{
  "_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: \"none\" when it is issued without one, null when an exam applies but no board rule names its level, or when the sources disagree on whether one applies).",
      "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). null when there is no yes-or-no ASWB answer; examOrderReason says why.",
      "examOrderReason": "Why examRequiredFirst is null (null when it is true or false). \"applicant\": the rule turns on the applicant (Connecticut's degree-date cutoff, Minnesota's provisional route, Colorado's jurisprudence exam). \"provider_unconfirmed\": an exam comes first but the rule names only one approved by the board, not ASWB (Louisiana). \"unchecked\": we have not read the board, or the first rung (Nebraska PCMSW). \"sources_conflict\": the primary sources disagree on whether the exam applies, so neither reading is stated (no jurisdiction today). The per-state JSON `summary` states the rule.",
      "knownFeesUsd": "Sum of ONLY the fixed fees the board publishes for that first credential, in US dollars. null when it publishes none. A level-dependent ASWB exam fee (a fee line with amount_by_level) is never in it; it is charged in addition.",
      "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.",
      "compactMember": "true when the jurisdiction has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact. null when not checked.",
      "compactStatus": "Social Work Licensure Compact status: \"enacted\", \"pending_legislation\" or \"no_active_legislation\", with the page it was read from and the ISO date checked. null when not checked.",
      "compactLicenses": "Whether multistate compact licenses are being issued anywhere yet, with the compact's own statement quoted and the ISO date checked.",
      "ladder": "Every rung of the licensure ladder in order. `exam` is the ASWB category required to HOLD that rung (\"none\" = no ASWB exam; null = an exam applies but no board rule names its level); `supervised` means practice only under supervision. Optional: `examChoice` (\"board\" | \"applicant\") says who picks from a multi-level `exam`; `checked: false` marks a rung we have not read a record for (not checked yet, never another license's steps); `examProvider: \"unconfirmed\"` marks a rule that names only an exam approved by the board, so ASWB is not asserted.",
      "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 (counted in unknownFeeCount), or when conflict is true: the sources state different amounts, so neither is used (counted in conflictFeeCount, never in knownFeesUsd). A line with amount_by_level is an ASWB exam fee that depends on the level, kept out of knownFeesUsd.",
      "aswbExam": "The exam for the first credential: level (null when no rule names it) and fee. provider \"unconfirmed\" when the rule names only an exam approved by the board, not ASWB. null when the credential is issued without an exam or its rung is not checked yet.",
      "supervision": "The supervised-experience package on the path, each figure with its own source page. A figure the board does not publish is null, and so is one with conflict: true, where the sources state different figures and neither is used (the hours line says it is not confirmed).",
      "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.",
      "dataProblems": "Every field we could not state plainly, one entry per field: `credential` is the record it belongs to, `path` the field inside that record, `kind` why (unchecked, unpublished, not_applicable, conflict, stale_source, no_single_total), `note` the specifics, `sources` what each source says, verbatim, `askTheBoard` the question to put to the board (or null), `checked` the ISO date we read them. Empty when there are none."
