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How to become a licensed clinical social worker in California. Clinical license: LCSW. ASWB Clinical exam required. Supervised hours: 3,000. Total initial fees: Approximately $860 (ASW registration $150 + LCSW application $250 + ASWB exam $260 + initial license $200). Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Social Worker (LCSW)
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93% of data points are verified against official sources. 4 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
LCSW
Clinical License
Required
ASWB Exam
3,000
Supervised Hours
36 hours per biennial renewal for LCSW hrs
CE Hours
Approximately $860 (ASW registration $150 + LCSW application $250 + ASWB exam $260 + initial license $200)
Total Initial Fees
No
Interstate Compact
BSW-Level (LSW/LBSW)
MSW-Level (LMSW)
Title
Associate Social Worker
Abbreviation
ASW
Education
MSW from CSWE-accredited program
Exam Required
No exam required for ASW registration
Supervision
Must work under supervision of a BBS-approved supervisor while gaining supervised experience toward LCSW
Scope
Clinical social work services under supervision, including assessment, treatment planning, and psychotherapy while accruing hours toward LCSW
LCSW/LISW/LICSW
Title
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Abbreviation
LCSW
Education
MSW from CSWE-accredited program with specified coursework (66 semester hours for California graduates; 81 hours for out-of-state graduates)
Exam Required
ASWB Clinical Examination and California Law and Ethics Examination
Supervision
Independent practice -- no supervision required after licensure
Scope
Independent clinical practice including psychotherapy, diagnosis, treatment planning, and private practice
Education & Training
VerifiedBachelor's Degree
No bachelor's-level social work license available in California
Master's Degree
MSW from CSWE-accredited program; 66 semester hours for California graduates (81 for out-of-state)
Required
CSWE Accredited
900
Field Placement Hours
66 semester hours for California MSW graduates; 81 semester hours for out-of-state MSW graduates
Credit Hours
Social work education must come from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The MSW is required for clinical licensure (LCSW). Field placement provides supervised clinical experience integral to social work training.
ASWB Exam Requirements
VerifiedNot Required
Bachelor's Exam
Not Required
Master's Exam
Required
Clinical Exam
Exam Provider
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Available ASWB Exam Levels
Exam Details
170
Questions
240 min
Time Limit
ASWB Exam Fee
$230 for Associate/Bachelors/Masters level; $260 for Advanced Generalist/Clinical level
Retake Policy
Candidates may retake the exam after a 90-day waiting period.
Post-Master's Supervision Requirements
VerifiedSupervised experience required for clinical license
3,000
Total Hours
2,000 hours of clinical social work services; 750 hours must be face-to-face psychotherapy
Direct Client Hours
Minimum 104 weeks (approximately 2 years)
Duration
Supervisor Qualifications
BBS-approved LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or licensed psychologist with required supervisor training
Supervision Ratio
1 hour of individual or 2 hours of group supervision per week for each work setting
Clinical social work licensure (LCSW) requires post-master's supervised experience under a qualified clinical supervisor. Supervision must include both direct client contact hours and face-to-face supervision meetings.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $150 ASW registration; $250 LCSW application for examination |
ASWB Exam Fee | $260 for ASWB Clinical exam |
License Fee | $200 initial LCSW license issuance fee |
Supervision Registration Fee | Included in ASW registration ($150) |
Renewal Fee | $200 |
Total Initial Fees | Approximately $860 (ASW registration $150 + LCSW application $250 + ASWB exam $260 + initial license $200) |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years (LCSW); 1 year (ASW registration, with 6-year total limit)
Renewal Period
36 hours per biennial renewal for LCSW hrs
CE Hours Required
Mandatory CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$220 (includes $20 Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund)
Regulatory Board
Social worker licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering topics such as ethics, cultural competency, suicide prevention, and clinical practice updates. Some states have specific mandatory CE topics that must be completed each renewal cycle.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Not a Member of Interstate Compact
Reciprocity Type
License by endorsement only (not compact member)
Transfer Details
California is NOT a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact. Out-of-state applicants must meet California-specific requirements including 81 semester hours of education (15 more than in-state graduates), pass the California Law and Ethics Examination, and complete a 12-hour California Law and Ethics course.
