Licensing data we checked
Social work licensing, state by state
Requirements for the first license after your degree, checked against each board's own pages. Every number links to the page it came from.
Alabama
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $230
- Supervised hours
- No hour total set (4 hours per month for 24 months), for the LICSW
Alaska
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $605
- Supervised hours
- Two ways to qualify: 2 years of full-time clinical employment, or at least 3,000 hours part-time over at least 2 years; 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Arizona
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $250
- Supervised hours
- 3,200 hours, 1,600 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Arkansas
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $330
- Supervised hours
- 4,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
California
ASWExam laterNo exam for this one. California registers you first, then you test.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $150
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 750 client contact, supervision: no single total, for the LCSW
Colorado
LSWColorado: SB24-115 removed the ASWB Masters requirement and the board's own examination for the LSW, but the Colorado jurisprudence examination still comes before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Fees not checked yet
- Supervised hours
- 3,360 hours, 1,680 client contact, 96 supervision, for the LCSW
Connecticut
LMSWConnecticut: the ASWB master's level examination is required of applicants who earned the MSW degree on and after January 1, 2026, and was waived before that date (Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 20-195o(b)(2)).
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $230; plus 1 fee not confirmed: the sources read it differently, so confirm with the board
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Delaware
LMSWExam firstAn ASWB exam is required before the license; the primary sources do not confirm the level.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $205
- Supervised hours
- 3,200 hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
District of Columbia
LGSWExam laterNo exam to register. The Clinical exam comes after your hours.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $510
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LICSW
Florida
RCSWIExam laterNo exam to register. The Clinical exam comes after your hours.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $150
- Supervised hours
- 1,500 face-to-face hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Georgia
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $230
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 120 supervision, for the LCSW
Hawaii
LSWExam firstAn ASWB exam is required before the license: Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical, whichever applies to you.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $183
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Idaho
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $300
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,750 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Illinois
LSWExam laterIllinois: "no ASWB examination for the LSW since January 1, 2022 (Public Act 102-0326)".
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $50
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, for the LCSW
Indiana
LSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $280
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours over at least 24 months, supervision: no single total, for the LCSW
Iowa
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $350
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,500 client contact, 110 supervision, for the LISW
Kansas
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $430
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,500 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LSCSW
Kentucky
CSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $380
- Supervised hours
- Experience: no single total, 150 supervision, for the LCSW
Louisiana
LMSWBoard exam firstAn exam approved by the board is required before the license; boards commonly use ASWB, but that is not confirmed here.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $75
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours over at least 24 months, for the LCSW
Maine
LMExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $321
- Supervised hours
- 3,200 hours, 96 supervision, for the LC
Maryland
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $405
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,500 client contact, for the LCSW-C
Massachusetts
LCSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $471
- Supervised hours
- 3,500 hours, 100 supervision, for the LICSW
Michigan
Limited LMSWExam laterNo exam for this one. Michigan licenses you first, then you test.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $44
- Supervised hours
- 4,000 hours over at least 24 months, supervision: no single total, for the LMSW-Clinical
Minnesota
LGSWMinnesota: a provisional license under Minn. Stat. 148E.0551 substitutes 2,000 hours of supervised practice for the ASWB exam, so the exam is a route rather than a gate.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $305
- Supervised hours
- 4,000 hours, 1,800 client contact, 200 supervision, for the LICSW
Mississippi
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $367
- Supervised hours
- 1,000 face-to-face hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Missouri
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $300
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours over at least 24 months, for the LCSW
Montana
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $430
- Supervised hours
- 1,500 hours, 75 supervision, for the LMSW
Nebraska
PCMSWNot checked yetNebraska: the PCMSW is not checked yet. See the board's page for its steps.
- Fees the board publishes
- Fees not checked yet
- Supervised hours
- Supervised hours not checked yet
Nevada
LMSWExam firstAn ASWB exam is required before the license; the primary sources do not confirm the level.
- Fees the board publishes
- Board fees not checked yet; exam fee depends on level
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours over at least 24 months, for the LCSW
New Hampshire
Conditional LICSWExam laterNo exam to register. The Clinical exam comes after your hours.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $325
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LICSW
New Jersey
LSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $255
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,920 client contact, for the LCSW
New Mexico
LMSWExam firstAn ASWB exam is required before the license; the primary sources do not confirm the level.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $100
- Supervised hours
- 3,600 hours, 90 supervision, for the LISW/LCSW
New York
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $594
- Supervised hours
- 2,000 face-to-face hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
North Carolina
LCSWAExam laterNo exam to register. The Clinical exam comes after your hours.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $145
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
North Dakota
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $330
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 150 supervision, for the LCSW
Ohio
LSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $313.5
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 150 supervision, for the LISW
Oklahoma
LMSWExam firstAn ASWB exam is required before the license; the primary sources do not confirm the level.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $201.25
- Supervised hours
- 4,000 hours, 3,000 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Oregon
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $380
- Supervised hours
- 3,500 hours, 2,000 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Pennsylvania
LSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $345
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,500 client contact, for the LCSW
Rhode Island
LCSWExam laterThe ASWB exam is waived for the LCSW until August 15, 2030 (R.I. Gen. Laws 5-39.1-8(e), amended 2025); the board's rule still shows August 15, 2025, so confirm with the board.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $70
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,500 client contact, supervision: no single total, for the LICSW
South Carolina
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $275
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LISW-CP
South Dakota
CSWExam firstAn ASWB exam is required before the license; the primary sources do not confirm the level.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $170
- Supervised hours
- No hour total set (4 hours per month), for the CSW-PIP
Tennessee
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $355
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Texas
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $378
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Utah
CSWExam laterNo exam to register. The Clinical exam comes after your hours.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $120
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,200 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Vermont
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $350
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 2,000 client contact, supervision: no single total, for the LICSW
Virginia
LMSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $345
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,380 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
Washington
LSWAICExam laterNo exam to register. The Clinical exam comes after your hours.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $51
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,000 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LICSW
West Virginia
LGSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $320
- Supervised hours
- Two ways to qualify: 2 years of full-time employment, or 3,000 hours under the supervision of an independent clinical social worker (the board's page says both; confirm with the board); 100 supervision, for the LICSW
Wisconsin
APSWExam firstThe ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $292
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,000 client contact, supervision: no single total, for the LCSW
Wyoming
PCSWExam laterNo exam to register. The Clinical exam comes after your hours.
- Fees the board publishes
- Known fees $150
- Supervised hours
- 3,000 hours, 1,200 client contact, 100 supervision, for the LCSW
51 of 51 states checked so far. We add states as we read each board's own pages.
SWTPA is not affiliated with any state board or with ASWB. Requirements change; the board's page is the source of record. The whole dataset is available as JSON.