{ "_schema": { "about": "Social work licensing requirements per US jurisdiction, for the FIRST credential an MSW graduate holds in that jurisdiction.", "nullRule": "null means we have not read that figure off the board's own page. It never means zero. Do not substitute a default, an average or another state's number.", "attribution": "Social Work Test Prep Academy is not affiliated with any state licensing board or with ASWB. We read each board's published pages and record what they say; the board's page is the source of record. Requirements change.", "fields": { "abbr": "Two-letter USPS code, uppercase.", "name": "Jurisdiction name.", "url": "Absolute URL of the human-readable page.", "json": "Absolute URL of the full record for this jurisdiction.", "checked": "true when we have read this board's own pages and published the record. false means no data yet, not \"no requirements\".", "firstCredential": "The first credential an MSW graduate holds here (abbreviation, title, and the ASWB exam category needed to hold it, null when none is).", "examRequiredFirst": "true when the ASWB exam gates that first credential. false when the jurisdiction licenses or registers you first and the exam comes later (Michigan, California, Florida, Illinois).", "knownFeesUsd": "Sum of ONLY the fees the board publishes for that first credential, in US dollars. null when it publishes none.", "hours": "Plain-language supervised-hour requirement on the path, or the not-checked sentence.", "lastChecked": "ISO date WE last read the board pages behind this record. It is not a board review, approval or sign-off.", "ladder": "Every rung of the licensure ladder in order. `exam` is the ASWB category required to HOLD that rung (null = none); `supervised` means practice only under supervision.", "fees": "The board's own fee lines for the first credential, each with the page it was read from. amount_usd is null when the board does not publish the amount.", "supervision": "The supervised-experience package on the path, each figure with its own source page. A figure the board does not publish is null.", "applicationSequence": "The board's published order of operations, in the board's own terms.", "sources": "The board and statute pages this record was read from.", "records": "The raw rulebook records for this jurisdiction, unmodified." } }, "abbr": "CA", "name": "California", "url": "https://www.socialworktestprepacademy.com/licensing/ca", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "checked": true, "lastChecked": "2026-09-06", "board": { "name": "California Board of Behavioral Sciences", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, "firstCredential": { "abbr": "ASW", "title": "Associate Clinical Social Worker (registration held while the 3,000 LCSW hours accrue)", "rung": "limited", "exam": null }, "examRequiredFirst": false, "summary": "No exam for this one. California registers you first, then you test.", "aswbExam": null, "knownFeesUsd": 150, "unknownFeeCount": 0, "fees": [ { "name": "ASW initial registration", "amount_usd": 75, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, { "name": "California Law and Ethics Exam", "amount_usd": 75, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" } ], "supervision": { "experience_hours": { "value": 3000, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "client_contact_hours": { "value": 750, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "supervision_hours": { "value": null, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "minimum_months": { "value": null, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "maximum_months": { "value": 72, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "notes": [ "CA measures the minimum in WEEKS (104), not months; 104 weeks ≈ 24 months, distinct from the 6-year (72-month) ASW registration life span before a subsequent registration is required.", "Of the 3,000 total hours: minimum 2,000 clinical hours (of which minimum 750 must be face-to-face individual or group psychotherapy); maximum 1,000 non-clinical hours (client-centered advocacy, consultation/evaluation/research, workshops/seminars/training, direct supervisor contact); a minimum of 1,700 hours (any type) must be supervised by an LCSW.", "Maximum 40 hours may be credited toward licensure in any 7 consecutive days; maximum 6 hours of direct supervisor contact may be credited in any single week.", "A maximum of 1,200 non-clinical hours (educationally-related mental health services only) may be supervised by a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) if certain qualifications are met.", "Supervision minimum: 52 weeks required, must include a minimum of 13 weeks supervised by an LCSW.", "Source revised 10/2023 per document footer; BBS states this chart is a summary, not the full regulation text.", "Non-path fee (not in known fees): License Renewal $100" ] }, "hours": "3,000 hours, 750 client contact", "compactMember": false, "applicationSequence": [ "Earn a master's degree in Social Work from a program accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.", "Register as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) with the Board before accruing postdegree supervised experience in California (except under the 90-day rule).", "Complete the Live Scan fingerprint and criminal background