Winter 2026 Issue

Social Work Licensure
By David Hage, PhD, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, C-ASWCM, CDP, and Thomas P. Felke, PhD, MSW
Social Work Today
Vol. 26 No. 1 P. 20

Where We’ve Been, Challenges, and Continued Changes Ahead

Social work licensure serves two primary important purposes: protecting the public and ensuring professional standards of practice. The social work profession in the United States was first regulated in the 1940s and continued to expand across the entire United States through the mid 1990s.1 Social work licensure has developed over the course of a century and reflects the profession’s efforts to define its identity, protect the public, and standardize training and practice. This is first noted in the late 1800s through the 1930s as formalized social work education first came into focus. However, at this stage, the profession relied on voluntary standards set by schools and charitable organizations, rather than formal government oversight. The next 20 years brought more of the same but with an increasingly refined focus on professional identity and ethics, as the American Association of Social Workers (AASW) and American Association of Medical Social Workers (AAMSW) established voluntary membership standards. Puerto Rico, as a territory of the United States, implemented the first regulatory processes in 1934.2

The State of California was the first to lead the way with additional professional regulation efforts throughout the 1940s and 1960s. The state attempted to implement the first social work regulatory legislation in 1929, but the bill never passed. A second attempt at regulation, an early version of title protection, came via the employ of a state-level registration system in 1945, which required individuals to register if using the title “social worker.” The state was finally successful in its efforts in 1969, becoming the first to pass a social work licensure law, largely driven by concerns about unqualified practitioners providing psychotherapy to clients.2 The 1970s and 1980s saw an expansion of this focus on regulation with additional states adopting licensure processes while simultaneously implementing practice protection and title protection mandates. This period also saw the American Association of State Social Work Boards (AASSWB) become redesignated as the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) with accompanying administration of standardized national licensing exams. This development drove the establishment of licensing processes in each state throughout the 1990s, with a primary focus on clinical practice. This state-by-state development of licensure processes was noted by two former ASWB officers as, “a hodgepodge of different structures for regulating social work.”3

Social work licensure remains a critical issue within the profession for both practitioners and academics alike and continues to evolve. Opportunities to clarify the influence of state licensing on the profession and social work accreditation are key areas of continued focus within the field.4 Social work licensure is critical in defining social workers’ professional identities, duties, prohibited actions, and has changed over time related to societal needs and evolution of the profession. Growing licensure issues remain important to address, including ensuring fair professional standards and access to clinical supervision.5,6

Social work licensure in the United States is distinguished by differences in regulatory structure across different states that involve historical context and political circumstances within different states. Variations in key elements of social work licensure frameworks include, but are not limited to, educational requirements, examination processes, practice definitions, and scope of practice. All 50 states require minimum educational attainment of a social work associate’s degree (ASW), bachelor’s degree (BSW), or a master’s degree (MSW) from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program. Additional requirements also include additional specific coursework completion, targeted internship settings, supervision qualifications, or numbers of completed supervised hours, such as those required for master’s level clinical licensure. The ASWB provides a very useful directory of social work licensure requirements in the United States and Canada differentiated by state, province, or territory.7 ASWB describes differences across these licensure jurisdictions as the “three Es and a fee,” which denotes each state, province, or territory’s unique educational, examination, and experiential licensure requirements and fees. ASWB further explains that each licensure jurisdiction requires social workers to document activities that demonstrate maintenance of competence after initial licensure, which predominantly takes place via continuing education.7

ASWB offers supportive services to the social work profession and others involved in the regulatory process with the goal of ensuring that all social workers protect clients.7 The social work board functions to create and enforce social work licensure rules and regulations, issue licenses, require social workers to maintain state licensure requirements, investigate licensure complaints, and can impose licensure sanctions or revoke licenses, if necessary. The ASWB website offers an overview of licensing requirements and processes, continuing competence guidance, regulatory information, licensing board information, and offers annual meetings and stakeholder engagement for continuous improvement. ASWB has also created the Model Social Work Practice Act that provides legislators with best practice guidance for regulatory development and oversight.

