California Social Work License Requirements
In the tables below are consolidated information for social work licenses in California. Social Work Supervisor.com has summarized this information to make it simple for social workers to understand.
All information presented can be found at the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We review and update our social work license information for California on a periodic basis.
California ASW and LCSW Licensure
In California the two clinical licenses are the Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). In order to become an LCSW you must first become an ASW. This information is listed in the table below. In California there is no Bachelors level certification or licensure.
It is important to note that California also has specific requirements for course work in order to qualify for the LCSW. It is possible to complete these courses in your MSW program but if not they need to be completed before the LCSW license. Please contact the California Social Work Board for more information.
- Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting (7 hours)
- Human Sexuality (10 hours)
- Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency (15 hours)
- Spousal/Partner Abuse (15 hours)
- Aging and Long Term Care (10 hours)
California License
Requirements
- Degree needed to qualify for each license. IMPORTANT: Degree must be from a school accredited by the Counsel on Social Work Education.Degree Requirement
- License required to qualify for the next license level: You must have this license to qualitfy for the next license.Base License/Certification Requirement
- Paid clinical work experience needed to qualify for the license.Social Work Experience Requirement
- IMPORTANT: Most state social work boards require minimum standards for supervisors. At Social Work Supervisor.com we require that supervisors attest they meet state requirments before they can list with us. Social Work Supervision
- Required supervision time with supervisorSocial Work Supervision Requirements
- Required Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam to qualify for the license. ASWB Social Work Exam Requirements
- State social work board license application fee.Application Fee
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam fee ASWB Social Work Exam Fee
- After the exam is passed this is the fee paid to the board to get your licenseLicense Fee
- Period in which your license is valid before you must renew.Renewal Period
- Number of continuing education units (called CEUs or CEs) required for license renewalSocial Work Continuing Education Requirements
- Fee paid to the board for license renewalRenewal Fee
- State Boards review and change license information on a regular basis. Stay up to date by clicking "receive updates" directly to the right. Free State Board Monitoring Service
California
ASW
- Masters Degree in Social Work
- None
- None, only an application to qualify to begin LCSW supervision is required
- None
- None
- Click here for specific information on the ASWB Masters ExamNone
- $100 to the California Board of Social Work
- No Fee
- $100 to the California Board of Social Work
- Yearly
- 18 hours for first renewal period following license; 36 hours all following license renewals
- $25 to the California Board of Social Work
- Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates
California
LCSW
- Masters Degree in Social Work
- ASW
- 3200 hours of total supervised work experience: 2000 hours performing clinical duties- diagnosis, assessment and treatment, 750 hours face-to-face individual and group therapy, 1200 hours client advocacy, consultation, evaluation and research.
- California LCSW, LMFT, Clinical Psychologist or a Psychiatrist (all disciplines must complete a 15 hour supervision course
Find California Social Work Supervision - 104 weeks of supervison- 52 weeks of which must be face to face individual supervision. At lease 13 weeks must be with an LCSW. 1 week is equal to 1 hour individual supervisor OR 2 hours of group supervision.
- Click here for specific information on the ASWB Clinical ExamClinical ASWB Exam
More information for this Social Work Exam - $100 to the California Board of Social Work
- $260 to ASWB
- $100 to the California Board of Social Work
- Every 2 years
- 18 hours for first renewal period following license; 36 hours all following license renewals
- $25 to the California Board of Social Work
- Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates
California Social Work License Applications and Questions
Application Forms for Social Work License in California
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Application
Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW): Application
California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Board of Behavioral Sciences
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite S-200
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-574-7830
Click a California County Below to Find a Supervisor in Your Area