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Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Information for Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) and
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Applicants
- Education
- Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work
- Out-of-State applicants must complete 18-hour course on California Law & Professional Ethics
- Additional Coursework
The following courses may be taken from a regionally accredited school, a school approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), an approved continuing education (CE) provider, or a governmental entity. Coursework does not ever "expire," and may be gained at the undergraduate level.
Course Content Hours Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting 7 hours* Human Sexuality 10 hours Alcoholism and Other Chemical Substance Dependency 15 hours Spousal/Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection and Intervention 15 hours** Aging, Long Term Care, and Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse 10 hours*** California Law and Professional Ethics 18 hours (*) Course must be based on California law
(**) Spousal and Partner Abuse for “in-state” applicants:
- An applicant who began graduate training before January 1, 1995 – this requirement does NOT apply
- An applicant who began graduate training commencing on January 1, 1995 and ending on December 31, 2003 – shall complete instruction and training in spousal and partner abuse, but the number of hours is not specified
- An applicant who began graduate training on or after January 1, 2004 – shall complete a minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework in Spousal and Partner Abuse
- See California Business and Professions Code (BPC) §4996.2 for additional information
(***) ONLY for applicants who entered a degree program on or after January 1, 2004. For all others, this is NOT a requirement.
Refer to Guide and ASW Registration Application, for additional information.
- Register as an ASW
- Live Scan
- Live Scan available only in California.
- Results submitted to DOJ and FBI electronically
- Live Scan Instructions
- Live Scan Request Form
- Additional information
-
Pass Criminal Background Check
- Applicants are required to report all misdemeanor and felony convictions with a few minor exceptions
- Applicants must disclose convictions, even if previously reported to the Board
- Failure to report is considered falsification of an application, and is grounds for denial
- Evaluation of the applicant’s criminal history is part of the application process
- Additional information
- Take and Pass the California Law & Ethics Exam
- Exam must be TAKEN annually to renew ASW Registration
- Exam must be PASSED to receive or renew a subsequent ASW Registration
- LCSW Law and Ethics Exam Candidate Handbook(Publication/Video)
- Request for Initial Law & Ethics Examination
- Request for Re-Examination
- Accrue Supervised Experience
- All hours in California must be gained while registered
- 3,200 total supervised hours, over 104 weeks (minimum)
- Hours must be submitted with the Licensure and Examination Packet
- See also:
- Take and Pass the ASWB Clinical Exam
- All requirements above must be fulfilled
- Licensure and Examination Packet
- Exam Candidate Handbook
- Schedule Exam with ASWB
- More Exam Info
- Obtain official LCSW license
- Applicants must request license after passing Clinical Exam
- Request Initial License
- Subsequent Registration Numbers
- 6-year Life Span
- Registrations issued by the Board are valid for a 6-year period (five renewals)
- Registrants who have not attained licensure with the 6-year life span, must apply for a subsequent registration number, to continue the path toward licensure
- Many registrants apply for a second (or third, etc.) registration number to gain additional supervised work experience or for employment purposes
- Private Practice Settings
- Registrants cannot work in a private practice setting with a subsequent registration number.
- Examination Requirements
- Applicants must PASS the California Law and Ethics Exam before a subsequent registration can be issued.
- Additional Info
- 6-year Life Span
- Master's Degree Earned Out-of-State
An out-of-state applicant must prove completion of all of California’s education requirements including:
- A master's degree from an accredited school of social work
- A degree earned outside of the United States
- Additional Coursework
The following courses may be taken from a regionally accredited school, a school approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), an approved continuing education (CE) provider, or a governmental entity. Coursework does not ever "expire," and may be gained at the undergraduate level.
Course Content Hours Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting 7 hours* Human Sexuality 10 hours Alcoholism and Other Chemical Substance Dependency 15 hours Spousal/Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection and Intervention 15 hours Aging, Long Term Care, and Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse 10 hours** California Law and Professional Ethics 18 hours (*) Course must be based on California law
(**) ONLY for applicants who entered a degree program on or after January 1, 2004. For all others, this is NOT a requirement.
Refer to Guide and ASW Registration Application, for additional information.
- Master's Degree Earned Out-of-Country
- An out-of-country degree must be evaluated by The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), to determine equivalency to a qualifying degree in California.
- Partial Supervised Experience Gained Out-of-State
- See Application for Licensure and Examination for detailed scenarios
- Refer to Guide for additional information
- Licensed Out-of-State
- See Application for Licensure and Examination for detailed scenarios
- Refer to Guide for additional information
- 6-year Life Span
- Registrations issued by the Board are valid for a 6-year period (five renewals)
- Registrants who have not attained licensure with the 6-year life span, must apply for a subsequent registration number, to continue the path toward licensure
- Many registrants apply for a second (or third, etc.) registration number to gain additional supervised work experience or for employment purposes
- Private Practice Settings
- Registrants cannot work in a private practice setting with a subsequent registration number.
- Examination Requirements
- Applicants must PASS the California Law and Ethics Exam before a subsequent registration can be issued.
- Additional Info
- List of accredited schools of social work in California (updated periodically)
- Additional courses may be required (check with school)
- California State Universities (CSU’s)
- California State University, Bakersfield | Social Work Program | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Chico | Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Dominguez Hills | Additional Courses Required
- California State University, East Bay | Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Fresno | Department of Social Work Education | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Fullerton | Social Work Program | No Additional Courses Required
- Humboldt State University | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Long Beach | Department of Social Work | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Los Angeles | Department of Social Work| No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Monterey Bay | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Northridge | Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Sacramento | Division of Social Work | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, San Bernardino | Department of Social Work | No Additional Courses Required
- San Diego State University | School of Social Work | Additional Courses Required
- San Francisco State University | School of Social Work Education | Additional Courses Required
- San Jose State University | Department of Social Work | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, San Marcos | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Stanislaus | Department of Social Work | No Additional Courses Required
- Universities of California (UC’s)
- University of California, Berkeley | School of Social Welfare | No Additional Courses Required
- University of California, Los Angeles | Additional Courses Required
- Azuza Pacific University
- Azusa Pacific University | Social Work Program | No Additional Courses Required
- Loma Linda University
- Loma Linda University | School of Behavioral Health | No Additional Courses Required
- Univeristy of Southern California
- University of Southern California | School of Social Work | No Additional Courses Required
- Forms
Military Expedite
ASW Registration Applications
Supervision Forms
- ASW Weekly Log
- Supervisor Responsibility Statement
- Supervisory Plan
- Sample Verification of Employment as a Volunteer
Licensure and Examination Applications
- Application for Licensure and Examination – Must Include:
Exam Requests and Info
- Application for INITIAL Law and Ethics Exam (First-time Applicants ONLY)
- Application for Re-Examination
- Schedule Exam with ASWB
Initial License Request
- Publications