Social Work State Licensing Boards

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. Each online MSW in our full list of programs is accredited, but some states may have additional rules.

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 social worker. Here are some examples of state licenses:

Florida: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW)
Oregon: Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW), 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)

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

Social Work Licensing Boards by State
State	Licensing Board	Types of Licenses
Alabama	Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners	Licensed Clinical Social Worker Licensed Master Social Worker Licensed Bachelor Social Worker
Alaska	Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners	Clinical Social Worker (CSW) Master Social Worker (MSW) Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW)
Arizona	Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Baccalaureate Social Work (LBSW)
Arkansas	Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
California	California Board of Behavioral Sciences	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Colorado	Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Connecticut	Connecticut Department of Public Health	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Master’s Level Social Worker
Delaware	Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners	Bachelors Social Worker Masters Social Worker Clinical Social Worker"
District of Columbia	Washington, D.C. Board of Social Work	Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
Florida	Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Certified Master Social Worker
Georgia	Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists	Clinical Social Worker Master Social Worker
Hawaii	Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
Idaho	Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners	Master Social Worker Clinical Social Worker
Illinois	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation	Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker, Licensed
Indiana	Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board	Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Bachelor Social Worker
Iowa	Iowa Department of Public Health	Social Worker Bachelor’s Level Social Worker Master’s Level Social Worker Independent
Kansas	Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board	Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW)
Kentucky	Kentucky Board of Social Work	Certified Social Worker (CSW) Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Louisiana	Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners	Registered Social Worker Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) / Certified Social Worker
Maine	Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure	Licensed Social Worker Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Maryland	Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners	Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical (LCSW-C) Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers	Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Michigan	Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs	Master's Social Worker (MSW) Bachelor’s Social Worker (BSW)
Minnesota	Minnesota Board of Social Work	Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
Mississippi	Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists	Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Missouri	Missouri Committee for Social Workers	Licensed Advanced Macro Social Worker (LAMSW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
Montana	Montana Board of Behavioral Health	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Nebraska	Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services	Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) Certified Social Worker (CSW)
Nevada	Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers	Clinical Social Worker (CSW) Independent Social Worker (ISW) Social Worker (SW)
New Hampshire	New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice	Independent Clinical Social Worker
New Jersey	New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Certified Social Worker (CSW)
New Mexico	New Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
New York	New York Office of the Professions	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
North Carolina	North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) Certified Social Worker (CSW)
North Dakota	North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners	Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker Licensed Master Social Worker Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Ohio	Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board	Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
Oklahoma	Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Licensed Social Worker-Administration (LSW-Adm)
Oregon	Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors	Clinical Social Worker (CSW) Bachelor Social Worker (BSW) Social Worker (SW)
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Health	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
South Carolina	South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners	Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
South Dakota	South Dakota Social Work Examiners Board	Social Worker Certified Social Worker Certified Social Worker in Private or Independent Practice
Tennessee	Tennessee Board of Social Workers	Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (LAPSW) Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Texas	Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners	Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) Licensed Master Social Worker - Advanced Practice (LMSW-AP)
Utah	Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing	Certified Social Worker (CSW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Vermont	Vermont Office of Professional Regulation	Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Master's Social Worker
Virginia	Virginia Board of Social Work	Registered Social Worker (RSW) Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Master's Social Worker (LMSW)
Washington	Washington Department of Health	Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) Licensed Social Work Associate & Advanced (LSWAA) Licensed Social Work Associate & Independent Clinical (LSWAIC)
West Virginia	West Virginia Board of Social Work	Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board	Certified Advanced Practice Social Worker (CAPSW) Certified Independent Social Worker (CISW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Certified Social Worker (CSW)
Wyoming	Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board	Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Certified Social Worker (CSW)

Information for state licensing boards of social work was retrieved as of March 2020. For the most up-to-date information, check with your state board.


