Syracuse University : Master of Social Work (CSWE accredited. Standard and Advanced Standing tracks. No GRE required.)
Northwestern University : Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy (Complete your COAMFTE-accredited MFT online program in as few as 21 months. No GRE required.)
University of Southern California : Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling (No GRE required)
Capella University : Master's and PhD in Counseling (CACREP Accreditation. Master's and PhD options avaialble. )
Fordham University : Master of Social Work (Earn an MSW online. Traditional and advanced standing online MSW options are available. Accredited by the CSWE.)
Northwestern University : Online MA in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
Pepperdine University : Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degrees (GRE scores are not required to apply, and you can earn your degree in as few as 27 months. LPC/MFT emphases available.)
NYU Steinhardt : Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness (MPCAC accredited, GRE not required)
Purdue University Global : Master of Science in Human Services (100% Online, Multiple Start Dates)Education Requirements
“Social worker” is a protected title in 36 out of 50 states. That means, similar to doctors and lawyers, a person cannot represent themselves as a social worker without a degree from an accredited school of Social Work. However, all 50 states require that individuals hold an Associate’s, BSW, or MSW degree to become licensed social workers.
An “accredited school of Social Work” means one that has officially been certified by the Council on Social Work Education to meet the profession’s standards. Those interested can find a list of accredited programs on their website
Many states require proof of specific coursework completed during the social worker’s degree program. For example, Florida requires that candidates for social work licensure prove that they completed at least 24 semester hours in clinically-oriented human behavior and practice coursework.
In terms of continuing education requirements and additional coursework, LCSW requirements vary by state. California requires social work license applicants to complete an 18-hour California law and professional ethics course. Some states require potential social work licensure candidates to fulfill the same continuing education requirements as a social worker renewing their license. In Rhode Island, for example, social work license applicants must complete 30 hours of continuing education.
Consider a Featured Online Counseling Program
| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements |
Course Information |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse University
Master of Social Work
CSWE accredited |
✔ Online
No GRE Required |
Syracuse University’s CSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work program is preparing the next generation of social work leaders through an emphasis on digital innovation and social justice. Learn More |
| Northwestern University
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
COAMFTE Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required |
The COAMFTE-accredited [email protected] is offered by The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Full-time students can complete the program in as few as 21 months. No GRE is required, but applicants must hold an undergraduate degree. Full and part-time tracks available. Learn More |
| University of Southern California
Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling
Prepares you for school counseling credential |
✔ Live, online classes
No GRE requirement |
Bachelor’s degree and minimum 2.5 GPA required Learn More |
| Capella University
Master's and PhD in Counseling
 CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Not Required |
Choose from Addictions, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Behavior. Marriage and Family Therapy, or School Counseling specialties Learn More |
| Fordham University
Master of Social Work
Accredited by the CSWE. |
✔ Online
Bachelor's Degree |
Fordham’s top-ranked Graduate School of Social Service offers a future-focused online MSW program, preparing students for integrated practice with all populations. Bachelor's degree required. Learn More |
| Northwestern University
Online MA in Counseling
CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required |
Prepare to pursue licensure in as few as 18 months Learn MoreFull-time, part-time, and accelerated track options available |
| Pepperdine University
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degrees
LPC/MFT emphases available. |
✔ Online
No GRE Required. Bachelor's Degree Required. |
Choose your path at Pepperdine: pursue licensure as either an LMFT or LPC and serve diverse clients with our online master’s in clinical psychology. GRE scores are not required to apply, and you can earn your degree in as few as 27 months. Take the next step toward creating a positive social impact today. Learn More |
| NYU Steinhardt
Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
 MPCAC Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE not required; Bachelor’s degree and minimum 2.5 GPA required |
As few as 21 months to complete Learn More |
| Purdue University Global
Master of Science in Human Services
HLC Accredited |
✔ Online
Bachelor's Degree Required |
Advance into leadership positions managing organizational policies, staff, funding, intervention programs, and more. Choose a concentration in family/community services or organizational/social services. Prepare to sit for industry credential exams. Learn More |
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Online CACREP Accredited programs | Online MPCAC Accredited programs
Experience/Supervision Requirements
To obtain an independent social work license, applicants must complete a designated number of hours of experience in the field. These hours are ones spent providing clinical social work hours face-to-face with clients. The most common number required is 3000 hours completed over two or more years.
