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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) | 1 year (annual renewal by August 31) -- ONLY U.S. state with annual renewal cycle |
| #2 | Massachusetts | $LSWA: $42; LSW: $68; LCSW/LICSW: $120 | $Approximately $312-$342 (application + exam for LICSW track) | 2 years (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 (expires April 1 of even-numbered years; renew by March 31) |
| #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) | Biennial — expires August 31 of odd-numbered years; renewal fee: $67-$70 |
| #6 | Maine | $70 (all license levels) | $Approximately $346-$376 (application + license + background check + exam fee) | 2 years |
| #6 | Missouri | $70 | $Approximately $300-$330 (application + exam) | 2 years (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 |
| #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 (by birthdate) |
| #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) | Transitioning to biennial (2 years) as of October 14, 2025; previously annual (expires on licensee's birth date) |
| #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 years (expires June 30 biennially) |
| #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) | Biennial -- expires end of February in odd-numbered years |
| #24 | Pennsylvania | $95 | $305 (LCSW application $45 + ASWB exam $260) | 2 years (March 1 - February 28/29; current cycle March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2027) |
| #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 |
| #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) |
| #35 | Michigan | $117.20 (triennial) | $Approximately $280-$310 (application + exam) | 3 years (full license); 1 year (limited license, 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 | 2 years (by May 1 of odd-numbered years) |
| #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 (LCSW expires March 31 of odd-numbered years) |
| #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) | 3 years (triennial; expires June 30 every 3 years -- 2025, 2028, 2031) |
| #44 | Washington | $216 (LICSW) | $Approximately $526 (application $216 + exam $260 + supervision $50) | Annual (on 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) | 2 years (LCSW); 1 year (ASW registration, with 6-year total limit) |
| #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 |
| #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) | 2 years (by July 1) |
| — | Nebraska | $Biennial renewal (amount varies by credential) | $Approximately $465 (application + exam for LMHP + CMSW) | 2 years (by 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.