State Variations

• While the qualifications for becoming a licensed clinical social worker are generally similar across the country, some states have minor variations. The number of work hours and the process of becoming licensed (including licensing fees paid) may be slightly different from state to state.
  
  

Educational Requirements

• Any applicant looking for social work licensure should have a master's degree or higher in social work. The degree must come from an accredited college or university. If the applicant completed the degree in another country, the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council on Social Work Education will determine its validity. After completing a master's degree program, the applicant also needs to have passed the clinical exam offered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).
  
  

Supervised Work Time

• In addition to the educational requirements, applicants must have put in a certain number of hours working, supervised by a social work clinician. The general requirement is that the applicant has completed around 3,200 hours in a 2-year period. A certain number of these hours--usually half the total hours--must be spent working directly with clients. Usually, as part of a master's degree program, there are opportunities offered for internships, where students complete these hours while in school. During the supervised work hours, applicants must have demonstrated proficiency, as determined by the supervisor, in diagnostics, psychotherapy (both group and individual), integrity, insight, responsibility, boundaries, confidentiality and referrals.
  
  

Credentialing Committee

• After completing the degree program and the supervised work hours, the applicant will submit a written request to the state credentialing committee. The committee will make decisions based on the fulfillment of the requirements and the applicant's ability to demonstrate proficiency in the field.
  
  

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

• The ASWB is the organization that creates the test applicants must pass (see link in References). In addition to administering the test, the ASWB offers information and services for applicants. The group offers a newsletter, conferences and general communication about the requirements for social workers.