New applicant instructions

Instructions, eligibility, and documentation requirements for new applicants for licenses in Massachusetts.

Eligibility and documentation

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

An official, certified transcript is required for the highest relevant degree. The transcript must be sent electronically directly from the school to mass.sw.app@aswb.org.
Applicants must be currently licensed in Massachusetts at the LCSW level (or equivalent in another jurisdiction). Applicants must provide the correct license information.
Passing of the Clinical exam
Applicants must submit a total of three references (two professional and one supervisory). All references must be able to evaluate the applicant’s social work experience. Please provide a current email address for each reference so that a secure link can be sent to the references listed on your application.
- Two licensed professional references are required. Qualified professional references include:
  - LICSW (or equivalent clinical social work license in another jurisdiction)
  - Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
  - Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist (LMFT)
  - Psychiatrist
  - Psychologist
  - Psychiatric nurse with a specialty in clinical mental health
- A clinical supervisor licensed at the LICSW level (or equivalent in another jurisdiction) shall document the applicant’s qualifying clinical work experience.
  - For MSW graduates with a degree conferred date after August 31, 2011, a minimum of 3,500 hours clinical social work services experience obtained over a period of not less than two years after the issuance of a LCSW
  - For MSW graduates with a degree conferred date prior to August 31, 2011, a minimum of 3,500 hours clinical social work services experience obtained over a period of not less than two years after the MSW degree conferred date
  - Documented supervision must be a minimum of 100 hours of individual face-to-face clinical supervision, at a rate of 1 hour for every 35 hours worked (with a maximum of 1 hour per week). If the experience is earned at a rate less than 35 hours per week, the experience and supervision hours must be computed on a pro-rata basis. Clinical duties must meet the scope of practice provision 1 or 2.
  - Supervisors must be licensed in the jurisdiction where the supervision takes place; out of state supervisors may not supervise work experience taking place in MA. All work experience must be complete as of the application date.
A criminal history acknowledgment form (PDF) must be notarized, signed with corresponding dates, and mailed or faxed to ASWB.
A 2” x 2” clear, color photo must be uploaded via the online application, or emailed as an attachment to mass.sw.app@aswb.org.
Applicants will be notified via email when the application has been approved or needs further attention.
If approved, applicants will receive information regarding registering for the ASWB examination.
Applicants may not register for the examination until the application has been approved.
LICSW applicants must review the MassHealth enrollment requirement

Licensed Certified Social Worker

Licensed Social Worker

An official, certified transcript is required for the highest relevant degree. The transcript must be sent electronically directly from the school to mass.sw.app@aswb.org.
Passing of the Bachelors exam
Three references are required. At least one reference must be licensed at the LICSW or LCSW level (or equivalent social work license in another jurisdiction). All references must be qualified to evaluate the applicant’s social work experience. Please provide a current email address for each reference so that a secure link can be sent to the references listed on your application.
- Applicants who hold a BSW must submit
  - Two professional references
  - One field placement supervisory reference to document the placement supervision that was completed as part of the CSWE accredited BSW program curriculum
- Applicants with non-social work bachelor degrees must submit
  - Two professional references
  - One supervisory reference to document a minimum of 3,500 social work experience hours and 100 individual face-to-face supervision hours at a rate of one hour per 35 hours worked. Hours must be documented over a period of not less than two years post degree.
    - Qualified supervisory references include:
      - Social worker who holds a MSW or BSW from a CSWE accredited school
      - LICSW (or equivalent clinical social work license in another jurisdiction)
      - LCSW (or equivalent masters social work license in another jurisdiction)
A criminal history acknowledgment form (PDF) must be notarized, signed with corresponding dates, and mailed or faxed to ASWB.
A 2” x 2” clear, color photo must be uploaded via the online application, or emailed as an attachment to mass.sw.app@aswb.org.
Applicants will be notified via email when the application has been approved or needs further attention.
If approved, applicants will receive information regarding registering for the ASWB examination.
Applicants may not register for the examination until the application has been approved.

Licensed Social Work Associate

Begin your application

All fees are nonrefundable

Fees

Application fee (all licenses): US$173

Exam registration fees

Bachelors or Masters: US$230
Clinical or Advanced Generalist: US$260

Licensure fees
(due after exam and licensing requirements have been met)

LICSW: US$82
LCSW: US$68
LSW: US$54
LSWA: US$42

Massachusetts MassHealth enrollment requirement

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers are eligible to order, refer or prescribe services for MassHealth members and, under state law, must apply to enroll with MassHealth.

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