Some states require fewer direct work hours- such as Florida, which requires only 1,500. Other states offer tiers of social work licensing- such as Massachusetts, whose Social Worker 2 license calls for 3,500 hours and whose pinnacle Social Worker 6 license requires 17,500 hours.
You can’t just strike out on your own to accrue hours, though. Each state requires the accrued hours to occur under the supervision of a fully licensed mental health practitioner, typically a licensed clinical social worker. The candidate for social work licensure must meet individually with their supervisor for a designated number of hours throughout their experience. Applicants for social work licensure must document client and supervisor hours.
Examination Requirements
To become fully independent licensed clinical social workers, all social work license candidates must pass the ASWB’s Advanced Clinical Social Work Exam. This test consists of 170 questions and is administered at a supervised, secured testing center over the course of four hours. Test prep materials are available on ASWB’s website, along with practice exams.
Most states offer lesser licenses that don’t require passing the ASWB exam. For example, California’s Associate Clinical Social Worker License doesn’t require a completed exam because ACSW license holders are still accruing hours towards their full LCSW license. Upon completing those hours, ACSW professionals will be permitted to take the exam before applying for their full LCSW licensure.
Miscellaneous Requirements/Exceptions
There are bound to be some outliers in a country with 50 states and 50 sets of social work licensure requirements. South Dakota offers a Social Work associate license that requires only an associate’s degree and completing the ASWB Associate’s Exam. Virginia and Ohio also have an Associate Social Work License but don’t require an exam. Wisconsin has a “social work training associate” certificate that requires a Bachelor’s degree in any subject and one year of human services experience.
Syracuse University - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
Northwestern University - Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE Accredited)
University of Southern California - Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling
Capella University - Master's and PhD in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
Fordham University - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
Northwestern University - Online MA in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
Pepperdine University - Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degrees
NYU Steinhardt - Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness (MPCAC Accredited)
Purdue University Global - Master of Science in Human Services (HLC Accredited)
Easiest States to get LCSW
Want to know how to become a licensed social worker- the easy way? Since there are different social work license requirements by state, it’s safe to assume that some states will be more relaxed than others. However, keep in mind that there is no trans-state social work license. If you move from a less stringent state to one with higher standards, you may be required to make up the difference.
We went through the social work license requirements by state and found the following to have the easiest path to social work licensure:
Alabama
Alabama is one of the few states that allow Bachelor’s level social workers to practice independently at some point- making it one of the easiest states to get LCSW licensure.
Bachelor Social Worker:
Alabama offers those with a bachelor’s degree in social work the opportunity to become licensed. To do so, they must:
- Apply, with proof of Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW) degree completion
- Pass the ASWB Bachelor’s Social Work Exam.
- Provide a plan for ongoing supervision by a licensed master or clinical supervisor. Once two years of supervision are completed, the Licensed Bachelor Social worker can continue to practice without supervision.
Master Social Worker:
Alabama Master Social Worker applicants need to:
- Apply, with proof of MSW degree completion
- Pass the ASWB Master’s Social Work Exam.
- If the applicant intends to become an LCSW, they must provide a supervision plan for accruing the required hours.
Independent Clinical Social Worker:
- Apply with proof of MSW degree completion and accrued supervision/work experience hours. Alabama requires 24 months of work experience with four monthly supervision hours.
- Pass the ASWB’s Advanced Clinical Social Work Exam.
Alaska
When looking at social work license requirements by state, Alaska stands out as another one of the easiest states to get LCSW status. Alaska also offers bachelor-level social work licensure- although bachelor social workers cannot practice clinical social work (i.e., therapy) in Alaska or any other state.
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker
Alaska LBSW applicants must:
- Apply, with proof of Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW) degree completion
- Pass the ASWB Bachelor’s Social Work Exam.
Licensed Master Social Worker
Alaska LMSW applicants must:
- Apply, with proof of Master’s of Social Work (BSW) degree completion
- Pass the ASWB’s Intermediate Social Work Exam.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Alaska Clinical Social Work License applicants are required to:
- Apply, with proof of Master of Social Work (MSW) degree completion
- Provide documentation of 3500 hours of supervised clinical social work experience.
- Pass the ASWB Advanced Clinical Social Work Exam.
Florida
Another one of the easiest states to get LCSW licensure is Florida. Florida has the lowest number of experience/supervision hours for those obtaining their full clinical social work license.
