Online MSW Programs in Tennessee

Are there online MSW programs based in Tennessee?

Yes. There are 7 CSWE-accredited MSW programs based in Tennessee that offer online programs: Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, King University, Southern Adventist University, Union University, the University of Memphis, and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Students should confirm the current accreditation status in the CSWE directory and confirm the format directly with each school before applying.

Can Tennessee residents enroll in out-of-state online MSW programs?

Often, yes. Students should confirm state authorization, admissions eligibility, and the availability of local field placement. Tennessee participates in SARA through TN-SARA, but SARA participation does not confirm that a program meets Tennessee social work licensure requirements.

Is CSWE accreditation important?

Yes. CSWE accreditation is commonly required for social work licensure pathways. Verify program status in the CSWE directory.

Does an online MSW automatically qualify you for LCSW licensure in Tennessee?

No. An online MSW may help meet Tennessee’s education requirement, but students must also meet state licensing requirements, including LMSW licensure, supervised clinical experience, application, background check, and ASWB exam requirements. Students should confirm current requirements with the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure.

State licensing board

Professional licensure for social workers in Tennessee is administered by the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure within the Tennessee Department of Health.

Relevant state law and rules

Tennessee’s social work statutes are in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 23. Board rules are published as Rules of the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure, Chapter 1365-01. These sources cover licensure categories, applications, examinations, supervision, renewal, continuing education, ethics, and disciplinary provisions.

Common MSW-level license path

LMSW to LCSW. Tennessee uses the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credentials. Tennessee also licenses Licensed Advanced Practice Social Workers (LAPSWs), but students pursuing clinical practice should verify the LCSW pathway with the board.

Graduate education

Tennessee LMSW applicants must hold a master’s or doctorate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time the degree was granted. The same CSWE-accreditation standard holds for LAPSW and LCSW applicants. Tennessee also provides a temporary licensure pathway in limited cases for LBSW or LMSW applicants whose program had applied for, but had not yet received, CSWE accreditation at the time of graduation. Students should confirm current requirements with the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure before enrolling or applying.

Exam

Tennessee uses ASWB exams for social work licensure. MSW-level applicants generally take the ASWB Masters exam for LMSW licensure, while LCSW applicants take the ASWB Clinical exam after completing the required supervised clinical experience. Applicants should confirm exam authorization steps with the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure before registering with ASWB.

Supervised experience

For LCSW by examination, the Tennessee LCSW application checklist requires detailed supervision logs documenting 3,000 clinical hours and 100 supervision hours. The application notes that at least 60 of the 100 supervision hours must be one-to-one supervision and that no more than 40 hours may be group supervision with no more than four supervisees.

State-specific requirements

Applicants should review the Tennessee board’s current forms for application materials, fees, passport-style photograph, notarized declaration of citizenship, mandatory practitioner profile, out-of-state license verification, criminal background check, supervision forms, and renewal requirements.

Tennessee continuing education requirements include 24 hours every two calendar years for LMSWs and 30 hours every two calendar years for LAPSWs and LCSWs, including six ethics hours and one hour specific to Tennessee statutes and rules; licensees must also complete board-approved suicide prevention training at least once every four years.

Contact Information

Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure

Website: tn.gov/health/licensure/sw.html

Phone: 615-741-5735 or 1-800-778-4123

Email: Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov

Mailing address: 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Schools, child welfare agencies, family service organizations, and community programs

$56,390

Healthcare Social Workers

Hospitals, clinics, hospice, care coordination, and public health organizations

$61,910

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Behavioral health agencies, mental health clinics, substance use treatment centers

$48,760

Social Workers, All Other

Policy, administration, research, community development, and specialized social service roles

$52,060

All Occupations

Summary of all reported wages within the state across all job types

$46,120

Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure

Official requirements for LMSW/LCSW or other state social work licenses, applications, supervised experience, exams, fees, and renewal rules. This should be the final source of truth for licensing questions.

Rules of the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure, Chapter 1365-01

Tennessee social work licensure is governed by the Rules of the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure, Chapter 1365-01. These rules cover license classifications, applications, education and exam requirements, supervision, fees, renewal, continuing education, ethics, disciplinary procedures, and other board requirements. Students should review the current rules and confirm requirements with the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure before enrolling or beginning supervised experience.

CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs

Whether an MSW program is currently CSWE-accredited or in candidacy status. Students can search by school, state, degree level, and accreditation status.

ASWB Exam Information

Which social work licensing exams are available, how exam registration works, and what to expect from the exam process. Students should still confirm which exam their state requires.

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)

Whether an institution participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), which helps confirm whether it may offer distance education to students in other SARA states. Students can use this as a starting point for checking online enrollment authorization, but SARA participation does not confirm that an MSW program meets state social work licensure requirements. Students should also confirm state authorization directly with the school before applying.

School Professional Licensure Disclosures

Whether the school has determined that its MSW program meets, does not meet, or has not yet been determined to meet educational requirements for social work licensure in a student’s state. Students should review these disclosures before applying and follow up with the program or state licensing board if the information is unclear.

School Program Pages

Current admissions requirements, tuition, start dates, online format, advanced-standing options, field-placement policies, and whether the program currently accepts students from your state.