    }
  },
  "abbr": "MT",
  "name": "Montana",
  "url": "https://www.socialworktestprepacademy.com/licensing/mt",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "checked": true,
  "lastChecked": "2026-09-27",
  "board": {
    "name": "Montana Board of Behavioral Health",
    "url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/behavioral-health/"
  },
  "firstCredential": {
    "abbr": "LMSW",
    "title": "Licensed Master's Social Worker, non-clinical (parallel candidacy track, not a prerequisite for LCSW)",
    "rung": "masters",
    "exam": "Masters"
  },
  "examRequiredFirst": true,
  "examOrderReason": null,
  "summary": "The ASWB Masters exam is required before the license.",
  "aswbExam": {
    "level": "Masters",
    "feeUsd": 230
  },
  "knownFeesUsd": 430,
  "unknownFeeCount": 0,
  "conflictFeeCount": 0,
  "fees": [
    {
      "name": "Application fee",
      "amount_usd": 200,
      "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
    },
    {
      "name": "ASWB Masters examination",
      "amount_usd": 230,
      "source_url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
    }
  ],
  "supervision": {
    "experience_hours": {
      "value": 1500,
      "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
    },
    "client_contact_hours": null,
    "supervision_hours": {
      "value": 75,
      "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
    },
    "minimum_months": {
      "value": 18,
      "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
    },
    "maximum_months": null,
    "notes": [
      "Settled by the verifier: current ARM 24.219.504(3) (amended effective February 10, 2024) sets 1,500 hours over no less than 18 months, with at least 75 hours of individual or group supervision, at least 25 of them with the client populations the candidate will serve. The Board's LMSW checklist (created January 25, 2021) says 2,000 hours, but it predates the 2024 amendment and cites MCA 37-22-308 and ARM 24.219.502, both since repealed (Ch. 713, L. 2023; ARM 24.219.502 repealed February 10, 2024). The rule governs.",
      "MCA 37-39-308(3)(b) leaves the LMSW hour count to board rule: \"successfully completed the required hours of supervised social work practice as determined by board rule.\"",
      "Supervisors must provide at least two hours of supervision for every 160 hours of social work (ARM 24.219.504(4)). LMSW hours earned by applicants not actively licensed elsewhere must have been earned within five years of application (ARM 24.219.504(6))."
    ]
  },
  "hours": "1,500 hours, 75 supervision, for the LMSW",
  "compactMember": false,
  "compactNote": null,
  "compactStatus": {
    "status": "no_active_legislation",
    "sourceUrl": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/",
    "checkedOn": "2026-09-27"
  },
  "compactLicenses": {
    "issued": false,
    "statement": "The Social Work Licensure Compact has been enacted in at least seven states and has reached activation status, however multistate licenses are not yet being issued. The implementation process for the compact will take 12 to 24 months before multistate licenses are able to issued.",
    "sourceUrl": "https://swcompact.org/",
    "checkedOn": "2026-10-18"
  },
  "applicationSequence": [
    "Hold a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (ARM 24.219.501).",
    "Register as a social worker licensure candidate with a training and supervision plan and complete at least 1,500 hours of supervised work experience over no less than 18 months, including 75 supervision hours (MCA 37-39-307, ARM 24.219.504).",
    "Submit fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for a background check.",
    "Pass the ASWB Masters examination (ARM 24.219.403).",
    "Submit the $200 application fee (ARM 24.219.401)."
  ],
  "ladder": [
    {
      "rung": "bachelors",
      "abbr": "LBSW",
      "title": "Licensed Basic Social Worker (parallel candidacy track, not a prerequisite for LMSW or LCSW)",
      "exam": "Bachelors",
      "supervised": false,
      "source": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-403"
    },
    {
      "rung": "masters",
      "abbr": "LMSW",
      "title": "Licensed Master's Social Worker, non-clinical (parallel candidacy track, not a prerequisite for LCSW)",
      "exam": "Masters",
      "supervised": false,
      "source": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504"
    },
    {
      "rung": "clinical",
      "abbr": "LCSW",
      "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker",
      "exam": "Clinical",
      "supervised": false,
      "source": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0390/part_0030/section_0080/0370-0390-0030-0080.html"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "Montana Board of Behavioral Health · LMSW applicant resources",
