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Pathway to Social Work Licensure

Social work is a licensed profession. This means that if you want to practice social work, you need to earn your license and follow the regulations and rules wherever you practice. 

In the United States, professional licenses are issued by state or territorial governments, in most cases through a licensing board. In Canada, social workers are registered in the province where they practice through a social work association or a social work college.

How to get a license 

Licensing is for all social workers, not just clinical social workers. Most states and provinces offer multiple categories of licensure, recognizing different scopes of practice. Requirements, including MSW coursework requirements, vary by state or province, but in general you’ll need to:

  • Complete a social work degree from an accredited university
  • Apply for your license
  • Pass the appropriate social work licensing exam

If you’re getting a clinical social work license or a license to practice independently, you’ll also need to complete supervised practice, commonly referred to as supervision.

Getting your first license

Whether you’re fresh out of your degree program, are moving to another state after 10 years of practice, or are planning to practice with clients remotely via telehealth, you’ll need to apply for a license with the social work board in the state or province where you’ll be practicing. The Association of Social Work Boards develops and administers the national social work licensing exams (like the bachelors, masters, and clinical exams), but there isn't one single national license because licensing is regulated at the state level in the U.S. Even though most states use the same ASWB exams, they may:

  • Have different titles (e.g., LCSW vs. LICSW)
  • Require different supervised hours
  • Accept or reject specific educational paths
  • Impose different jurisprudence or ethics exams in addition to the ASWB test

Requirements to obtaining licensure outside of California 

  1. Choose a state or province to begin your licensure application.
  2. Review the licensing requirements specific to your selected jurisdiction.
  3. Understand the supervision requirements outlined by that state or province.
  4. Become familiar with continuing education policies and requirements for license maintenance.

To request a letter of confirmation or to complete a form for associate registration (ASW) or licensure (LMSW or LCSW), email the Office of Academic Affairs at sdp.adc@usc.edu. Your email should include your name as enrolled in the program, your USC student ID, the start and end dates (month/year) of your enrollment, and your graduation date. Fill out the form (you may need to review your transcripts) and attach the completed form to your email. The MSW program director or their designee will review your form and either (a) sign it or (b) notify you of any discrepancies between your request and your academic record. 

Please note that requests will be processed within 60 days from the time of receipt. 

Requirements to earn a California LCSW license

Here are the basic steps to earning an LCSW, according to information from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. More details for those pursuing an LCSW should visit the Board of Behavioral Sciences website.

To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California, here are the general steps you need to follow:

  1. Earn a master’s degree in social work (MSW): Your degree must be from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The Council on Social Work maintains  a list of accredited schools. Currently, 24 schools in California are listed as accredited that offer a master’s in social work, including USC’s program that was first accredited in 1922.

    Accredited MSW degree programs may differ in terms of the specializations they offer but all prepare students to meet social work competencies. USC MSW Program offers a specialization in Integrative Social Work or the ability to work effectively with complex populations, organizations and communities.

  2. Register as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW): After completing your MSW, and within 90 days, you need to register with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an ASW to begin gaining supervised experience. The ASW license allows you to work by performing clinical social work under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional in California, while earning hours toward independent licensure.
  3. Complete Fingerprint Requirement and Criminal Background Check: Complete a Live Scan and evaluation of criminal history.  For more information on applying for licensure with a conviction, click here. 

  4. Take and pass the California Law and Ethics Exam: This is a mandatory step during your ASW registration period.

    This is a written exam proving that candidates understand current California law and ethics that apply to the field of social work. This exam is unique to California, and if someone with an LCSW license were to move out-of-state, a state-specific law and ethics exam could be required, therefore check with that state’s licensure board. The exam is administered by Psychological Services and the company’s centers offer testing 5-6 days a week in locations throughout the state and some out of state.

  5. Accrue Supervised Experience: Post graduation, accumulate at least 3,000 hours of supervised work experience in clinical social work. This takes a minimum of two years.
  • You must have an ASW registration number to begin counting hours of work experience.
  • Each person must complete both 3,000 hours of professional experience and 104 weeks of clinical supervision under a verified LCSW license holder. The professional experience hours include minimums and maximums for certain categories of social work practice including individual or group psychotherapy, advocacy, consultation, evaluation and research. The person with an ASW gaining this experience must make sure his or her hours are documented. The supervisor will complete the required forms such as a supervisory form, weekly logs and official experience verification forms. Click here for information on finding the right supervision.
  • If a clinical supervisor is not provided by your employer, you must hire and pay for an outside supervisor.

  1. Complete Additional Coursework: In California, post MSW coursework is required to ensure that any changes to laws or new information on critical topics are obtained like child abuse assessment and reporting, human sexuality, alcoholism and substance abuse, aging, long-term care and adult abuse, spousal/partner abuse, telehealth and suicide risk assessment. 

    For California applications: The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) confirms that “additional coursework is not required” for graduates of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. However, depending on when you graduated, this information may not have been included in your curriculum, and you will need to complete and demonstrate proof of additional education.

    To request a letter of confirmation, please email the Office of Academic Affairs at sdp.licensing@usc.edu. Please include "BBS Licensure Confirmation Request" in the subject line of your email. Note that state requirements may have changed since you completed your coursework, which could necessitate additional coursework. Be sure to include the following details in your email:

  • Your full name as it appeared while enrolled in the program
  • Your USC student ID
  • Start and end dates of your enrollment (month/year)
  • Your graduation date (month/year)
  1. Take and Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam: Once you have completed supervised hours, this is the final step to becoming an LCSW. Exams are administered by appointment at Pearson Professional Centers; there are no fixed administration dates. Click here for a test guide and practice exam
  2. Once awarded an LCSW license: This allows you to provide counseling as an independent licensed practitioner without supervision. Licenses must be renewed every two years and the process requires additional training to stay current. On the USC Social Work job bank, you can filter for jobs available specifically for independently licensed clinical social workers.

 

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about the on campus and online options for the MSW program