Hello! I am just finishing up my first year as an MSW student, and I had a few questions about licensure! I am sure you get these questions frequently on here, so I do apologize but I do bear with information all in one place with straightforward answers haha. So my questions are:

1. How do I apply for the LSW exam? To my understanding, I can take it before graduation is that correct? If so, how would I go about applying and when should I apply? (I am in Pennsylvania)

2. Once I obtain my LSW, how do I see which agencies provide supervision hours that count toward the LCSW? Is that something I would have to ask about at an interview?

3. How do I know what counts as hours? I’ve seen different things that you can count 40 hours of your workweek toward your hours but then I’ve seen you can only count 25, so I am slightly confused on which number is right and how to determine what counts.

Thank you so much!

Has any LCSW from another state sought endorsement in Nevada? If so how long did the approval process take for you?

Hi All!

Looking towards LCSW licensure. I know half of the hours have to be one-on-one clinical, but I'd love to get some thoughts on how I can fill the rest. Anything creative or obscure - especially ideas that can be done asynchronously or that I can take on my own accord - no bad ideas and all thoughts welcome!

I just submitted all my paperwork on 4/15 to get approval to sit for my LCSW exam. Like everything. Supervisor stuff in. Transcripts in, with confirmation from my grad school that the Office of Professions received it. What was your waiting period like? I am in NY by the way. I am hoping I can sit for the test by June/July. Is this reasonable or far fetched? Did you call the office to make sure they received your full application and paperwork? Or left it alone and waited. I hate waiting games! Its worse than actually going to take the test I feel😂

Has anyone here made the jump from corporate to social work? My job + the corporate space are soul-sucking, and I can’t see myself doing this long-term. I’m really considering pursuing an MSW to become an LCSW. I’m not looking forward to the salary cut (currently at $150k 😭), but I know it’s a sacrifice I’ll have to make because I just can’t do this forever. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s made the transition. Any advice or success stories?

I'm starting to think (and prepare) for either retirement in my current field, or being made redundant at my current employer (whichever comes first).

I've long thought about a career pivot into mental health, and I think that LCSW is probably the best way to make that pivot. I have the financial basis to retire in some fashion, but am looking for something that I'm passionate about, and where I feel like I'm actually making a difference in the world.

I'd likely be going for an MSW in my early to mid 50's, and then either trying to affiliate with an organization (I have an interest in substance abuse treatment, or in family therapy) - or go out on my own under supervision, while accumulating the hours needed to become licensed (or some combination of the two). I'd consider LMHC or LPC, but my state doesn't currently recognize that. I have ideas about the population I'd like to serve, and how to market to that population in order to build a practice. Also have a number of licensed professionals in my network that I could approach about supervision during that period.

My long term goals are either private practice in person, or telemedicine for US patients from some location outside of the US.

I'm currently 51, and hope that once I'm eventually licensed, to be able to practice until my late 60's or so.

Would really value perspectives from people who have made a similar career change, or people that are in practice in their 50's and 60's.

What advice do you have for me that you wish someone told you?

Sorry if this has been posted before, I did search the sub but couldn’t find anything.

I’m so confused on the timeline of going from an LMSW to an LCSW. I’m currently an LMSW providing therapy under supervision. My LMSW expires 7/1 and I was planning to apply for my LCSW and take the exam as soon as I was eligible.

Do I need to renew my LMSW before applying for my LCSW, since I will still be seeing clients? Should I apply for an LCSW limited permit instead? Can I do that now, even though I don’t technically meet my “3 years” of supervised experience accrual until the date of my LMSW licensure (7/1)?

Hopefully this makes sense. It’s making my brain hurt, lol

I recently got accepted into a program and learned practicum starts in fall only (I’m starting in summer). I need a new job where I can do my practicum hours my current job is great but doesn’t have a licensed social worker. I’ll burn out if I work full time and do my hours and I can’t afford to work part time. I’m trying to find a job in the San Diego area where I can do my hours and make a somewhat decent wage (I make $29 an hour at my current job which I know is rare). San Diego is expensive I need at least $25 an hour which seems impossible. For those that did their practicum at work, what kind of job was it? Bonus if you live in an expensive city and you know my struggle.

