{
  "_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": "NC",
  "name": "North Carolina",
  "url": "https://www.socialworktestprepacademy.com/licensing/nc",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "checked": true,
  "lastChecked": "2026-09-06",
  "board": {
    "name": "North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board",
    "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcsw-associate/"
  },
  "firstCredential": {
    "abbr": "LCSWA",
    "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (no exam to obtain; exists to accrue the LCSW hours)",
    "rung": "supervisee",
    "exam": null
  },
  "examRequiredFirst": false,
  "summary": "No exam to register. The Clinical exam comes after your hours.",
  "aswbExam": null,
  "knownFeesUsd": 145,
  "unknownFeeCount": 0,
  "fees": [
    {
      "name": "LCSWA initial application fee",
      "amount_usd": 145,
      "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0208",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
    }
  ],
  "supervision": {
    "experience_hours": {
      "value": 3000,
      "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
    },
    "client_contact_hours": null,
    "supervision_hours": {
      "value": 100,
      "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
    },
    "minimum_months": {
      "value": 24,
      "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
    },
    "maximum_months": {
      "value": 72,
      "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211",
      "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
    },
    "notes": [
      "Ratio requirement: at least 1 hour of supervision for every 30 hours of practice, verified via a required supervisory log.",
      "A maximum of 25 hours of group supervision may be applied toward the 100-hour requirement for LCSW.",
      "No more than 50 hours of supervision may be delivered via technology unless the Board preapproves more; technology-based supervision must be synchronous with both audio and video.",
      "Practicum or internship experience from an educational program does not count toward the 3,000 hours.",
      "Board 'strongly discourages' independent private practice during the LCSWA period; it requires written approval with a documented supervision plan if attempted (source: LCSWA FAQ page, https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcswa-faqs/, verified 2026-09-06).",
      "compact_status.multistate_licenses_available = false is the drafter's caution, not a sourced fact: swcompact.org confirms North Carolina passed the compact language but publishes no implementation phase.",
      "Non-path fee (not in known fees): LCSW renewal fee (biennial) $150",
      "Non-path fee (not in known fees): Late renewal fee (within 60 days of expiration) $50"
    ]
  },
  "hours": "3,000 hours, 100 supervision",
  "compactMember": true,
  "applicationSequence": [
    "Complete a CSWE-accredited MSW, DSW, or PhD in social work.",
    "Submit the Application for Certification/Licensure Packet with a $145 application fee and Form SSA-89 (required since March 30, 2026).",
    "No ASWB exam is required to obtain the LCSWA credential itself; the exam requirement applies later, to advance to LCSW.",
    "Prior to practicing, submit an Employment Verification for LCSWA form and an emergency crisis plan naming an available licensed mental-health professional for emergency consultation (21 NCAC 63 .0210).",
    "Begin supervised clinical practice under an eligible LCSW supervisor, accruing the 3,000 hours / 100 supervision-hours requirement toward LCSW (21 NCAC 63 .0211).",
    "Submit six-month practice/supervision review reports to the Board throughout the associate period (21 NCAC 63 .0210(e))."
  ],
  "ladder": [
    {
      "rung": "bachelors",
      "abbr": "CSW",
      "title": "Certified Social Worker",
      "exam": "Bachelors",
      "supervised": false,
      "source": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/levels-and-eligibility-requirements/"
    },
    {
      "rung": "supervisee",
      "abbr": "LCSWA",
      "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (no exam to obtain; exists to accrue the LCSW hours)",
      "exam": null,
      "supervised": true,
      "source": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcsw-associate/"
    },
    {
      "rung": "advanced",
      "abbr": "CMSW",
      "title": "Certified Master Social Worker (non-clinical master's certification; a parallel branch, not a step toward LCSW)",
      "exam": "Masters",
      "supervised": false,
      "source": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/levels-and-eligibility-requirements/"
    },
    {
      "rung": "clinical",
      "abbr": "LCSW",
      "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker",
      "exam": "Clinical",
      "supervised": false,
      "source": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board · LCSWA applicant resources",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcsw-associate/"
    },
    {
      "label": "NC Board - LCSWA FAQs",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcswa-faqs/"
    },
    {
      "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0210 Associate Licenses",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0210"
    },
    {
      "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0208 Application Fee",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0208"
    },
    {
      "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0403 Renewal Fees",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0403"
    },
    {
      "label": "Social Work Licensure Compact · member jurisdictions",
      "url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/"
    },
    {
      "label": "North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board · LCSW applicant resources",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/levels-and-eligibility-requirements/"
    },
    {
      "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0211 Work Experience",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211"
    },
    {
      "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0209 Exam Eligibility",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0209"
    },
    {
      "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0306 Examination Fee",
      "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0306"
    },
    {
      "label": "LCSW fees · ASWB Clinical examination fee (paid to ASWB, separate from the Board's $40 processing fee)",
      "url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/"
    }
  ],
  "records": [
    {
      "state": {
        "name": "North Carolina",
        "postal_code": "NC"
      },
      "license_target": {
        "track": "masters",
        "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate",
