,000 face-to-face client hours + 24 months experience | Yes | Approximately $307-$397 (application + processing + exam + supervision registration) | 40 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $300-$330 (application + exam) | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $460-$660 (candidate registration + application + exam) | 20 | No | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | LMHP (LCSW title requires both LMHP/LIMHP + CMSW) | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $465 (application + exam for LMHP + CMSW) | 32 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $435 (application $50 + license $125 + exam $260) | 36 | No | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | LICSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $570 (application + exam + license + supervision registration) | 30-40 hours per 2-year cycle (sources vary; some say 30, others say 40) | Yes | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | LCSW | 3,000 hours over 2-4 years; at least 1,920 hours face-to-face client contact; of those, 960 hours minimum in psychotherapeutic counseling; remaining 1,080 may include supervision time or other SW services | Yes | Approximately $355-$495 (application + license + exam) | CSW: 20 hours; LSW: 30 hours; LCSW: 40 hours per biennial cycle | No | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | LISW / LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $385 (application + exam for LISW/LCSW) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | LCSW | 2,000 client contact hours over 3 years (not to exceed 6 calendar years) | Yes | Approximately $554-$624 (application + exam + optional limited permit) | 36 hours per 3-year registration period (exemption for first registration period after licensure) | No | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $405 (application + Clinical exam for LCSW) | 40 | No | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $360 (application $25 + license $75 + exam $260) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | LISW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $363.50 (LISW application + Clinical exam) | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | LCSW | 4,000 | Yes | $410 | 16 | No | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | LCSW | 3,500 | Yes | $520 (application + ASWB exam) | 40 hours per 2-year cycle; may carry over up to 10 hours to next period | No | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $305 (LCSW application $45 + ASWB exam $260) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | LICSW | 3 | Yes | $355 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | LISW-CP | 3,000 | Yes | $405 | 40 | No | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | CSW-PIP | 2,000 | Yes | Approximately $470 (application $210 + exam $260) | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $380 | LBSW: 18 hours; LAPSW/LCSW: 30 hours; 2 hours suicide prevention every 4 years; supervisors: 12 hours specific to supervision (3 covering TN licensing rules); uses CE Broker tracking system | Yes | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $481 (application $70 + exam $260 + jurisprudence $39 + license $102 + background check) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | LCSW | 4,000 | Yes | $385 | 40 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $360 (application $100 + exam $260) | 20 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $455 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | LICSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $526 (application $216 + exam $260 + supervision $50) | AASW/ICSW: 18 hours; LASW/LICSW: 36 hours per 2-year cycle | Yes | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | LICSW | 3,000 hours per publicservicedegrees OR 4,000 per ASWB 2019 comparison — verify | Yes | $355 | 30 hours per 2-year cycle (effective July 1, 2022 for all levels: LSW, LGSW, LCSW, LICSW); Category I (online/face-to-face) and Category II (independent study) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $410 (application $75 + license $75 + exam $260) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $610 (PCSW $150 + exam $260 + LCSW $200) | 45 contact hours per 2-year cycle | No | March 2026 |