Social work licensing requirements
The University of Nevada, Reno MSW program does not meet the requirements for CSW licensure in Florida.
Social work licensing requirements
| State | Does the Program Meet the Educational Requirements for Licensure? | Educational Exceptions | Available License | Educational Requirements | Additional Required Coursework/Training | Examination Requirements | State Board Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | None | LGSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Alaska | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Arizona | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners |
| Arkansas | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | |
| California | Yes | California does not require licensure to practice social work outside of clinical practice. For LCSW licensure, additional coursework is required. | LCSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | 18-hour California Law and Professional Ethics; Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting; Human Sexuality; Alcoholism and Other Chemical Abuse Dependency; Spousal or Partner Abuse Assessment; Detection and Intervention; Aging; Long Term Care; Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse | California Law and Professional Ethics Examination required for renewal | California Board of Behavioral Sciences |
| Colorado | Yes | None | LSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Colorado Mental Health Profession’s Jurisprudence Examination and master’s level ASWB examination | Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Connecticut | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Connecticut State Department of Public Health |
| District of Columbia | Yes | None | LGSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | DC Health |
| Delaware | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Florida | Yes | Florida does not require licensure for social work practice outside of clinical practice. | CSWI | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program to practice social work. | For CSWI licensure: (Coursework) Complete 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours in theory of human behavior and practice methods as courses in clinically oriented services, including a minimum of one course in psychopathology. Courses not considered to be clinically oriented are: policy, administration, organization and communities. (Practicum) A supervised field placement that was part of the applicant’s master’s program, during which the applicant provided clinical services directly to clients. | Master’s level ASWB examination | Florida Board of Clinical Social Work |
| Georgia | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Georgia Social Work Board |
| Hawaii | Yes | None | LSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program |
| Idaho | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Illinois | Yes | None | LSW | MSW degree | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Social Work-State of Illinois |
| Indiana | Yes | None | LSW | MSW degree | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board |
| Iowa | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Iowa Board of Social Work |
| Kansas | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board |
| Kentucky | Yes | None | CSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Kentucky Board of Social Work |
| Louisiana | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Maine | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Maine Board of Social Work Licensure |
| Maryland | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Massachusetts | Yes | None | LSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Work |
| Michigan | Yes | None | LMSW - limited | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Michigan Board of Social Work |
| Minnesota | Yes | None | LGSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Minnesota Board of Social Work |
| Mississippi | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers |
| Missouri | Yes | None | LMSW | MSW degree | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Missouri Committee for Social Workers |
| Montana | Yes | None | License is not required for a graduate of a CSWE accredited program | None | Montana Board of Behavioral Health | ||
| Nebraska | Yes | None | CSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Nebraska Mental Health and Social Work Practice | |
| Nevada | Yes | None | LSW | Baccalaureate or master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Bachelor’s level ASWB examination | Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers |
| New Hampshire | Yes | New Hampshire does not require licensure for social work practice outside of clinical practice. | Baccalaureate or master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program to be a non-clinical social worker | None | New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice | ||
| New Jersey | Yes | None | LSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners |
| New Mexico | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | New Mexico Jurisprudence Examination and master’s level ASWB examination | New Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners |
| New York | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | Coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a New York State approved provider | Master’s level ASWB examination | New York Social Work |
| North Carolina | Yes | None | CMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board |
| North Dakota | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Ohio | Yes | None | LSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board |
| Oklahoma | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers |
| Oregon | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | None | LSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors |
| Rhode Island | Yes | None | LCSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | State of Rhode Island Department of Health: Social Work Licensing |
| Puerto Rico | Yes | None | Master’s degree from a university recognized by the PR Board of Postsecondary Institutions | None | Puerto Rico Professional Social Workers | ||
| South Carolina | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners |
| South Dakota | Yes | None | CSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Social Work Examiners - South Dakota |
| Tennessee | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Board of Social Workers - Tennessee |
| Texas | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Texas Jurisprudence Examination and master’s level ASWB examination | Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners |
| Utah | Yes | None | CSW | MSW degree | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing |
| Vermont | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Vermont Jurisprudence Examination and master’s level ASWB examination | Vermont Social Work Licensure |
| Virginia | Yes | None | LMSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | Virginia Board of Social Work |
| Washington | Yes | None | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | 3200 hours of post-graduate supervision is required to be licensed as a LCSW | Master’s level ASWB examination | Washington State Department of Health: Social Worker | |
| West Virginia | Yes | None | LGSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination | West Virginia Board of Social Work |
| Wisconsin | Yes | None | APSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Wisconsin Statues and Rules Examination and master’s level ASWB examination | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services |
| Wyoming | Yes | None | PCSW | Master’s degree from a CSWE accredited program | None | Master’s level ASWB examination |