        "abbreviation": "LCSWA"
      },
      "board": {
        "name": "North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board",
        "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcsw-associate/"
      },
      "fees": [
        {
          "name": "LCSWA initial application fee",
          "amount_usd": 145,
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0208",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
        }
      ],
      "application_sequence": [
        "Complete a CSWE-accredited MSW, DSW, or PhD in social work.",
        "Submit the Application for Certification/Licensure Packet with a $145 application fee and Form SSA-89 (required since March 30, 2026).",
        "No ASWB exam is required to obtain the LCSWA credential itself; the exam requirement applies later, to advance to LCSW.",
        "Prior to practicing, submit an Employment Verification for LCSWA form and an emergency crisis plan naming an available licensed mental-health professional for emergency consultation (21 NCAC 63 .0210).",
        "Begin supervised clinical practice under an eligible LCSW supervisor, accruing the 3,000 hours / 100 supervision-hours requirement toward LCSW (21 NCAC 63 .0211).",
        "Submit six-month practice/supervision review reports to the Board throughout the associate period (21 NCAC 63 .0210(e))."
      ],
      "aswb_exam": {
        "level": null,
        "fee_usd": null,
        "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcsw-associate/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
      },
      "supervision_requirement": {
        "experience_hours": null,
        "client_contact_hours": null,
        "supervision_hours": null,
        "minimum_months": null,
        "maximum_months": null,
        "notes": [
          "Modeling caveat: the LCSWA is not a standalone master's credential. It is a supervised, exam-deferred associate license that exists only to accrue LCSW hours, and it is what a fresh North Carolina MSW graduate actually applies for. The CMSW (Certified Master Social Worker) is a real parallel option, exam-required and non-clinical, and sits on the ladder as the `advanced` rung. The Board also certifies a CSWM (Certified Social Work Manager) for macro practice, not modeled here.",
          "Non-path fee (not in known fees): LCSWA renewal fee (biennial) $140",
          "Non-path fee (not in known fees): Late renewal fee (within 60 days of expiration) $50"
        ]
      },
      "supervisor_eligibility": null,
      "forms": [
        {
          "name": "Application for Certification/Licensure Packet",
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CL-Application-v20260526.pdf"
        },
        {
          "name": "LCSWA Employment Verification Form",
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LCSWA-Applicant.Employment.Verification.Form_.2022.05.17.pdf"
        },
        {
          "name": "Professional Reference Form",
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Professional-Reference-Form2022.05.19.pdf"
        }
      ],
      "processing_benchmark": {
        "description": "Allow a minimum of 30 days for application processing before following up; the Board reports additional delays May through July due to high submission volume.",
        "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
      },
      "endorsement_rules": {
        "summary": "Out-of-state LCSWA applicants (via 'substantial equivalency') must provide verification of current and active licensure in good standing in another jurisdiction, an Employment Verification Form covering supervised post-MSW clinical practice in the preceding six years, and a Clinical Social Work Supervision Form from each supervisor who provided clinical supervision in the preceding four years.",
        "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0207",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
      },
      "compact_status": {
        "member": true,
        "multistate_licenses_available": false,
        "source_url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
      },
      "last_verified": "2026-09-06",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "NC Board - LCSW Associate overview",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcsw-associate/"
        },
        {
          "label": "NC Board - LCSWA FAQs",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcswa-faqs/"
        },
        {
          "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0210 Associate Licenses",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0210"
        },
        {
          "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0208 Application Fee",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0208"
        },
        {
          "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0403 Renewal Fees",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0403"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": {
        "name": "North Carolina",
        "postal_code": "NC"
      },
      "license_target": {
        "track": "clinical",
        "title": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker",
        "abbreviation": "LCSW"
      },
      "board": {
        "name": "North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board",
        "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/levels-and-eligibility-requirements/"
      },
      "fees": [
        {
          "name": "LCSW initial application fee",
          "amount_usd": 145,
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0208",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
        },
        {
          "name": "NC exam processing fee (Board), in addition to ASWB's own exam cost",
          "amount_usd": 40,
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0306",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
        },
        {
          "name": "ASWB Clinical examination fee (paid to ASWB, separate from the Board's $40 processing fee)",
          "amount_usd": 260,
          "source_url": "https://www.aswb.org/exam/",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
        }
      ],
      "application_sequence": [
        "Hold LCSWA licensure and complete the 3,000-hour / 100-supervision-hour supervised clinical experience requirement over 2 to 6 years (21 NCAC 63 .0211).",
        "Have clinical supervisor submit the Clinical Exam Request Form attesting completion of two years of clinical practice (21 NCAC 63 .0209(f)).",
        "Board reviews and issues exam candidacy approval; applicant submits the $40 Board exam-processing fee (21 NCAC 63 .0209(c)-(d)).",
        "Register for and pass the ASWB Clinical Level Examination.",
        "Submit the LCSW Short Form Application with final six-month practice/supervision review; allow a minimum 30 days for processing."
