How to Become a Licensed Social Worker in New York State

To practice social work in New York State, you must become either a licensed master social worker or a licensed clinical social worker. The main difference between the two classifications is that an LCSW can engage in clinical practice (psychotherapy, diagnosis and assessment-based treatment planning) without supervision. An LMSW may still engage in many areas of social work without supervision, including counseling, consultation, case management and the administration of test instruments. On the way to licensure as an LCSW, all professionals must first become licensed as an LMSW.

Instructions

1. Complete a master of social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. If completing a non-accredited degree program, it must include specific curricular content areas and a field practicum, as per the New York State Education Department's regulations. It also must include at least 12 semester hours of clinical coursework, such as clinical social work treatment, diagnosis and assessment, if you intend to seek licensure as an LCSW.

2. Complete a NYSED-approved, two hour course in the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. Go to NYSED's Office of the Professions website to find a list of approved training providers from which you can select.

3. Download the LMSW application packet from the Office of the Professions' website. Complete Form 1, the Application for Licensure. Send Form 2, the Certificate of Professional Education form, to the university from which you earned your master's of social work and ask the registrar to complete and send the form to the Office of the Professions. Complete Form 5, the Application for Limited Permit, if you intend to practice social work before you pass the required exam.

4. Decide where you'll obtain supervised experience if you're preparing for licensure as a licensed clinical social worker. To become licensed as an LCSW, you must complete 2,000 client contact hours in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning under the supervision of a licensed LSCW, psychologist or psychiatrist. Contact the organization or employer with whom you intend to gain this experience. Complete the first section of Form 6 of the LMSW application packet, the Plan for Supervised Experience, and ask your proposed supervisor to complete the rest of the form and send it to the Office of the Professions.

5. Send your completed LMSW application materials to the Office of the Professions. Enclose the required fees with your application forms, which, at the time of publication, consist of $294 for licensure and registration and $70 for the limited permit.

6. Wait for confirmation from the NYSED that it has approved your education and application materials. Go to the Association of Social Work Boards' website to register online, or call the ASWB Candidate Registration Center to sign up to take the master's exam. Pass the examination and wait for the Office of the Professions to issue your LMSW license and registration certificate.

7. Complete the required 2,000 supervised client contact hours in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning in preparation for licensure as an LCSW.

8. Download the LCSW application packet from the Office of the Professions' website. Complete the Application for Licensure and all supporting forms, including the Applicant Experience Record form. Send the Certification of Experience form to each supervisor under whom you gained clinical social work experience to have them verify this experience and send the form on to the Office of the Professions. Send all your application materials, and required fees, to the Office of the Professions.

9. Register with the Association of Social Work Boards for the clinical exam after you receive notification from the Office of the Professions that you have satisfied eligibility requirements. Pass the exam and wait for the Office of the Professions to issue your LCSW license and registration certificate.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact NYSED's Office of the Professions or or the school's program director if you're unsure if a master of social work program meets state requirements.

References

• National Association of Social Workers New York City: 18 Basic Points about Social Work Licensing in New York State Chapter
• New York State Education Department: Office of the Professions: Education Law -- Article 154, Social Work
• New York University Silver School of Social Work: New York State LMSW Licensing Requirements and ASWB Masters Exam Information
• New York State Education Department Office of the Professions: LMSW License Requirements
• New York State Education Department Office of the Professions: Frequently Asked Questions -- Social Work Licensure and Practice

Resources

• New York State Education Department Office of the Professions: The Licensed Professions in New York State
• New York State Education Department Office of the Professions: Licensed Master Social Worker Licensing Application Packet
• New York State Education Department Office of the Professions: Licensed Clinical Social Worker Licensing Application Packet
• Council on Social Work Education: Directory of Accredited Programs
• New York State Education Department Office of the Professions: Contact Information
• Association of Social Work Boards: Registering for the Exam