LCSW Requirements: Social Work Licensing & Practice Options (Part II)

In Part I, I provided an overview of the licensing options for social workers and shared LMSW licensing

requirements.

In this post, we’ll cover LCSW requirements, important practice considerations, and the “R” psychotherapy

privilege (for New York residents).

Reminder: All states have their own social work licensing laws, requirements, and titles. This post uses New

York as an example, but check the Association of Social Work Boards or NASW for your state’s specific LCSW

requirements.

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Important General Facts (New York Example)

These facts apply to New York but similar concepts exist in most states:

Licensure Status:

• To legally practice in New York, social workers must be licensed and registered, OR have a limited permit, OR be practicing in an exempt setting
• Licenses never expire; registration renewal is every 3 years
• Licensure status is public knowledge and can be verified through your state’s licensing board website

Limited Permit (varies by state):

• Allows legal practice of social work for those who haven’t yet passed the LMSW exam
• Requires a complete application and confirmed employment
• Site and supervisor specific
• Valid for 1 year (not renewable in most states)
• Good option for new graduates who haven’t taken/passed the LMSW yet

Exempt Settings (state-specific):

• Some states allow social workers in certain government-funded settings to practice without licensure temporarily
• Workers in exempt settings cannot use “LMSW” or “LCSW” designations
• Hours worked may count toward LCSW experience requirements if properly supervised
• Check your state for exempt setting definitions and sunset dates

LCSW Requirements

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is the advanced independent practice license. While requirements vary significantly by state, most include:

LCSW Requirements in Terms of Education

Master’s degree in social work with clinical coursework, typically including:

• Diagnosis and assessment in clinical social work practice
• Clinical social work treatment
• Clinical social work practice with general and special populations

Note: Some graduates may need to complete additional clinical coursework after their MSW to meet state requirements. Check with your state board and save all course syllabi!

LCSW Requirements in Terms of Experience

Supervised Clinical Experience – varies significantly by state:

Common patterns:

• 2,000-3,000 hours of post-MSW supervised clinical experience (varies by state)
• Full-time: Typically defined as 20+ direct client contact hours per week
• Part-time: Usually minimum 10 client contact hours per week
• Time limit: Must complete hours within 4-6 years (varies by state)
• Client contact hour: Usually defined as at least 45 minutes of psychotherapy with individuals, families, or groups

Acceptable experience:

• Diagnosis, psychotherapy, and assessment-based treatment planning
• Must be supervised by an LCSW, licensed psychologist, or psychiatrist (varies by state)
• Supervisor must be professionally responsible for diagnosis and treatment of each client

Supervision Requirements:

• Individual or group supervision
• Typically 1 hour per week or 2 hours every other week
• Must average 1 hour/week even when working part-time
• Must be in-person (some states now allow telehealth supervision)

Other LCSW Requirements

• Be at least 21 years old
• Good moral character
• Complete state-specific training (e.g., child abuse reporting)
• Pass the ASWB Clinical Examination

The LCSW Exam: What to Expect

The ASWB Clinical Examination is more advanced than the Masters exam, focusing on independent clinical practice.

Exam Format:

• Duration: 4 hours
• Questions: 170 total (150 scored, 20 pretest)
• Format: Multiple choice, scenario-based
• Scoring: Scaled score 0-999; typically 400-450 required to pass

Clinical Examination Content Outline

I. Human Development, Diversity and Behavior in the Environment (31%)

• Human development across the life cycle
• Human behavior in the environment
• Effects of diversity on practice
• Addictions and substance use disorders

II. Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (26%)

• Information gathering and intakeClinical assessment and diagnosis (including DSM)
• Treatment planning and goal-setting

III. Psychotherapy, Clinical Interventions and Case Management (25%)

• Therapeutic relationship and alliance
• The intervention process
• Evidence-based treatments
• Case management
• Consultation and interdisciplinary collaboration

IV. Professional Ethics and Values (18%)

• Ethical issues in clinical practice
• Confidentiality and its limits
• Mandatory reporting
• Value issues and cultural considerations

Historical note: The “R” predated the LCSW licensing structure and was expected to phase out but continues to exist in New York.

Important Tips for LCSW Candidates

Save everything from your MSW program:

• Course syllabi for your entire professional career
• Transcripts
• Proof of clinical coursework
• Field placement documentation

Track your supervised hours carefully:

• Keep detailed logs of client contact hours
• Document supervisor credentials
• Maintain supervision session records
• Get supervisor signatures regularly

Verify your supervisor qualifications:

• Check that your supervisor meets your state’s LCSW requirements
• Confirm they maintain an active license
• Ensure they have the required experience level

Consider interstate practice:

• Research requirements for states you might move to
• Some states have reciprocity agreements
• The Social Work Licensure Compact is expanding to more states

For more detailed breakdowns of exam content, download the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) documents from ASWB.org. ASWB also offers study materials and practice tests directly through their website.