Washington Social Work License Requirements
In the tables below are consolidated information for social work licenses in Washington. 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 Washington State Board of Social Work Examiners. We review and update our social work license information for Washington on a periodic basis.
Washington LSWA-IC and LICSW
In Washington the clinical license is the Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). This license requires specific experience and supervision in the area of mental health and completion of the ASWB clinical exam. In order to obtain the LICSW you must first become a Licensed Social Work Associate-Independent Clinical (LSWA-IC). This license allows you to gain supervision toward the LICSW. Information for this process is listed in the table below.
Washington 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 hours
- Required Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam to qualify for the license. ASWB Social Work Exam
- 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
Washington
LSWA-IC
- Masters Degree or Doctorate from an Accredited of Social Work
- None
- None
- Click here to find a Social Work Supervisor in your areaNone
- None
- Click here for specific information on the ASWB Advanced Generalist ExamNone
- $50 to Washington State Department of Health
- None
- None
- Every year (can only renew for a total of 4 years)
- 36 hours of CEU's: must include 4 hours of ethics and law and 4 hours of HIV/AIds training (These CEU's do not have to be completed yearly. Only 36 CEU's total need to be presented at the time of application for the LASW).
- $40 to Washington State Department of Health
- Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates
Washington
LICSW
- Masters Degree or Doctorate from an Accredited School of Social Work
- LSWA-IC
- In a period of no less than 3 years: A total of 1000 hours of direct client contact hours out of 4000 total hours of supervised experience
- Click here to find a Social Work Supervisor in your areaLICSW
Find Washington State Social Work Supervision - A total of 130 hours of supervision of which 60 of these hours can be distance hours.
- Click here for specific information on the ASWB Clinical ExamClinical ASWB Exam
More information for this Social Work Exam - $141 to Washington State Department of Health
- $260 to ASWB
- $125 to Washington State Department of Health
- Every year (on your birthdate)
- 36 hours of CEU's are to be submitted with license renewal every two years: must include 4 hours of ethics & law, and 4 hours of HIV/AIds training.
- $142 to Washington State Department of Health
- Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates
Washington LSWA-Adv and LASW
In Washington the generalist social work license is the the Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) which requires passing the Advanced Generalist ASWB exam. In order to obtain the LASW you must first become a Licensed Social Work Associate-Advanced (LSWA-Adv). This license allows you to gain supervision toward the LASW. Information for this process is listed in the table below.
Washington 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 hours
- Required Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam to qualify for the license. ASWB Social Work Exam
- 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
Washington
LSWA-Adv
- Masters Degree or Doctorate from an Accredited School of Social Work
- None
- None
- Click here to find a Social Work Supervisor in your areaNone
- None
- Click here for specific information on the ASWB Clinical ExamNone
- $50 to Washington State Department of Health
- None
- None
- Every year (can only be renewed 4 times)
- 36 hours of CEU's: must include 4 hours of ethics and law and 4 hours of HIV/AIds training (These CEU's do not have to be completed yearly. Only 36 CEU's total need to be presented at the time of application for the LASW).
- $40 to Washington State Department of Health
- Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates
Washington
LASW
- Masters Degree or Doctorate from an Accredited School of Social Work
- LSWA-Adv
- 3200 hours of post social work degree social work experience with 800 hours of direct client contact.
- Click here to find a Social Work Supervisor in your areaLICSW or LACSW with 2 years post license experience
Find Washington State Social Work Supervision - 90 total hours of supervision, at least 50 of which must be with an LICSW or LASW. 40 hours may be with a qualified mental health practitioner. 50 of these hours must be one-on-one supervision. Distance supervision can be a maximum of 40 hours.
- Click here for specific information on the ASWB Advanced Generalist ExamAdvanced Generalist ASWB Exam
More information for this Social Work Exam - $141 to Washington State Department of Health
- $260 to ASWB
- $125 to Washington State Department of Health
- Every 2 years
- 36 hours of CEU's are to be submitted with license renewal every two years: must include 4 hours of ethics & law, and 4 hours of HIV/AIds training.
- $142 to Washington State Department of Health
- Get License Updates Newsletter Sign Up - License and Certification Updates
Washington Social Work License Applications and Questions
Application Forms for Social Work License in Wasington
Licensed Independent Certified Social Worker (LICSW) Application
Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW): Application
Washington Social Work Board
Washington State Department of Health
P.O. Box 47830
Olympia, WA 98504-7830
360-236-4700
Click a Washington County Below to Find a Supervisor in Your Area