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Social Worker (LCSW)
Social work licensure follows a tiered system from bachelor's-level to clinical licensure (LCSW). Each state has different requirements for education, ASWB exams, supervised clinical hours, and continuing education. The interstate compact is expanding portability across states.
51
Total States
51
ASWB Clinical Required
3,196
Avg Supervised Hours
27
Interstate Compact
Social work licensing is a multi-tiered system that advances from bachelor's-level practice to independent clinical licensure.
Social work licensure requires a degree from a CSWE-accredited program. Bachelor's-level licenses require a BSW, while clinical licenses (LCSW) require an MSW. Programs include field placement hours for supervised clinical experience during training.
The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) administers four exam levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Advanced Generalist, and Clinical. Clinical licensure also requires 2,000-4,000+ hours of post-master's supervised experience under a qualified clinical supervisor.
The Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact allows eligible social workers to practice across member states without obtaining separate licenses. States outside the compact may offer license by endorsement for experienced practitioners with equivalent credentials.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | Clinical License | Supervised Hours | ASWB Clinical | Fees | CE Hours | Compact | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | LICSW | 24 months at 4 hours per month (96 hours of supervision total) | Yes | Approximately $405-$440 (application + exam + license fee) | 30 hours per renewal period (LICSW-PIP requires 50 hours total: 30 + 20 additional) | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $590-$620 (application + exam + license fee) | 45 hours per renewal period for LMSW and LCSW | No | Mar 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 | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | LCSW | 4,000 | Yes | Approximately $370-$435 (application + exam + background check) | 48 hours per renewal period for all license levels | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $860 (ASW registration $150 + LCSW application $250 + ASWB exam $260 + initial license $200) | 36 hours per biennial renewal for LCSW | No | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | LCSW | 3,360 | Yes | Approximately $390-$420 (application $160 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 40 Professional Development Hours (PDH) per renewal period | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | LMSW: approximately $450 (application $220 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $575 (application $315 + exam $260) | 15 hours per annual renewal period (first renewal exempt) | Yes | Mar 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 | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $280-$310 (application $50 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 40 hours per renewal period (all license types) | No | Mar 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 | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $340-$370 (application $110 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 35 hours per renewal period | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | LBSW: approximately $290 (application $60 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $678 (application $418 + exam $260) | 45 hours per triennial renewal period | No | Mar 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 | No | Mar 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 | Mar 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) | 40 hours per biennial renewal period (20 Category I and 20 Category II per renewal year) | No | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | LISW | 4,000 | Yes | Approximately $350-$380 (application + exam fee) | 27 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | LSCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $460-$510 (application + exam + license fee depending on level) | 40 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $256-$286 (application + exam fee) | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | LCSW | 5,760 | Yes | Approximately $372-$402 for LCSW (application + background check + exam fee) | 20 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | LCSW | 3,200 | Yes | Approximately $346-$376 (application + license + background check + exam fee) | 25 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | LCSW-C | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $435-$465 (application + exam + license fee) | 40 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $312-$342 (application + exam for LICSW track) | 30 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | LMSW (Clinical) | 4,000 | Yes | Approximately $280-$310 (application + exam) | 45 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | LICSW | 4,000 | Yes | Approximately $353 (application $60 + CBC $33.25 + exam $260) | 40 | Yes | Mar 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 | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $300-$330 (application + exam) | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $460-$660 (candidate registration + application + exam) | 20 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | LMHP (LCSW title requires both LMHP/LIMHP + CMSW) | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $465 (application + exam for LMHP + CMSW) | 32 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $435 (application $50 + license $125 + exam $260) | 36 | No | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $570 (application + exam + license + supervision registration) | 40 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | LCSW | 1,920 face-to-face client contact hours | Yes | Approximately $355-$495 (application + license + exam) | 40 | No | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | LISW / LCSW | 3,600 | Yes | Approximately $385 (application + exam for LISW/LCSW) | 30 | No | Mar 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 | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $405 (application + Clinical exam for LCSW) | 40 | No | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $360 (application $25 + license $75 + exam $260) | 30 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | LISW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $363.50 (LISW application + Clinical exam) | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $410 | 16 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | LCSW | 3,500 | Yes | $520 (application + ASWB exam) | 40 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $305 (LCSW application $45 + ASWB exam $260) | 30 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | $355 | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | LISW-CP | 3,000 | Yes | $405 | 40 | No | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | CSW-PIP | 2,000 | Yes | Approximately $470 (application $210 + exam $260) | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $380 | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $481 (application $70 + exam $260 + jurisprudence $39 + license $102 + background check) | 30 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | LCSW | 4,000 | Yes | $385 | 40 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $360 (application $100 + exam $260) | 20 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $455 | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $526 (application $216 + exam $260 + supervision $50) | 36 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | $355 | 30 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $410 (application $75 + license $75 + exam $260) | 36 | No | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $610 (PCSW $150 + exam $260 + LCSW $200) | 45 | No | Mar 2026 |
Social workers often collaborate with other licensed professionals in healthcare, education, and human services. Explore related licensing requirements.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
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