Loading...
Loading...
The cheapest state to get a social worker license is Louisiana at $25. The most expensive is New Mexico at $300. The national average is $116.
Lowest
$25
Louisiana
Average
$116
across 50 states
Median
$100
31 states at or below
Range
$275
spread across states
| # | State | Renewal Fee | Initial Fees | Renewal Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | $RSW: $25; CSW/LMSW: $50; LCSW/LCSW-BACS: $75 (annually) | $Approximately $372-$402 for LCSW (application + background check + exam fee) | Annual renewal; credentials lapse August 31 if not renewed; cancelled if not renewed by February 28 |
| #2 | Massachusetts | $LSWA: $42; LSW: $68; LCSW/LICSW: $120 | $Approximately $312-$342 (application + exam for LICSW track) | Biennial renewal on licensee's birthday |
| #3 | Indiana | $50 | $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) | 2 years; all licenses expire April 1st on even years |
| #4 | Illinois | $60 | $LSW: approximately $50 (application only, no exam); LCSW: approximately $310 (application $50 + Clinical exam $260) | 2 years |
| #5 | New York | $65 (triennial) | $Approximately $554-$624 (application + exam + optional limited permit) | 3 years (triennial registration) |
| #6 | Colorado | $70 | $Approximately $300-$330 (application $70 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | All Social Worker and Provisional licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years. Renewal fee not shown on fetched pages. |
| #6 | Maine | $70 (all license levels) | $Approximately $346-$376 (application + license + background check + exam fee) | 2 years (biennial) |
| #6 | Missouri | $70 | $Approximately $300-$330 (application + exam) | Biennial; renewal by September 30 of odd-numbered years |
| #9 | Iowa | $LBSW: $72; LMSW: $120; LISW: $144 | $Approximately $430-$460 ($200 licensing fee + exam fee) | 2 years (expires December 31 of even-numbered years) |
| #10 | Kentucky | $LSW $75 / CSW $125 / LCSW $200 | $Approximately $256-$286 (application + exam fee) | 3 years (triennial) |
| #10 | Mississippi | $LSW: $75; LMSW/LCSW: $110 | $Approximately $307-$397 (application + processing + exam + supervision registration) | 2 years (LSW by September 30; LMSW/LCSW by April 30) |
| #10 | North Dakota | $75 (all levels) | $Approximately $360 (application $25 + license $75 + exam $260) | 2 years |
| #10 | Wyoming | $75 | $Approximately $610 (PCSW $150 + exam $260 + LCSW $200) | 2 years (expires on holder's date of birth every two years) |
| #14 | Arkansas | $80 (cashier's check or money order only — no personal checks) | $Approximately $370-$435 (application + exam + background check) | 2 years |
| #14 | Idaho | $LSW/LMSW: $80; LCSW: $90 | $Approximately $300-$330 (application $70 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | Biennial licensure transition confirmed as of October 14, 2025. |
| #14 | New Jersey | $Biennial (varies by credential) | $Approximately $355-$495 (application + license + exam) | 2 years (in even-numbered years) |
| #17 | Alabama | $85 | $Approximately $405-$440 (application + exam + license fee) | 2 years |
| #17 | District of Columbia | $85 | $Approximately $280-$310 (application $50 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 2 years (expires July 31 of odd-numbered years) |
| #19 | Texas | $LBSW/LMSW $86; LMSW-AP/LCSW $106; penalty fees if license expires | $Approximately $481 (application $70 + exam $260 + jurisprudence $39 + license $102 + background check) | 2 years |
| #20 | North Carolina | $CSW/CMSW/CSWM: $90; LCSWA: $140; LCSW: $150 | $Approximately $405 (application + Clinical exam for LCSW) | 2-year cycle; each credential issued for a period not to exceed 2 years |
| #20 | South Carolina | $90 | $405 | 2 years (by December 31 of even-numbered years) |
| #20 | South Dakota | $SWA $90, SW $130, CSW $170, CSW-PIP $210 (biennial) | $Approximately $470 (application $210 + exam $260) | 2 years |
| #20 | Wisconsin | $90 (LCSW) | $Approximately $410 (application $75 + license $75 + exam $260) | 02/28 of each odd-numbered year (biennial) |
| #24 | Pennsylvania | $95 | $305 (LCSW application $45 + ASWB exam $260) | Current cycle: March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2027; next cycle: March 1, 2027 – February 28, 2029 |
| #25 | Georgia | $100 | $Approximately $340-$370 (application $110 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 2 years; expires September 30 of even-numbered years |