      "url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/behavioral-health/"
    },
    {
      "label": "Mont. Code Ann. 37-39-308 (social work license qualifications, enacted 2023 by Ch. 713; replaces repealed 37-22-301 and 37-22-308)",
      "url": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0390/part_0030/section_0080/0370-0390-0030-0080.html"
    },
    {
      "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.504 (supervised work experience, amended effective February 10, 2024)",
      "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504"
    },
    {
      "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.403 (approved examinations)",
      "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-403"
    },
    {
      "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.401 (fee schedule)",
      "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401"
    },
    {
      "label": "Montana Board of Behavioral Health LCSW Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist",
      "url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/bbh/lcsw-app-checklist.pdf"
    },
    {
      "label": "LMSW fees · ASWB Masters examination",
      "url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/"
    },
    {
      "label": "Social Work Licensure Compact · member jurisdictions",
      "url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/"
    }
  ],
  "records": [
    {
      "state": {
        "name": "Montana",
        "postal_code": "MT"
      },
      "license_target": {
        "track": "masters",
        "title": "Licensed Master's Social Worker",
        "abbreviation": "LMSW"
      },
      "board": {
        "name": "Montana Board of Behavioral Health",
        "source_url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/behavioral-health/"
      },
      "fees": [
        {
          "name": "Application fee",
          "amount_usd": 200,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        {
          "name": "Renewal fee, active status",
          "amount_usd": 149,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        {
          "name": "Candidate annual registration fee",
          "amount_usd": 85,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        {
          "name": "ASWB Masters examination",
          "amount_usd": 230,
          "source_url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        }
      ],
      "application_sequence": [
        "Hold a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (ARM 24.219.501).",
        "Register as a social worker licensure candidate with a training and supervision plan and complete at least 1,500 hours of supervised work experience over no less than 18 months, including 75 supervision hours (MCA 37-39-307, ARM 24.219.504).",
        "Submit fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for a background check.",
        "Pass the ASWB Masters examination (ARM 24.219.403).",
        "Submit the $200 application fee (ARM 24.219.401)."
      ],
      "aswb_exam": {
        "level": "Masters",
        "fee_usd": 230,
        "source_url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
      },
      "supervision_requirement": {
        "experience_hours": {
          "value": 1500,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        "client_contact_hours": null,
        "supervision_hours": {
          "value": 75,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        "minimum_months": {
          "value": 18,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        "maximum_months": null,
        "notes": [
          "Settled by the verifier: current ARM 24.219.504(3) (amended effective February 10, 2024) sets 1,500 hours over no less than 18 months, with at least 75 hours of individual or group supervision, at least 25 of them with the client populations the candidate will serve. The Board's LMSW checklist (created January 25, 2021) says 2,000 hours, but it predates the 2024 amendment and cites MCA 37-22-308 and ARM 24.219.502, both since repealed (Ch. 713, L. 2023; ARM 24.219.502 repealed February 10, 2024). The rule governs.",
          "MCA 37-39-308(3)(b) leaves the LMSW hour count to board rule: \"successfully completed the required hours of supervised social work practice as determined by board rule.\"",
          "Supervisors must provide at least two hours of supervision for every 160 hours of social work (ARM 24.219.504(4)). LMSW hours earned by applicants not actively licensed elsewhere must have been earned within five years of application (ARM 24.219.504(6))."
        ]
      },
      "supervisor_eligibility": [
        "LMSW candidate supervisors must be licensed as an LCSW or LMSW (Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.421)."
