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The cheapest state to get a social worker license is Illinois at $50. The most expensive is California at $860. The national average is $408.
Lowest
$50
Illinois
Average
$408
across 51 states
Median
$385
26 states at or below
Range
$810
spread across states
| # | State | Total Initial Fees | Renewal Fee | CE Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Illinois | $LSW: approximately $50 (application only, no exam); LCSW: approximately $310 (application $50 + Clinical exam $260) | $60 | 30 hrs |
| #2 | Kentucky | $Approximately $256-$286 (application + exam fee) | $LSW: $75; CSW: $125; LCSW: $200 | — |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $Approximately $280-$310 (application $50 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | $85 | 40 hrs |
| #3 | Indiana | $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) | $50 | 30 hrs |
| #3 | Michigan | $Approximately $280-$310 (application + exam) | $117.20 (triennial) | 45 hrs |
| #6 | Hawaii | $LBSW: approximately $290 (application $60 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $678 (application $418 + exam $260) | $LBSW: $177; LSW: $222; LCSW: $270 | 45 hrs |
| #7 | Colorado | $Approximately $300-$330 (application $70 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | $70 | — |
| #7 | Idaho | $Approximately $300-$330 (application $70 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | $LSW/LMSW: $80; LCSW: $90 | 30 hrs |
| #7 | Missouri | $Approximately $300-$330 (application + exam) | $70 | 30 hrs |
| #10 | Pennsylvania | $305 (LCSW application $45 + ASWB exam $260) | $95 | 30 hrs |
| #11 | Mississippi | $Approximately $307-$397 (application + processing + exam + supervision registration) | $LSW: $75; LMSW/LCSW: $110 | 40 hrs |
| #12 | Massachusetts | $Approximately $312-$342 (application + exam for LICSW track) | $LSWA: $42; LSW: $68; LCSW/LICSW: $120 | 30 hrs |
| #13 | Georgia | $Approximately $340-$370 (application $110 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | $100 | 35 hrs |
| #14 | Maine | $Approximately $346-$376 (application + license + background check + exam fee) | $70 (all license levels) | 25 hrs |
| #15 | Minnesota | $Approximately $353 (application $60 + CBC $33.25 + exam $260) | $263.25 (LICSW) | 40 hrs |
| #16 | New Jersey | $Approximately $355-$495 (application + license + exam) | $Biennial (varies by credential) | — |
| #16 | Rhode Island | $355 | $120 | 30 hrs |
| #16 | West Virginia | $355 | $100 (biennial) | 30 hrs |
| #19 | North Dakota | $Approximately $360 (application $25 + license $75 + exam $260) | $75 (all levels) | 30 hrs |
| #19 | Vermont | $Approximately $360 (application $100 + exam $260) | $240 | 20 hrs |
| #21 | Ohio | $Approximately $363.50 (LISW application + Clinical exam) | $Biennial (paid through Ohio eLicense system) | 30 hrs |
| #22 | Arkansas | $Approximately $370-$435 (application + exam + background check) | $80 (cashier's check or money order only — no personal checks) | 48 hrs |
| #23 | Louisiana | $Approximately $372-$402 for LCSW (application + background check + exam fee) | $RSW: $25; CSW/LMSW: $50; LCSW/LCSW-BACS: $75 (annually) | 20 hrs |
| #24 | Tennessee | $380 | $100 (biennial) | — |
| #25 | New Mexico | $Approximately $385 (application + exam for LISW/LCSW) | $300 (biennial, LISW/LCSW) | 30 hrs |
| #25 | Utah | $385 | $103 (biennial) | 40 hrs |
| #27 | Alabama | $Approximately $405-$440 (application + exam + license fee) | $85 | — |
| #27 | North Carolina | $Approximately $405 (application + Clinical exam for LCSW) | $CSW/CMSW/CSWM: $90; LCSWA: $140; LCSW: $150 | 40 hrs |
| #27 | South Carolina | $405 | $90 | 40 hrs |
| #30 | Oklahoma | $410 | $100 | 16 hrs |
| #30 | Wisconsin | $Approximately $410 (application $75 + license $75 + exam $260) | $90 (LCSW) | 30 hrs |
| #32 | Iowa | $Approximately $430-$460 ($200 licensing fee + exam fee) | $LBSW: $72; LMSW: $120; LISW: $144 | 27 hrs |
| #33 | Maryland | $Approximately $435-$465 (application + exam + license fee) | $LBSW: $100; LGSW: $226; LCSW-C: $301 | — |
| #33 | Nevada | $Approximately $435 (application $50 + license $125 + exam $260) | $150 | 36 hrs |
| #35 | Connecticut | $LMSW: approximately $450 (application $220 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $575 (application $315 + exam $260) | $LMSW: $125; LCSW: $200 | 15 hrs |
| #36 | Virginia | $455 | $130 (biennial) | 30 hrs |
| #37 | Kansas | $Approximately $460-$510 (application + exam + license fee depending on level) | $LBSW: $100; LMSW: $125; LSCSW: $150 | 40 hrs |
| #37 | Montana | $Approximately $460-$660 (candidate registration + application + exam) | $100 (annual) | 20 hrs |
| #39 | Nebraska | $Approximately $465 (application + exam for LMHP + CMSW) | $Biennial renewal (amount varies by credential) | 32 hrs |
| #40 | South Dakota | $Approximately $470 (application $210 + exam $260) | $SWA $90, SW $130, CSW $170, CSW-PIP $210 (biennial) | 30 hrs |
| #41 | Texas | $Approximately $481 (application $70 + exam $260 + jurisprudence $39 + license $102 + background check) | $LBSW/LMSW $86; LMSW-AP/LCSW $106; penalty fees if license expires | 30 hrs |
| #42 | Arizona | $Approximately $520-$550 (application $250 + fingerprint $40 + exam $230-$260) | $LBSW: $130; LMSW: $130; LCSW: $180 | 30 hrs |
| #42 | Oregon | $520 (application + ASWB exam) | $120 (LCSW) | 40 hrs |
| #44 | Washington | $Approximately $526 (application $216 + exam $260 + supervision $50) | $216 (LICSW) | — |
| #45 | Delaware | $Approximately $545-$645 (application $205 + exam $230-$260 + license $115 + background $65) | $115 | — |
| #46 | New York | $Approximately $554-$624 (application + exam + optional limited permit) | $65 (triennial) | 36 hrs |
| #47 | New Hampshire | $Approximately $570 (application + exam + license + supervision registration) | $275-$298 | 30 hrs |
| #48 | Alaska | $Approximately $590-$620 (application + exam + license fee) | $300 | 45 hrs |
| #49 | Wyoming | $Approximately $610 (PCSW $150 + exam $260 + LCSW $200) | $75 | 45 hrs |
| #50 | Florida | $LCSW path: approximately $615 (RCSWI $150 + LCSW application $100 + license $105 + ASWB Clinical exam $260) | $LCSW: $130; CMSW: $130 | 30 hrs |
| #51 | California | $Approximately $860 (ASW registration $150 + LCSW application $250 + ASWB exam $260 + initial license $200) | $220 (includes $20 Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund) | 36 hrs |
Total initial fees include application, exam, and license fees paid to the state (excludes education/training costs). Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full fee details.
Illinois has the lowest total initial licensing fees at $50. The national average is $408.
California has the highest total initial fees at $860, which is $810 more than the cheapest state.
The average total initial licensing cost across 51 states is $408. Costs range from $50 to $860.
There is significant variation across the 51 states with data. Values range from $50 to $860, with a median of $385.