Additional Requirements for Transfer
The Social Work Licensure Compact allows eligible social workers to practice across member states. States not in the compact may offer license by endorsement for out-of-state applicants with equivalent credentials and experience.
Title Protection
VerifiedCalifornia protects the titles ASW (Associate Social Worker) and LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). Using these titles without proper registration or licensure is a violation of state law.
Telehealth Rules
VerifiedInterstate Telehealth Not Allowed
Telehealth permitted within state. California is NOT a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact; out-of-state telehealth requires California licensure. Effective July 1, 2023, 3 hours of telehealth CE are required for license renewal.
Mandatory Reporting
VerifiedSocial Workers Are Mandatory Reporters
Licensed social workers in California are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse, neglect, and elder/dependent adult abuse under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) and the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. Failure to report can result in misdemeanor criminal charges, fines, and disciplinary action.
Social work scope of practice includes title protection, telehealth regulations, and mandatory reporting obligations. Clinical social workers (LCSWs) can independently diagnose and treat mental health conditions in most states.
California has no bachelor's-level social work license and uses ASW (Associate Social Worker) registration rather than a master's-level license. ASW registration has a strict 6-year time limit. California requires a state-specific Law and Ethics Examination in addition to the ASWB Clinical exam. Out-of-state applicants face higher education requirements (81 vs. 66 semester hours) and must complete a 12-hour California Law and Ethics course. California is one of the most populous states that has NOT joined the Social Work Licensure Compact.
California does NOT have a bachelor's-level social work license.
California requires ASW (Associate Social Worker) registration before gaining supervised experience -- this is a registration, not a license.
ASW registration expires annually and has a total 6-year time limit to complete licensure requirements.
California requires TWO exams: the ASWB Clinical Examination AND a California Law and Ethics Examination.
Out-of-state applicants must complete 81 semester hours (15 more than California graduates) and a 12-hour California Law and Ethics course.
California is NOT a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact.
3 hours of telehealth CE are required starting with the first renewal after July 1, 2023.
Of the 3,000 required supervised hours, 2,000 must be clinical services and 750 must be face-to-face psychotherapy.
The BBS also oversees LMFTs and LPCCs.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in California.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#26 of 51
Cost
#51 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Social Workers, All Other (SOC 21-1029)
Entry Level
$55,220
25th percentile
Median
$70,440
+1% vs. national avg ($69,480)Experienced
$105,490
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
5,780 employed in this state
Note: BLS category "Social Workers, All Other" covers social workers not classified under more specific categories. Clinical social workers (LCSW) may earn differently.
Source: BLS OEWS – Social Workers, All Other (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+8.5%
High DemandNew Jobs
+7,700
over 10 years
Annual Openings
10,100
per year (avg.)
91,300 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Social Work Career Ladder+7% salary growth potential
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Social Worker (BSW/MSW)
$70,440
BSW or MSW degree + ASWB exam
$75,320
MSW + 2-3 years supervised clinical experience + ASWB Clinical exam
You are here
Social Worker (BSW/MSW)
BSW or MSW degree + ASWB exam
$70,440
MSW + 2-3 years supervised clinical experience + ASWB Clinical exam
$75,320
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 420–450 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: California Board of Behavioral Sciences — Licensing Requirements
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: California Board of Behavioral Sciences — Licensing Requirements
Study guides for the ASWB licensing exams.
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ASWB exam prep, supervised experience requirements, state-by-state LCSW paths, interstate compact details, and career resources for social workers.
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California offers the LCSW as its clinical social work license. The ASWB Clinical exam is required. 3,000 hours of supervised experience are required. All licensing is managed through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Requirements vary by state and license level. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing board.