check requirement.", "Take and pass the California Law & Ethics Exam annually (until passed) to renew ASW registration; it must be PASSED before a subsequent ASW registration can be issued.", "Accrue supervised experience toward the 3,000-hour / 104-week LCSW requirement while registered." ], "ladder": [ { "rung": "limited", "abbr": "ASW", "title": "Associate Clinical Social Worker (registration held while the 3,000 LCSW hours accrue)", "exam": null, "supervised": true, "source": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "rung": "clinical", "abbr": "LCSW", "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker", "exam": "Clinical", "supervised": false, "source": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" } ], "sources": [ { "label": "California Board of Behavioral Sciences · ASW applicant resources", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "label": "BBS Final Statement of Reasons - Fee Reductions, 16 CCR 1816, 1816.1, 1816.2, 1816.4 (Jan 30, 2026)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_fsor.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS Initial Statement of Reasons - Fee Reductions", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_isor.pdf" }, { "label": "OAL Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action - effective 7/1/2026 (OAL Matter Number 2025-1222-02)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS Fee Increase Notice, effective 1/1/2021 (superseded fee levels, kept for history)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/bbs_fee_increase_2021.pdf" }, { "label": "ASW Answers to Frequently Asked Questions", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/asw_faq.pdf" }, { "label": "Social Work Licensure Compact · member jurisdictions", "url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/" }, { "label": "BBS - LCSW Summary of Experience Requirements chart (revised 10/2023)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS - Summary of Supervisor Qualifications for Supervisors of ASWs (revised 06/2023)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/asw_supervisor_info.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS - Guide to Licensure Requirements, LCSW Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Applicants", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/lcsw_guide.pdf" }, { "label": "ASWB Exam fees", "url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/" } ], "records": [ { "state": { "name": "California", "postal_code": "CA" }, "license_target": { "track": "masters", "title": "Associate Clinical Social Worker", "abbreviation": "ASW" }, "board": { "name": "California Board of Behavioral Sciences", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, "fees": [ { "name": "ASW initial registration", "amount_usd": 75, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, { "name": "California Law and Ethics Exam", "amount_usd": 75, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" } ], "application_sequence": [ "Earn a master's degree in Social Work from a program accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.", "Register as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) with the Board before accruing postdegree supervised experience in California (except under the 90-day rule).", "Complete the Live Scan fingerprint and criminal background check requirement.", "Take and pass the California Law & Ethics Exam annually (until passed) to renew ASW registration; it must be PASSED before a subsequent ASW registration can be issued.", "Accrue supervised experience toward the 3,000-hour / 104-week LCSW requirement while registered." ], "aswb_exam": { "level": null, "fee_usd": null, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "supervision_requirement": { "experience_hours": null, "client_contact_hours": null, "supervision_hours": null, "minimum_months": null, "maximum_months": null, "notes": [ "California issues no bachelor's-level social work license and no independent master's-level license. An MSW graduate registers directly as an ASW and progresses to LCSW, so the ladder carries only those two rungs.", "Non-path fee (not in known fees): ASW registration renewal $75" ] }, "supervisor_eligibility": null, "forms": [ { "name": "ASW Registration Application (IN-STATE DEGREE)", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "ASW Registration Application (OUT-OF-STATE or OUT-OF-COUNTRY DEGREE)", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/aswapp_oos.pdf" }, { "name": "ASW Subsequent Registration Application", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "Live Scan Request Form", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "Request for Initial Law & Ethics Examination", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" } ], "processing_benchmark": { "value": "Under 16 CCR §1805.1, the Board's processing target goals are 30 business days for registration applications and 60 business days for licensure applications; the Board's 2025 Sunset Review reported actual average processing times far exceeding these goals (89 business days for LCSWs, 99 for LMFTs).", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_fsor.