State licensing boards are responsible for protecting the public by ensuring that certain types of social workers meet professional and educational standards through licensing and regulation. Licensing requirements are determined at the state level; therefore, the requirements for licensing are different for each state. Students who wish to pursue a career in social work should review the standards for their state of residence to ensure that the online program they choose meets the requirements needed for licensing.
With state licensing boards being responsible for setting the standards for licensure, every state has different types of licenses and some states even require multiple licenses in order to become a specific type of socials worker. For example, California requires professionals to earn an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW / ACSW) license before they can become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Here are some other examples of state licenses:
- Florida: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Oregon: Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW), Certified Social Worker Associate (CSWA), Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- New York: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Texas: Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Practice (LMSW-AP), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Find a complete list of state-specific social work licenses that require a MSW
State licensing boards also provide the public a way to verify that a social worker is actively licensed to practice in the state. In addition, some states provide information about social workers who have been disciplined by the board. Finally, if a consumer has a complaint against a licensed social worker, they can file it with their state’s licensing board, who will investigate the claim(s) to determine if there was any misconduct by the social worker.
Social Work Licensing Boards by State
| STATE | LICENSING BOARD | WEBSITE |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners | www.socialwork.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | Board of Social Work Examiners | www.commerce.alaska.gov |
| Arizona | Board of Behavioral Health Examiners | www.azbbhe.us |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board | www.arkansas.gov |
| California | Board of Behavioral Sciences | www.bbs.ca.gov |
| Colorado | Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions and Occupations | www.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | Department of Public Health | www.ct.gov |
| Delaware | Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners | www.dpr.delaware.gov |
| District of Columbia | Department of Health - Board of Social Work | doh.dc.gov |
| Florida | Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling | floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov |
| Georgia | Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists | sos.ga.gov |
| Hawaii | Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing | cca.hawaii.gov |
| Idaho | Bureau of Occupational Licenses - Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners | ibol.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation | www.idfpr.com |
| Indiana | Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board | www.in.gov |
| Iowa | Bureau of Professional Licensure - Iowa Board of Social Work | www.idph.iowa.gov |
| Kansas | Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board | www.ksbsrb.org |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Board of Social Work | bsw.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners | www.labswe.org |
| Maine | State Board of Social Worker Licensure | www.maine.gov |
| Maryland | Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners | dhmh.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) | www.mass.gov |
| Michigan | Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) | www.michigan.gov |
| Minnesota | Sate of Minnesota Board of Social Work | mn.gov |
| Mississippi | Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists | www.swmft.ms.gov |
| Missouri | Missouri Division of Professional Registration - Committee for Social Workers | pr.mo.gov |
| Montana | Montana Board of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors | bsd.dli.mt.gov |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services | dhhs.ne.gov |
| Nevada | State of Nevada's Board of Examiners for Social Workers | socwork.nv.gov |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice | www.nh.gov |
| New Jersey | State Board of Social Work Examiners | www.njconsumeraffairs.gov |
| New Mexico | Board of Social Work Examiners | www.rld.state.nm.us |
| New York | New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions | www.op.nysed.gov |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board | www.ncswboard.org |
| North Dakota | North Dakota State Board of Social Work Examiners | www.ndbswe.com |
| Ohio | Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board | cswmft.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers | www.ok.gov |
| Oregon | Board of Licensed Social Workers | www.oregon.gov |
| Pennsylvania | State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors | www.dos.pa.gov |
| Rhode Island | Board of Social Work Examiners | health.ri.gov |
| South Carolina | S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation | www.llr.state.sc.us |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Department of Social Services - Social Work Examiners | dss.sd.gov |
| Tennessee | Department of Health - Board of Social Workers | health.state.tn.us |
| Texas | Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners | www.dshs.state.tx.us |
| Utah | Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing | www.dopl.utah.gov |
| Vermont | Office of Professional Regulation | www.sec.state.vt.us |
| Virginia | Virginia Board of Social Work | www.dhp.virginia.gov |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Health | www.doh.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | WV Board of Social Work Examiners | www.wvsocialworkboard.org |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services | dsps.wi.gov |
| Wyoming | Mental Health Professions Licensing Board | mentalhealth.wyo.gov |