      ],
      "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.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
        },
        "client_contact_hours": null,
        "supervision_hours": {
          "value": 100,
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
        },
        "minimum_months": {
          "value": 24,
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
        },
        "maximum_months": {
          "value": 72,
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211",
          "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
        },
        "notes": [
          "Ratio requirement: at least 1 hour of supervision for every 30 hours of practice, verified via a required supervisory log.",
          "A maximum of 25 hours of group supervision may be applied toward the 100-hour requirement for LCSW.",
          "No more than 50 hours of supervision may be delivered via technology unless the Board preapproves more; technology-based supervision must be synchronous with both audio and video.",
          "Practicum or internship experience from an educational program does not count toward the 3,000 hours.",
          "Board 'strongly discourages' independent private practice during the LCSWA period; it requires written approval with a documented supervision plan if attempted (source: LCSWA FAQ page, https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcswa-faqs/, verified 2026-09-06).",
          "compact_status.multistate_licenses_available = false is the drafter's caution, not a sourced fact: swcompact.org confirms North Carolina passed the compact language but publishes no implementation phase.",
          "Non-path fee (not in known fees): LCSW renewal fee (biennial) $150",
          "Non-path fee (not in known fees): Late renewal fee (within 60 days of expiration) $50"
        ]
      },
      "supervisor_eligibility": [
        "Must be an MSW who also holds an active LCSW in good standing with the Board.",
        "Must have an additional two years of clinical social work experience post-LCSW licensure.",
        "A supervisor under discipline by any professional credentialing body/organization, or found by legal order to have violated an occupational licensing Board's provisions, may not supervise an associate without the Board's written permission."
      ],
      "forms": [
        {
          "name": "LCSW Short Form Application (LCSWA-to-LCSW transition)",
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LCSW-Short-Form-Application-v20260326.pdf"
        },
        {
          "name": "Clinical Social Work Supervision Form",
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Clinical-Social-Work-Supervision-Form.2022.05.17.pdf"
        },
        {
          "name": "Predetermination Petition Form",
          "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Predetermination-Petition-Form-2024.12.18.pdf"
        }
      ],
      "processing_benchmark": {
        "description": "Once the LCSW Short Form Application is complete, review may take a minimum of 30 days upon receipt.",
        "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcswa-faqs/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
      },
      "endorsement_rules": {
        "summary": "Out-of-state LCSW applicants (via 'substantial equivalency') must show a current and active LCSW-equivalent license in good standing in another jurisdiction and certified proof of passing the ASWB Clinical exam; if the exam has not yet been passed, the applicant must instead supply the other jurisdiction's law defining licensure qualifications so NC can determine Clinical-exam eligibility. NC will only credit clinical supervision/practice obtained elsewhere against a current, active, equivalent-level out-of-state license - no exceptions.",
        "source_url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0207",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
      },
      "compact_status": {
        "member": true,
        "multistate_licenses_available": false,
        "source_url": "https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/",
        "verified_date": "2026-09-06"
      },
      "last_verified": "2026-09-06",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "NC Board - Levels and Eligibility Requirements",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/levels-and-eligibility-requirements/"
        },
        {
          "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0211 Work Experience",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0211"
        },
        {
          "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0209 Exam Eligibility",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0209"
        },
        {
          "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0306 Examination Fee",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0306"
        },
        {
          "label": "21 NCAC 63 .0403 Renewal Fees",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/administrative-codes/#.0403"
        },
        {
          "label": "NC Board - LCSWA FAQs (transition to LCSW)",
          "url": "https://www.ncswboard.gov/lcswa-faqs/"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}