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "endorsement_rules": [ "ASW registration is available to applicants with an out-of-state or out-of-country degree via a separate ASW Registration Application (OUT-OF-STATE or OUT-OF-COUNTRY DEGREE); California does not have a standalone 'ASW endorsement' pathway distinct from LCSW Path A/Path B, which apply at licensure.", "Applicants cannot accrue postdegree supervised experience in California without registering as an ASW with the Board, except under the 90-day rule (hours accepted only if the ASW application is received by the Board within 90 days of starting supervised work)." ], "compact_status": { "member": false, "multistate_licenses_available": false, "source_url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "last_verified": "2026-09-06", "sources": [ { "label": "BBS - Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Applicant page, covers ASW and LCSW)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "label": "BBS Final Statement of Reasons - Fee Reductions, 16 CCR 1816, 1816.1, 1816.2, 1816.4 (Jan 30, 2026)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_fsor.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS Initial Statement of Reasons - Fee Reductions", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_isor.pdf" }, { "label": "OAL Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action - effective 7/1/2026 (OAL Matter Number 2025-1222-02)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS Fee Increase Notice, effective 1/1/2021 (superseded fee levels, kept for history)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/bbs_fee_increase_2021.pdf" }, { "label": "ASW Answers to Frequently Asked Questions", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/asw_faq.pdf" } ] }, { "state": { "name": "California", "postal_code": "CA" }, "license_target": { "track": "clinical", "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker", "abbreviation": "LCSW" }, "board": { "name": "California Board of Behavioral Sciences", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, "fees": [ { "name": "Application for LCSW Licensure (processing)", "amount_usd": 125, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, { "name": "California Law and Ethics Exam", "amount_usd": 75, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, { "name": "ASWB Clinical examination", "amount_usd": 260, "source_url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, { "name": "Initial License Issuance", "amount_usd": 100, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" } ], "application_sequence": [ "Register as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) before accruing postdegree supervised experience in California (see masters/ASW record).", "Accrue 3,000 total supervised hours over a minimum of 104 supervised weeks, submitted with the Application for Licensure.", "Take and pass the California Law & Ethics Exam (required before subsequent ASW registration and part of the licensure pathway).", "Submit the Application for LCSW Licensure (in-state) once all requirements above are fulfilled; all requirements must be met before ASWB Clinical Exam eligibility is approved.", "Register for and pass the ASWB Clinical Exam.", "Request and pay for Initial License Issuance within one year after passing the Clinical Exam." ], "aswb_exam": { "level": "Clinical", "fee_usd": 260, "source_url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "supervision_requirement": { "experience_hours": { "value": 3000, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "client_contact_hours": { "value": 750, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "supervision_hours": { "value": null, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "minimum_months": { "value": null, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "maximum_months": { "value": 72, "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "notes": [ "CA measures the minimum in WEEKS (104), not months; 104 weeks ≈ 24 months, distinct from the 6-year (72-month) ASW registration life span before a subsequent registration is required.", "Of the 3,000 total hours: minimum 2,000 clinical hours (of which minimum 750 must be face-to-face individual or group psychotherapy); maximum 1,000 non-clinical hours (client-centered advocacy, consultation/evaluation/research, workshops/seminars/training, direct supervisor contact); a minimum of 1,700 hours (any type) must be supervised by an LCSW.", "Maximum 40 hours may be credited toward licensure in any 7 consecutive days; maximum 6 hours of direct supervisor contact may be credited in any single week.", "A maximum of 1,200 non-clinical hours (educationally-related mental health services only) may be supervised by a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) if certain qualifications are met.", "Supervision minimum: 52 weeks required, must include a minimum of 13 weeks supervised by an LCSW.", "Source revised 10/2023 per document footer; BBS states this chart is a summary, not the full regulation text.", "Non-path fee (not in known fees): License Renewal $100" ] }, "supervisor_eligibility": [ "Must possess a current and active California license in good standing (not suspended/on probation) as one of: LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, LEP, Licensed Psychologist, or Licensed Physician and Surgeon certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.", "Must have held