Ensuring that competence and licensure requirements are maintained are the individual responsibility of the social worker and not continuing education providers, licensing boards, or professional associations, although each licensing board has some mechanism in place to document and/or attest to and audit compliance with licensure requirements.7 Continuing education time may be measured in clock hours or contact hours, with distinct categories of courses or specific courses that are required for licensure attainment and maintenance. Each state’s licensing board will have further clarifying details about these requirements that should be consulted when applying for initial licensure or when reapplying for relicensure for each renewal cycle.

Types of Licenses & Licensure Requirements
The ASWB describes variations in licensure types including associate’s license (A), bachelor’s license (B), clinical license (C), master’s license (M), master’s advanced generalist license (MAG), registered social worker (RSW), or registered clinical social worker (RSWC).7 While these designations are useful to generally appreciate possible licensure types, exact titles and variations will fluctuate by jurisdiction. The ASWB licensing requirement map is sortable by Canada, Mainland United States, or noncontiguous United States, level of licensure, or licensure framework, which delineates the range of social work licensure options available in each jurisdiction. There are ASWB website resources to compare license requirements, supervision requirements, or single jurisdiction requirements. Significant differences in educational requirements include a range of educational degrees required for particular licenses. For example, in Alberta Canada an RSW can become licensed with an associate’s degree, diploma (two-year degree), bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree in social work.7 Some jurisdictions also have bachelor’s level educational requirements. Most jurisdictions have some level of master’s level educational requirements or reference educational options that include alternative doctoral educational attainment. Many variations in required continuing educational courses are required beyond degree attainment alone across a spectrum of categories like ethics, rules and laws, or various health (eg, HIV education) or social topics (eg, domestic violence or child or older/dependent adult abuse assessment and reporting). Supervised postdegree experience hour requirements carry from a prescribed number of hours ranging from no or an unspecified number of hours to 17,500 hours (Maine for a unique high school diploma bachelor’s license equivalent). Other jurisdictions prescribe a certain number of months or years necessary to qualify for licensure examination. Connecticut is reported to have a master’s level social worker (MLSW) licensure level with an optional examination. Illinois has licensed social worker 1 & 2 (LSW 1 & 2) licensure options that do not require examination among many others. Louisiana has a certified social worker (CSW) option for candidates who have not yet passed the master’s level examination.

Emerging Social Work Licensure Topics

The Social Work Licensure Compact
Via a project aimed at creating licensure portability for military spouses who frequently moved to various licensure jurisdictions, the US Department of Defense (DOD) awarded a $500,000 grant to support the development of an interstate social work licensure compact. The intention of the compact is to create a legally binding agreement between states/territories that would allow social workers to practice across jurisdictions without having to obtain an additional state license. The compact seeks to reduce barriers for social workers to practice and enhance accessibility of care for consumers of social work services across state lines, especially those with geographic service access disadvantages that often result in service provider gaps, often related to mental health specialty service access problems like those often provided by licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs). Time and cost barriers currently disincentivize social workers from obtaining or maintaining licenses in multiple states. The current social work licensure compact initiative is anticipated to offer numerous benefits to social workers, clients, and states facing service gaps including, but not limited to opening up interstate telemental health options, reducing continuity of care challenges for clients while traveling or if they move out of state, promoting increased regulatory congruence between states, and promoting licensure stability overall.8

The professional licensure mobility that the social work licensure compact will provide is not new. Physicians (MDs/DOs), registered and practical nurses (RNs/LPNs), advanced practice nurses (APRNs), physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), emergency medical services (EMS), psychologists, audiologists and speech and language pathologists, registered dietitians (RDs/RDNs), and professional counselors all have some form of interstate licensure compacts.9-15 For additional information about various interstate licensure compacts, you can visit the National Center for Interstate Compacts (NCIC) Database that is searchable by keyword, licensure category, and/or state jurisdiction.16

The Council of State Governments (CSG) and ASWB lead the social work compact effort with the NASW and Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA) as strategic partners.8 Sixteen organizations contributed to the development of model language to be adopted in each state. In February of 2023, a model interstate compact bill was drafted as overseen by CSG. The minimum of seven states adopting the compact has been achieved, but multistate licenses will not be issued for another 12 to 24 months.17 The NCIC licensure map indicates the following states have enacted the licensure compact: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hamshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina (with material changes), South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Vermont. In addition to the 31 enacted states, the District of Columbia (DC B26-04), Florida (HB 13, SB 74), Massachusetts (S 252), and Pennsylvania (HB 554) have pending legislation under consideration. Several other state jurisdictions do not currently have any current related legislation in development at this time.