Certified Master Social Worker
Florida Certified Master Social Worker license applicants must:
- Apply, with proof of Master of Social Work (MSW) degree completion
- Provide documentation of 3000 hours of supervised social work experience.
- Pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist Social Work Exam
Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern
Requirements for Florida’s RCSWI license include:
- Apply, with proof of MSW degree completion
- Provide a supervision plan for accruing the required hours for the LCSW license.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Florida Clinical Social Work License applicants are required to:
- Apply, with proof of Master of Social Work (MSW) degree completion
- Provide documentation of 1500 hours of supervised clinical social work experience.
- Pass the ASWB Advanced Clinical Social Work Exam.
Illinois
Illinois has a tiered social work license system, allowing individuals with less experience to obtain their social work license and practice. This makes it another one of the easiest states to get LCSW certification.
Licensed Social Worker 2
Applicants for Illinois’ Licensed Social Worker 2 status must:
- Apply, with proof of Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW) degree completion
- Provide documentation of 3 years of social work experience
- Pass the ASWB Master’s Social Work Exam.
Licensed Social Worker 1
Licensed Social Worker 1 candidates are required to:
- Apply, with proof of Master of Social Work (MSW) degree completion
- Pass the ASWB Master’s Social Work Exam.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker 2
To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker 2 in Illinois, applicants must:
- Apply, with proof of Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) degree completion
- Provide documentation of 2000 hours of direct clinical social work experience.
- Pass the ASWB Advanced Clinical Social Work Exam.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker 1
For Licensed Clinical Social Worker 1 status in Illinois, social workers will:
- Apply, with proof of Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree completion
- Provide documentation of 3000 hours of direct clinical social work experience.
- Pass the ASWB Advanced Clinical Social Work Exam.
Indiana
Indiana has a specified number of years of experience required for full licensure but not a specified number of hours. They also offer licensure to Bachelor’s level social workers (although LBSWs are not permitted to practice at the clinical social work level). This makes Illinois another one of the easiest states for LCSW licensure.
Licensed Bachelor Social Work
LBSW applicants in Indiana must:
- Apply, with proof of Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW) degree completion
- Pass the ASWB Bachelor’s Social Work Exam.
Licensed Social Worker
Licensed social workers in Indiana are required to:
- Apply, with proof of Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree completion
- Pass the ASWB Master’s Social Work Exam.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
For Licensed Clinical Social Worker status in Indiana, social workers will:
- Apply, with proof of Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree completion
- Provide documentation of 24 months working as a clinical social worker
- Pass the ASWB Advanced Clinical Social Work Exam.
Mississippi
Like Indiana, Mississippi doesn’t have a minimum hours requirement for social work licensure- it has a “years of experience” requirement.
Licensed Social Worker
LSW candidates in Mississippi are expected to:
- Apply, with proof of Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW) degree completion
- Pass the ASWB Bachelor’s Social Work Exam.
Licensed Master Social Worker
Licensed Master Social Worker applicants in Mississippi are required to:
- Apply, with proof of Master’s, Doctorate, or Ph.D. in Social Work degree completion
- Pass the ASWB Master’s Social Work Exam.
Licensed Certified Social Worker
For Licensed Certified Social Worker status in Mississippi, social workers will:
- Apply, with proof of Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree completion
- Provide documentation of 24 months working as a clinical social worker
- Pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist or Clinical Social Work Exam. (Note: Only LCSWs who have passed the ASWB Advanced Clinical Social Work Exam can “present themselves as a clinical social worker.”)
Social Work License Requirements by State
The Association of Social Work Boards maintains a database with information on how to become a licensed social worker in each state. Interested people can access the database on their website here. Individuals can search by education and supervision LCSW requirements by state.
If you want to know how to become a licensed social worker, your best bet is to visit the website linked above. Each state has different requirements, and some are more stringent than others. No matter where you are, becoming a licensed social worker starts with a college education. If you want to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), your journey will include a Master’s degree in social work and several years’ worth of supervised clinical experience.
Sources:
https://www.cswe.org/
https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/licensing/licensed-clinical-social-worker/
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html
https://health.ri.gov/licenses/detail.php?id=245
https://dss.sd.gov/licensingboards/socialwork/social.aspx
https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/social/
https://cswmft.ohio.gov/
https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/SocialWorker/
https://www.aswb.org/regulation/laws-and-regulations-database/
