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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
2,105
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.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
Compare All StatesFind out if your license transfers to another state and what extra steps are needed.
Check ReciprocityBrowse approved programs by state — compare costs, requirements, and timelines.
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 minimum | Yes | Approximately $405-$440 (application + exam + license fee) | LBSW & LMSW: 30 hours per renewal period (min 10 classroom); LICSW: 40 hours per renewal period (min 20 classroom); all levels require 3 hrs ethics; LICSW additional: 3 hrs clinical SW education + 3 hrs supervision education if supervising; LCSW-PIP requires 50 hours total | Yes | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $590-$620 (application + exam + license fee) | 45 hours per 5-YEAR cycle (not per 2-year renewal cycle) for LMSW and LCSW | No | March 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 | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | LCSW | 4 | Yes | Approximately $370-$435 (application + exam + background check) | 48 hours per renewal period for all license levels | Yes | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $860 (ASW registration $150 + LCSW application $250 + ASWB exam $260 + initial license $200) | 36 hours per biennial renewal for LCSW; 7 hours HIV/AIDS, 7 hours child abuse, 15 hours alcoholism/chemical dependency; one-time: suicide risk assessment, telehealth courses; first renewal: only 18 hours required | No | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | LCSW | 3,360 | Yes | Approximately $300-$330 (application $70 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | CPC requirements confirmed; details on PDH count on CPC sub-page (not fully fetched) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | LMSW: approximately $450 (application $220 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $575 (application $315 + exam $260) | 15 hours per year; at least 2 hours in mental health treatment of veterans; at least 1 hour in cultural competency; retain certificates for minimum 3 years (first renewal exempt) | Yes | March 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 | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $280-$310 (application $50 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 40 hours of approved continuing education units | No | March 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 | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $340-$370 (application $110 + ASWB exam $230-$260) | 35 hours per renewal period | Yes | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | LBSW: approximately $290 (application $60 + exam $230); LCSW: approximately $678 (application $418 + exam $260) | 45 hours per triennial renewal period | No | March 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 (equivalent to 40 biennial); transitioned to 30 biennial as of October 2025 — net reduction | No | March 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 | March 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) | 30 hours (LSW/LMSW) / 40 hours (LCSW) per biennial cycle; 6 hours ethics required. Note: verified audit differentiates CE by license level; previous data showed 40 hours for all levels with Category I/II split. | No | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | LISW | 4,000 hours — among the highest nationally (tied with KS, MI, MN) | Yes | Approximately $430-$460 ($200 licensing fee + exam fee) | 27 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | LSCSW | 4,000 | Yes | Approximately $460-$510 (application + exam + license fee depending on level) | 40 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $256-$286 (application + exam fee) | LSW: 15 hours; CSW: 30 hours; LCSW: 30-40 hours per renewal cycle | Yes | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | LCSW | 5 | Yes | Approximately $372-$402 for LCSW (application + background check + exam fee) | 20 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | LCSW | 3,200 | Yes | Approximately $346-$376 (application + license + background check + exam fee) | 25 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | LCSW-C | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $435-$465 (application + exam + license fee) | LBSW: 30 hours per 2-year cycle; LGSW/LCSW/LCSW-C: 40 hours per 2-year cycle | Yes | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $312-$342 (application + exam for LICSW track) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | LMSW (Clinical) | 4 | Yes | Approximately $280-$310 (application + exam) | 45 | No | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | LICSW | 4 | Yes | Approximately $353 (application $60 + CBC $33.25 + exam $260) | 40 | Yes | March 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 | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $300-$330 (application + exam) | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $460-$660 (candidate registration + application + exam) | 20 | No | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | LMHP (LCSW title requires both LMHP/LIMHP + CMSW) | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $465 (application + exam for LMHP + CMSW) | 32 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $435 (application $50 + license $125 + exam $260) | 36 | No | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | LICSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $570 (application + exam + license + supervision registration) | 30-40 hours per 2-year cycle (sources vary; some say 30, others say 40) | Yes | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | LCSW | 3,000 hours over 2-4 years; at least 1,920 hours face-to-face client contact; of those, 960 hours minimum in psychotherapeutic counseling; remaining 1,080 may include supervision time or other SW services | Yes | Approximately $355-$495 (application + license + exam) | CSW: 20 hours; LSW: 30 hours; LCSW: 40 hours per biennial cycle | No | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | LISW / LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $385 (application + exam for LISW/LCSW) | 30 | No | March 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 | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $405 (application + Clinical exam for LCSW) | 40 | No | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $360 (application $25 + license $75 + exam $260) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | LISW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $363.50 (LISW application + Clinical exam) | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | LCSW | 4,000 | Yes | $410 | 16 | No | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | LCSW | 3,500 | Yes | $520 (application + ASWB exam) | 40 hours per 2-year cycle; may carry over up to 10 hours to next period | No | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $305 (LCSW application $45 + ASWB exam $260) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | LICSW | 3 | Yes | $355 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | LISW-CP | 3,000 | Yes | $405 | 40 | No | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | CSW-PIP | 2,000 | Yes | Approximately $470 (application $210 + exam $260) | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $380 | LBSW: 18 hours; LAPSW/LCSW: 30 hours; 2 hours suicide prevention every 4 years; supervisors: 12 hours specific to supervision (3 covering TN licensing rules); uses CE Broker tracking system | Yes | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $481 (application $70 + exam $260 + jurisprudence $39 + license $102 + background check) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | LCSW | 4,000 | Yes | $385 | 40 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | LICSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $360 (application $100 + exam $260) | 20 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | $455 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | LICSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $526 (application $216 + exam $260 + supervision $50) | AASW/ICSW: 18 hours; LASW/LICSW: 36 hours per 2-year cycle | Yes | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | LICSW | 3,000 hours per publicservicedegrees OR 4,000 per ASWB 2019 comparison — verify | Yes | $355 | 30 hours per 2-year cycle (effective July 1, 2022 for all levels: LSW, LGSW, LCSW, LICSW); Category I (online/face-to-face) and Category II (independent study) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | LCSW | 3 | Yes | Approximately $410 (application $75 + license $75 + exam $260) | 30 | No | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | LCSW | 3,000 | Yes | Approximately $610 (PCSW $150 + exam $260 + LCSW $200) | 45 contact hours per 2-year cycle | No | March 2026 |
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
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See which states have reciprocity for Social Worker licenses and what's required to transfer.
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