Current Challenges
The limited availability of qualified supervisors has been noted as one possible barrier adversely impacting the ability of registered individuals to obtain licensure, especially in rural and underserved areas. Even when qualified supervisors are available, the cost associated with supervision may also provide a hindrance. Qualified supervisors often charge the same hourly rate for a therapy session or supervision. This could be as much as $150 to $250 per hour of weekly supervision depending on location and market rate variations. Given the demand for LCSW staff, there seems to be a positive rise in the number of employers providing pro bono supervision in exchange for employment-based considerations. Some professional societies, such as the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work, offer a reduced supervision fee for members through the generous support of other experienced member practitioner supervisors for as little as $50 per hour, though this is not the norm across the country.18

Concerns have also been raised regarding the licensing exam, as well, specifically concerning equity among historically marginalized groups as well as the appropriateness of exam content. ASWB, in its own analyses conducted by Joy Kim, MSW, PhD, and Michael Joo, MSW, PhD, has noted disparities based on race, ethnicity, and age as seen in significantly lower licensure pass rates among Black, Latinx, and older adults attempting the licensure exam.19 A similar concern has been raised for test takers who are first-generation in the United States and/or those who do not identify English as their primary language. Further questions have been raised concerning the appropriateness of some test questions, particularly on the clinical exam, and concerns about the cost of exam fees and preparation items.

Recent changes in ASWB testing processes have also been viewed as having a significant impact on licensure pass rates. Florida, as one example, saw a major change in 2023 concerning the eligibility of individuals to sit for the licensure exam. ASWB changed the long-standing provision that individuals could sit for the exam upon completion of their academic graduate studies. This process was in line with disciplines such as nursing, physician assistant studies, and pharmacy, among others. Individuals in Florida are now ineligible to sit for the licensing exam until at least 18 months postgraduation, which may be another confounding variable in licensure attainment rates.

Mental health continues to be a major topic of conversation among advocates and elected officials and compounds the significance of social work licensure. Data from various sources indicate that the US mental health crisis continues to expand across all demographic and socioeconomic groups. Nearly 60 million adults experienced a mental illness in the past year, with approximately 13 million adults reporting serious thoughts of suicide.20 However, a lack of mental health professionals is prevalent across the country. Nationally, it is estimated that there is one mental health provider for every 290 residents. LCSWs comprise one of the largest mental health provider groups in the United States.21 Accordingly, some states prioritize LCSW licensure related to this category of social work related to unmet mental health needs within various state licensure jurisdictions.

Licensing Attainment Rates & Changes Ahead
According to ASWB, national licensure pass rates in 2024, aggregated for first-time and retakes, by each exam type were as listed in the table below.

Variations in licensure attainment across states can vary. In addition to the many challenges impacting licensure achievement discussed in this article, the ASWB has convened an LCSW standards setting panel that met in late January of 2026.7 Panelists were required to have a social work degree, hold a valid social work license, and currently be practicing social work. Exam standards were evaluated to establish minimum standards necessary for safe practice in consultation with psychometricians who will collaboratively provide recommendations for passing scores in each examination category. The ASWB also considered ensuring a balanced demographic, practice experience, educational level, and geographic distribution to create a balanced perspective in this licensing exam update process. Social workers should follow these forthcoming exam update recommendations offered by the panel.

Conclusion
Licensure remains a topic at the forefront of social work in coming years due to the increasing momentum behind the adoption of the Social Work Interstate Compact and alternative creative pathways to licensure. As noted previously, the profession could see as many as four additional states pass legislation that adopt the Compact. These adoptions will strengthen the network of participating states. The State of Illinois provides one of the clearest examples of an alternative licensing pathway. Individuals in that state can now complete an additional 3,000 hours of supervised experience, beyond the initial 3,000 required hours, in lieu of retaking the licensure exam after a failed attempt. These licensure themes and others remain important points of focus within the field of social work related to a commitment to ensuring a balance of professional competence and public protection with practitioner accessibility and reducing interstate service gaps.

