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. Schools which have met the additional coursework requirements may be verified in the "Social Work Schools in California" section below. Questions about these requirements should be directed to the school.
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
- 3,000 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 | No Additional Courses Required
- California State University, Dominguez Hills | Additional Courses Required
- California State University, East Bay | No 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 | No 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 | No Additional Courses Required
- San Francisco State University | School of Social Work Education | No 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 | No 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
- University 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
- Sample Letter of Agreement – Volunteer Supervision (In-State Hours Only)
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