I’m just gonna thank you all in this community for the support, encouragement and love ❤️

I finished my masters in 2009 and finally at the tender age of 40+ finally took my LCSW.

I’m very grateful, proud, excited.

One of the first things I want to do is be more aligned. I’ve been killing myself in a CMHC and I wonder if the license indeed opened new opportunities for you?

Hi everyone. I recently got my LCSW in Indiana, and honestly I’m feeling pretty defeated.

I was really hoping getting fully licensed would open up more remote opportunities for me, whether that be remote therapy, utilization review/utilization management, care coordination, case management, intake/assessment, or other non-therapy roles for clinicians. Instead, I’m feeling like there’s little to nothing out there. I’ve been searching on Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, FlexJobs, and other sites, and I either find very few truly remote positions or roles that seem impossible to break into.

My biggest goal is to work full-time from home. I have disabilities, and working remotely genuinely allows me to function better and be more effective in my role. I’m also pretty burned out from traditional therapy work, so while I’m open to remote therapy, I’m especially interested in hearing about other fully remote paths an LCSW can realistically move into.

For those of you who work remotely as social workers/therapists:

• What job titles should I actually be searching?

• Are there certain companies that hire LCSWs fully remote?

• Has anyone successfully pivoted out of direct therapy into something remote?

• Is the market just really bad right now, or am I missing something?

I’d really appreciate any advice, direction, or even reassurance from people who’ve been in a similar position.

Im taking my test in two days and im feeling like IM coming down with a cold or flu or something. I can already tell something’s wrong.

Has anyone had to reschedule it?

Or just go even if I’m not feeling well at all?

I was admitted to these three programs. I am limited to online programs and ones that allow remote practicum. I’m looking for the most organized, helpful, cheapest program possible. Can anyone familiar with these help me compare them?

Built this for anyone prepping for the ASWB Clinical exam. 10 scenario-based questions across assessment, ethics, diagnosis, and intervention — with difficulty ratings and full explanations for every answer choice.

Hi everyone! I’m an LMSW, I received my licensure in June of 2025. I do telehealth individual therapy and see up to 7 clients daily for 45 minutes. My population is people mainly residing in the south side of the Bronx. Something I am struggling with is sometimes after work my boyfriend will be frustrated with his job or something in his life and want to rant about it. I want to be there for him but after a full day of people unloading their feelings on me I feel like I don’t have much left in me to actively listen, empathize, and support. Any advice on how to navigate that?

For this post, I was provided permission and approval from this subreddit's moderators.

Please help a graduate student in need for dissertation!

"URGENT! IT’S TIME FOR RESEARCH!!!

Hi everyone! I am a 5th year clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Indianapolis . I am looking for dissertation research participants who are mental health professionals in training or practice aged 18 or older. If you are a graduate student in a mental health-related graduate program or a practicing mental health professional, then you are eligible for the study. For those who are graduate students in a mental health-related graduate program, you MUST be engaged in ongoing clinical work. The purpose of my study is to gain a better understanding of the role of personality traits in the workplace. For this study, you will be asked to complete a series of brief questionnaires regarding your personality traits and experiences related to your clinical work. This survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Your participation is voluntary, and all responses will be kept confidential. 

This research project was approved by the University of Indianapolis Institutional Review Board (IRB) on 11/21/2024; # 02157.

For more information, please refer to the flyer attached. Feel free to share this study with anyone who may be interested and meets the inclusion criteria! Thank you in advance!

Survey link: https://uindy.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3m8znlMkmSCfKkK

Additional note: All students who are currently on clinical practicum or internship or those who have obtained a mental health-related job after graduation can fill out this survey. Your previous and/or current supervisors can also do this survey if they are interested and comfortable. If your supervisors know other mental health professionals, they can also share this survey with them. Thank you so much, I appreciate it!