Texas Social Work License Requirements

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In the tables below are consolidated information for social work licenses in Texas. 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 Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners.  We review and update our social work license information for Texas on a periodic basis.

Texas LMSW-AP and LCSW Licenses

In Texas the two clinical licenses are the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).  In order to become an LCSW  you must first become an LMSW and this information is listed in the table below. Texas also has a non-clinical designation of Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Practitioner (LMSW-AP).  This information is listed in column one of the table below.

  • Texas 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 Hour 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 Exam Requirements
  • State social work board license application fee.Application Fee
  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam fee ASWB 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 renewalContinuing 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
  • Texas

  • LMSW-AP

  • Masters or Doctorate Degree in Social Work
  • LMSW
  • 3000 hours of social work experience-no time requirement
  • Click here to find a Social Work Supervisor in your areaTexas LCSW or LMSW-AP

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    Texas Social Work Supervision
  • 100 hours of direct supervision at a ratio of 1hour per week-maximum 10 supervised hours per month
  • Click here for specific information on the ASWB Advanced Generalist ExamAdvanced Generalist ASWB Exam

    More information for this
    Social Work Exam
  • $20 to Texas SW Board
  • $260 to ASWB
  • $40 to Texas SW Board
  • Every 2 years
  • 30 hours of CEU's: must include 3 hours of ethics
  • $40 to Texas SW Board
  • Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates
  • Texas

  • LCSW

  • Masters or Doctorate Degree in Social Work
  • LMSW or LMSW-AP
  • 3000 hours or clinical social work experience in minimum 2 years, maximum 4 years
  • Click here to find a Social Work Supervisor in your areaTexas LCSW

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    Texas Social Work Supervision
  • 100 hours of direct supervision at a ratio of 1-2 hours per week-maximum 10 supervised hours per month
  • Click here for specific information on the ASWB Clinical ExamClinical ASWB Exam

    More information for this
    Social Work Exam
  • $20 to Texas SW Board
  • $260 to ASWB
  • $40 to Texas SW Board
  • Every 2 years
  • 30 hours of CEU's: must include 3 hours of ethics
  • $40 to Texas SW Board
  • Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates

Texas LMSW and LBSW Licenses

In Texas the masters level license is the Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW). This license is required in order to gain supervision to become either an LCSW or LMSW-AP. The bachelors level license is the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW). Upon graduation with a bachelors or masters these designations can be applied for through the Texas Social Work Board. This information is summarized in the table below.

  • Texas 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 Requirement
  • Paid clinical work experience needed to qualify for the license.Social Work Experience Hour 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 Supervisor
  • Required supervision time with supervisorSocial Work Supervision Requirements
  • Required Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam to qualify for the license. ASWB Exam Requirements
  • State social work board license application fee.Application Fee
  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam fee ASWB Exam Fee
  • After the exam is passed this is the fee paid to the board to get your licenseLicense/Certification 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 renewalContinuing 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
  • Texas

  • LBSW

  • Bachelors in Social Work
  • None
  • None
  • None
  • None
  • Click here for specific information on the ASWB Bachelors ExamBachelors ASWB Exam

    More information for this
    Social Work Exam
  • $20 to Texas State SW Board
  • $230 to ASWB
  • $30 to the Texas State SW Board
  • Every 2 years
  • 30 CEU's: must include 4 hours of in person Boundary and Ethic training
  • $30 to the Texas State SW Board
  • Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates
  • Texas

  • LMSW

  • Masters or Doctorate in Social Work
  • None
  • None
  • None
  • None
  • Click here for specific information on the ASWB Masters ExamMasters ASWB Exam

    More information for this
    Social Work Exam
  • $20 to Texas State SW Board
  • $230 to ASWB
  • $30 to the Texas State SW Board
  • Every 2 years
  • 30 CEU's: must include 4 hours of in person Boundary and Ethic training
  • $30 to the Texas State SW Board
  • Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates

Texas Social Work License Applications and Questions

 Application Forms for Social Work License in Texas

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Application

Licensed Masters Social Worker – Advanced Practice (LMSW-AP) Application

Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) Application

Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW): Application

Texas Social Work Board

State Board of Social Work Examiners
Mail Code 1982
PO Box 149347
8407 Wall Street, S-420
Austin, TX 78714-9347
512-719-3521

Click a Texas County Below to Find a Supervisor in Your Area