an active license in California or any other state for at least 2 years out of the last 5 years prior to the commencement of supervision.", "Must have practiced psychotherapy during at least 2 years out of the last 5 years prior to commencement of supervision (or provided direct supervision of psychotherapy-performing associates/trainees for that period).", "Must complete a minimum of 15 hours of supervision training within 60 days of commencing supervision, plus 6 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) in supervision each renewal cycle (Licensed Psychologists and Psychiatrists are exempt from this training/CPD requirement).", "An LEP supervisor may only supervise up to 1,200 hours, limited to educationally related mental health services within the LEP scope of practice (BPC §4989.14)." ], "forms": [ { "name": "Application for LCSW Licensure (IN-STATE)", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "In-State Experience Verification", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "Application for LCSW Licensure (PATH A, OUT-OF-STATE)", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcsapp_oos.pdf" }, { "name": "Application for LCSW Licensure (PATH B, OUT-OF-STATE)", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcsapp_oos_path_b.pdf" }, { "name": "Verification of License or Registration in Another State or Country", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "Out-of-State Experience Verification", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcsw_experience_verification_oos.pdf" }, { "name": "Request for Initial License Issuance", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "ASW Weekly Log of Experience Hours", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "Supervision Agreement (relationships beginning on or after Jan 1, 2022)", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "name": "Supervisor Responsibility Statement / Supervisory Plan (relationships beginning before Jan 1, 2022)", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" } ], "processing_benchmark": { "value": "Under 16 CCR §1805.1, the Board's processing target goals are 30 business days for registration applications and 60 business days for licensure applications; the Board's 2025 Sunset Review reported an actual average of 89 business days for LCSW licensure applications, far exceeding this goal.", "source_url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_fsor.pdf", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "endorsement_rules": [ "Path A (\"Licensure by Credential\"): available only if the applicant (1) held an active LCSW license in another U.S. jurisdiction for at least 2 years; (2) that license is at the highest level for independent clinical practice in that jurisdiction (associate/intern time does not count); (3) the license is current and has been active and unrestricted for at least 2 years immediately before the Board receives the application; and (4) the qualifying degree is a CSWE-accredited MSW.", "Path B (\"Licensure via Education and Experience\"): for out-of-state/out-of-country applicants who do not meet all four Path A criteria; requires verification that supervised postdegree work experience is \"substantially equivalent\" to California's requirements, and may require registering as an ASW to complete remaining supervised experience under California supervision.", "California is not a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact, so no interstate compact privilege exists; endorsement runs solely through Path A/Path B." ], "compact_status": { "member": false, "multistate_licenses_available": false, "source_url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/", "verified_date": "2026-09-06" }, "last_verified": "2026-09-06", "sources": [ { "label": "BBS - Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Applicant page, covers ASW and LCSW)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html" }, { "label": "BBS - LCSW Summary of Experience Requirements chart (revised 10/2023)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/lcs_exp_chart.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS - Summary of Supervisor Qualifications for Supervisors of ASWs (revised 06/2023)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lcs/asw_supervisor_info.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS - Guide to Licensure Requirements, LCSW Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Applicants", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/lcsw_guide.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS Final Statement of Reasons - Fee Reductions, 16 CCR 1816, 1816.1, 1816.2, 1816.4 (Jan 30, 2026)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_fsor.pdf" }, { "label": "BBS Initial Statement of Reasons - Fee Reductions", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_isor.pdf" }, { "label": "OAL Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action - effective 7/1/2026 (OAL Matter Number 2025-1222-02)", "url": "https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/pending/fee_reduc_noa.pdf" }, { "label": "ASWB Exam fees", "url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/" }, { "label": "Social Work Licensure Compact jurisdictions", "url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/" } ] } ] }