                  {"admissionsEmail": "admissions@msw.usc.edu", "degreeOffering": "usc-msw", "fields": [{"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "Are you a member of the military?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "military_affiliated", "required": true, "type": 2, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "Yes", "value": "true"}, {"label": "No", "value": "false"}]}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "What is your highest level of education completed?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "level_of_education", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "High School", "value": "High School"}, {"label": "Associate\u0027s", "value": "Associates"}, {"label": "Bachelor\u0027s in progress", "value": "Bachelors in progress"}, {"label": "Bachelor\u0027s", "value": "Bachelors"}, {"label": "Master\u0027s in progress", "value": "Masters in progress"}, {"label": "Master\u0027s", "value": "Masters"}, {"label": "Doctorate", "value": "Doctorate"}]}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "Do you have a BSW or are you enrolled in a BSW program?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "bsw", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "Yes", "value": "Yes"}, {"label": "No", "value": "No"}]}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "What was your undergraduate GPA?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "stated_gpa_range", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "4.00 and above", "value": "4.00 and above"}, {"label": "3.99 - 3.50", "value": "3.99 - 3.50"}, {"label": "3.49 - 3.00", "value": "3.49 - 3.00"}, {"label": "2.99 - 2.50", "value": "2.99 - 2.50"}, {"label": "2.49 and below", "value": "2.49 and below"}]}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": true, "label": "Degree Interest", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree", "required": false, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "MSW", "options": [{"label": "DSW", "value": "DSW"}, {"label": "MSW", "value": "MSW"}]}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "State", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "state", "required": true, "type": 5, "value": {}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": true, "label": "Country of Residence", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "country", "required": false, "type": 6, "value": {}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "Zip", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "zip_code", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "Phone", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "phone", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "US Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00b8", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 11, "value": {"checkboxText": "Please contact me about these educational programs.", "defaultChecked": true, "defaultRadio": "none", "disclaimer": "USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work\u0027s technology partner, 2U, Inc., and its family of companies, work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in social work and other fields.", "format": "checkbox", "optInValue": "USC Marketing", "smsHiddenConsent": false}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "GDPR Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00aa\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 8, "value": {"disclaimer": "This personal data is collected and processed by [--link:https://2u.com target:blank]2U, Inc.,[link--] USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work\u0027s technology partner.", "leadShareOptIn": {"email": "Please email me about these educational programs.", "leadShareValue": "USC Marketing", "phone": "", "sms": "", "text": "USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work\u0027s technology partner, [--link:https://2u.com target:blank]2U, Inc., and its family of companies[link--], work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in social work and other fields."}, "retailOptIn": {"email": "Email:", "phone": "Phone:", "sms": "", "text": "Yes, I want to receive additional information about USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Please contact me via:"}}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "Last Name", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "last_name", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "First Name", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "first_name", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "Email", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "email", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": false, "label": "Which best describes you?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "which_best_describes_you", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "I am starting my career", "value": "I am starting my career"}, {"label": "I want to advance my career", "value": "I want to advance my career"}]}}, {"helpText": "", "hidden": true, "label": "leadsource", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_source", "required": false, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "OnlineMSWProgramsSite", "options": [{"label": "OnlineMSWProgramsSite", "value": "OnlineMSWProgramsSite"}]}}, {"hidden": true, "label": "", "name": "no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent", "required": true, "type": 9, "value": {"gdprOnly": "false"}}, {"hidden": false, "mountPoint": 2, "name": "", "type": 7, "value": {"text": "Your personal data will be used as described in our [--link:https://msw.usc.edu/legal/privacy-policy/]privacy policy[link--]. You may opt out of receiving communications at any time. "}}], "grouping": "usc-msw", "id": 472, "inferredFields": {"country": "country_name"}, "programsOfStudy": "5deaba1e-7f34-4dd4-9156-09380c861e2f, 5deaba1f-798b-447a-a425-9a3e483b93b3", "screens": [{"allFields": [14, 16], "conditional": {}, "out": {"1": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [1, 3, 2, 0], "conditional": {}, "out": {"3": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [5, 7, 6, 8, 4, 15, 9, 10, 17], "conditional": {"10": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]], "8": [3, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}]], "9": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 1}, {"op": 7}]]}, "out": {"-1": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [12, 11, 13], "conditional": {}, "out": {"2": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}], "version": "1.0.1"}