      ],
      "forms": [
        {
          "name": "Licensed Master's (non-clinical) Social Worker Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist (created January 25, 2021; its 2,000-hour figure and statute citations are superseded)",
          "source_url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/Portals/133/Documents/bbh/BBH-LMSW-APP_License-App-Checklist.pdf?ver=2021-01-24-141304-280"
        }
      ],
      "processing_benchmark": null,
      "endorsement_rules": null,
      "compact_status": {
        "member": false,
        "multistate_licenses_available": null,
        "source_url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
      },
      "last_verified": "2026-09-27",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "Mont. Code Ann. 37-39-308 (social work license qualifications, enacted 2023 by Ch. 713; replaces repealed 37-22-301 and 37-22-308)",
          "url": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0390/part_0030/section_0080/0370-0390-0030-0080.html"
        },
        {
          "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.504 (supervised work experience, amended effective February 10, 2024)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504"
        },
        {
          "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.403 (approved examinations)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-403"
        },
        {
          "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.401 (fee schedule)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401"
        },
        {
          "label": "Montana Board of Behavioral Health LCSW Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist",
          "url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/bbh/lcsw-app-checklist.pdf"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": {
        "name": "Montana",
        "postal_code": "MT"
      },
      "license_target": {
        "track": "clinical",
        "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker",
        "abbreviation": "LCSW"
      },
      "board": {
        "name": "Montana Board of Behavioral Health",
        "source_url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/behavioral-health/"
      },
      "fees": [
        {
          "name": "Application fee",
          "amount_usd": 200,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        {
          "name": "Renewal fee, active status",
          "amount_usd": 149,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        {
          "name": "Candidate annual registration fee",
          "amount_usd": 85,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        {
          "name": "ASWB Clinical examination",
          "amount_usd": 260,
          "source_url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        }
      ],
      "application_sequence": [
        "Hold a master's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (MCA 37-39-308(2)(a), ARM 24.219.501).",
        "Register as a licensure candidate with a training and supervision plan and complete 3,000 hours of supervised social work practice, including 100 supervision hours (MCA 37-39-307, 37-39-308(2)(b), ARM 24.219.504).",
        "Submit fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for a background check.",
        "Pass the ASWB Clinical examination (ARM 24.219.403(1)(a)).",
        "Submit the $200 application fee (ARM 24.219.401)."
      ],
      "aswb_exam": {
        "level": "Clinical",
        "fee_usd": 260,
        "source_url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
      },
      "supervision_requirement": {
        "experience_hours": {
          "value": 3000,
          "source_url": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0390/part_0030/section_0080/0370-0390-0030-0080.html",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        "client_contact_hours": null,
        "supervision_hours": {
          "value": 100,
          "source_url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
        },
        "minimum_months": null,
        "maximum_months": null,
        "notes": [
          "Of the 100 supervision hours, at least 50 must be individual and face-to-face with an LCSW, and at least 10 of those 50 must include direct observation of service delivery (ARM 24.219.504(1)(a)-(b), read verbatim by the verifier).",
          "minimum_months nulled by the verifier: the 24-month minimum appears only on the Board's LCSW checklist (updated February 16, 2023), which cites MCA 37-22-301, repealed by Ch. 713, L. 2023. Neither the current statute (MCA 37-39-308) nor ARM 24.219.504 (amended effective February 10, 2024) states a minimum number of months for LCSW. LCSW candidates may register annually five times unless approved for more (ARM 24.219.431(1)).",
          "Supervisors must provide at least two hours of supervision for every 160 hours of social work (ARM 24.219.504(4))."
        ]
      },
      "supervisor_eligibility": [
        "LCSW candidates must be supervised by an LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, licensed psychologist, or licensed and board-certified psychiatrist (Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.421)."
      ],
      "forms": [
        {
          "name": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist (updated February 16, 2023; its statute and exam-rule citations are superseded)",
          "source_url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/bbh/lcsw-app-checklist.pdf"
        }
      ],
      "processing_benchmark": null,
      "endorsement_rules": null,
      "compact_status": {
        "member": false,
        "multistate_licenses_available": null,
        "source_url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-27"
      },
      "last_verified": "2026-09-27",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "Mont. Code Ann. 37-39-308 (social work license qualifications, enacted 2023 by Ch. 713; replaces repealed 37-22-301 and 37-22-308)",
          "url": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0390/part_0030/section_0080/0370-0390-0030-0080.html"
        },
        {
          "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.504 (supervised work experience, amended effective February 10, 2024)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-504"
        },
        {
          "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.403 (approved examinations)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-403"
        },
        {
          "label": "Mont. Admin. R. 24.219.401 (fee schedule)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/ARM-24-219-401"
        },
        {
          "label": "Montana Board of Behavioral Health LCSW Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist",
          "url": "https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/bbh/lcsw-app-checklist.pdf"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "dataProblems": []
}