— David Hage, PhD, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, C-ASWCM, CDP, is a licensed clinical social worker currently serving as the MSW Program Director at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he is also an Affiliate Faculty Member of the Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging. He is the author of numerous book chapters, articles, and his research, teaching, and practice intersect across themes including aging, social work, and higher education.

— Thomas P. Felke, PhD, MSW, is professor and BSW Program Director in the Department of Social Work at Florida Gulf Coast University. He is a published author who focuses his research on the use of geographic information systems technologies to examine various social issues, including affordable housing and food insecurity.

Social Work Licensure Resources
ASWB Standard Setting Panel: https://www.aswb.org/standard-setting-panel-application/

ASWB Licensure Requirements by State, Province, or Territory: https://www.aswb.org/licenses/how-to-get-a-license/licensing-requirements-by-state-or-province/

ASWB Pass Rate Report (2024): https://www.aswb.org/exam/exam-scoring/exam-pass-rates/

ASWB Pass Rate Interactive Map: https://www.aswb.org/exam/contributing-to-the-conversation/aswb-exam-pass-rates-by-state-province/

Florida Licensure Map (by county): https://fcbhw.org/dashboard

Licensure Compact Updates/Map: https://swcompact.org/compact-map/

References
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2. Association of Social Work Boards. Manual for new board members. https://www.aswb.org/
wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Your-Association-2021.pdf. Published 2021.

3. National Association of Social Workers. The Encyclopedia of Social Work. National Association of Social Workers Press and Oxford University Press; 2013.

4. Donaldson L, Hill K, Ferguson S, Fogel S, Erickson C. Contemporary social work licensure: implications for macro social work practice and education. Soc Work. 2014;59(1):52-61.

5. Christensen I. Critical reflections on clinical supervision. Adv Soc Work. 2025;25(1):436-453.

6. Howard S, Alston S, Brown M, Bost A. Literature review on regulatory frameworks for addressing discrimination in clinical supervision. Res Soc Work Pract. 2022;33(1):84-96.

7. Association of Social Work Boards website. https://www.aswb.org/.

8. Interstate Licensure Compact. National Association of Social Workers website.
https://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Interstate-Licensure-Compact-for-Social-Work?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23277315087&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_8TJBhDNARIs
APX5qxSrx6AJNw_9AmS5HiKdLMUn3W5WJCVMdcXzT_e2WyiJzHkbDy-XdAkaAsDgEALw_wcB  

9. Adashi E, Cohen I, McCormick W. The interstate medical licensure compact. JAMA. 2021;325(16):1607.

10. Adrian L. The physical therapy compact: from development to implementation. Int J Telerehabil. 2017;9(2):59-62.

11. Bogulski C, Allison M, Hayes C, Eswaran H. Trends in us state and territory participation in interstate healthcare licensure compacts (2015-2024). Journal of Medical Regulation. 2025;111(1):8-25.

12. Medvec B, Titler M, Friese C. Nurses’ perceptions of licensure compact legislation to facilitate interstate practice: results from the 2022 Michigan nurses’ study. Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2023;25(1):14-19.

13. In case you haven't heard. Mental Health Weekly. 2024;34(28):8. https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.34123

14. Norris C. Nandy P. The nurse licensure compact's effect on telemedicine usage. J Patient Exp. 2023;10:23743735231179060.

15. Willmarth C. Conway S. AOTA–NBCOT® joint initiative: developing the occupational therapy licensure compact. Am J Occup Ther. 2022;76(1):7601070010.

16. NCIC database. National Center for Interstate Compacts website. https://compacts.csg.org/database/

17. Social Work Licensure Compact. National Center for Interstate Compacts website. https://swcompact.org/

18. Low Fee Supervision Program. Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work website. https://pscsw.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=999835&module_id=741230

19. Pass rates in context: an exam report series. Association of Social Work Boards website. https://www.aswb.org/regulation/research/pass-rates-in-context-an-exam-report-series/. Published 2024.

20. Reinert M, Nguyen T, Fritze D. The State of Mental Health in America 2025. https://mhanational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/State-of-Mental-Health-2025.pdf. Published October 2025.

21. Kourgiantakis T, Sewell K, McNeil S, et al. Social work education and training in mental health, addictions and suicide: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open. 2019;9(6):e024659.

Resource
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