| #25 | Kansas | $LBSW: $100; LMSW: $125; LSCSW: $150 | $Approximately $460-$510 (application + exam + license fee depending on level) | 2 years |
| #25 | Maryland | $LBSW: $100; LGSW: $226; LCSW-C: $301 | $Approximately $435-$465 (application + exam + license fee) | 2 years |
| #25 | Montana | $100 (annual) | $Approximately $460-$660 (candidate registration + application + exam) | 1 year (annually by December 31) |
| #25 | Oklahoma | $100 | $410 | 1 year (expires December 31 annually) |
| #25 | Tennessee | $100 (biennial) | $380 | 2 years (biennial) |
| #25 | West Virginia | $100 (biennial) | $355 | 2 years (September 30 of odd-numbered years) |
| #32 | Utah | $103 (biennial) | $385 | 2 years (by October 1 of even-numbered years) |
| #33 | Ohio | $Biennial (paid through Ohio eLicense system) | $Approximately $363.50 (LISW application + Clinical exam) | 2 years (on license issuance date) |
| #34 | Delaware | $115 | $Approximately $545-$645 (application $205 + exam $230-$260 + license $115 + background $65) | 2 years; expires January 31 of odd-numbered years (e.g., 2023, 2025) |
| #35 | Michigan | $117.20 (triennial) | $Approximately $280-$310 (application + exam) | Confirmed: triennial (3-year) for full license; 1-year for limited license (LLBSW/LLMSW), renewable up to 6 times |
| #36 | Oregon | $120 (LCSW) | $520 (application + ASWB exam) | 2 years (by last day of birth month); CSWA renewed annually |
| #36 | Rhode Island | $120 | $355 | Biennial renewal; renewal notices sent 60 days before expiration date |
| #38 | Connecticut | $LMSW: $125; LCSW: $200 | $LMSW: approximately $450 (application $220 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $575 (application $315 + exam $260) | 1 year (annually during licensee's birth month) |
| #39 | Arizona | $LBSW: $130; LMSW: $130; LCSW: $180 | $Approximately $520-$550 (application $250 + fingerprint $40 + exam $230-$260) | 2 years |
| #39 | Florida | $LCSW: $130; CMSW: $130 | $LCSW path: approximately $615 (RCSWI $150 + LCSW application $100 + license $105 + ASWB Clinical exam $260) | 2 years; current licenses expire March 31, 2027 (odd year confirmed) |
| #39 | Virginia | $130 (biennial) | $455 | 2 years |
| #42 | Nevada | $150 | $Approximately $435 (application $50 + license $125 + exam $260) | Annual — last day of birth month; CE requirements on 2-year cycle despite annual renewal |
| #43 | Hawaii | $LBSW: $177; LSW: $222; LCSW: $270 | $LBSW: approximately $290 (application $60 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $678 (application $418 + exam $260) | Triennial; all licenses expire June 30 every 3 years (2025, 2028, 2031) |
| #44 | Washington | $216 (LICSW) | $Approximately $526 (application $216 + exam $260 + supervision $50) | Annual — renew every year on or before birthday |
| #45 | California | $220 (includes $20 Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund) | $Approximately $860 (ASW registration $150 + LCSW application $250 + ASWB exam $260 + initial license $200) | LCSW: 2-year renewal period; ASW: 1-year renewal period (confirmed via CE page language referencing 'one-year period' for registrants and 'two-year period' for licensees) |
| #46 | Vermont | $240 | $Approximately $360 (application $100 + exam $260) | 2 years |
| #47 | Minnesota | $263.25 (LICSW) | $Approximately $353 (application $60 + CBC $33.25 + exam $260) | 2 years (biennial; renewal in birth month, two calendar years from license issue) |
| #48 | New Hampshire | $275-$298 | $Approximately $570 (application + exam + license + supervision registration) | Annual renewal, but 36 CE hours every 2 years (despite annual renewal) |
| #49 | Alaska | $300 | $Approximately $590-$620 (application + exam + license fee) | 2 years |
| #49 | New Mexico | $300 (biennial, LISW/LCSW) | $Approximately $385 (application + exam for LISW/LCSW) | Biennial; all permanent licenses expire on July 1 |
| — | Nebraska | $Biennial renewal (amount varies by credential) | $Approximately $465 (application + exam for LMHP + CMSW) | Biennial; expiration date is September 1 of even-numbered years |
Renewal fees are per renewal cycle as reported by state licensing boards. Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full renewal details.
Louisiana has the lowest renewal fee at $25. The national average renewal fee is $116.
There is significant variation across the 50 states with data. Values range from $25 to $300, with a median of $100.
Get licensing updates