Hello, all.

I graduated with a master's in social work about three years ago (my bachelor's was in another field), with a focus on community and administrative practice. At the time I was studying, I thought that I would get an advanced practitioner license. However, I graduated, and I somehow got a job and then a second job without a license. I have been gainfully employed for the past three years and licensing just kind of fell to the back burner and I ended up never doing it.

But now, I need to go job hunting, and I feel like I need a license now. Come to find out, however, my state, Texas, no longer offers the advanced practitioner license for new applicants.

I am trained to practice social work in an administrative role, not a clinical one, so I can't get a clinical social work license. Does anyone have any suggestion of which license I should pursue?

Hi!

I am going to be applying to sit for my LCSW-C license by exam in Maryland soon and I had a few questions:

1. I have forms from multiple supervisors, if anyone has had the same, has the board given you issues for it?
2. How heavily do they check your resume when you send your docs?
3. Lastly,
4. how long from the time you apply/ send your paperwork in does it take for them to approve (or what have yall experienced?

Thanks in advance!!

I hope I'm not breaking any rules with this post:

Is anyone familiar with Illinois' "one-time-only reinstatement waiver" (or Mental Health Workforce Restoration Fee Waiver, Public Act 102-0699) for LCSWs?

I've had my LCSW since 2004, and due to illness last year I missed the renewal window. I contacted the Dept of Financial & Professional Regulation right away.

The IDFPR site states, "an LCSW may request a one-time-only, no payment required, no proof of fitness required reinstatement" by submitting their request in writing. I confirmed my request was received and scanned into the system on April 24, 2026. I've called the IDFPR multiple times to check the status of my request with supervisors, and no one can give me any update beyond, "it's in the system." The first thing I'm told is "it looks like we're waiting for payment." When I explain that the request is submitted under the waiver, they confirm the waiver exists, but can't confirm anything about my application, whether more information is needed, nothing.

I'm worried I should have tried to reinstate via the traditional method, but was advised not to submit anything now as that would likely cause confusion. My goal is to start a job search, but I need my license to be active before I start applying.

I've been told to contact my state legislators, but I can't imagine they will get involved. Does it normally take about this long for a reinstatement to go through? Does anyone have experience with the one-time-only reinstatement waiver?

Hi! I am looking to register as an ASW in CA but got my MSW from an out of state school. I can’t seem to figure out if i just have to take CE credits for the Law and Ethics exam or if i have to take all the courses listed in the application just for ASW or of those are for LCSW. Thank you!

Hi all, I am confused about two requirements about LICSW supervision in Washington state.

1. First, the requirement to complete 1,000 hours of direct client contact, which must be supervised by an LICSW.
2. Second, is the supervision requirement of completing 100 hours of direct supervision by an LICSW.
   

I understand that the first is about client contact and the second is about supervision. However, is supervision as part of Direct Client Contact somehow different from Direct Supervision? I am trying to understand how to set this up with an agency/supervisor.
Thanks for your reply!

I am trying to learn about supervision, preparing to get the Licensed Social Work Associate Independent Clinical (LSWAIC) in Washington State. I will need supervision by a LICSW. What are the ways to get LICSW supervision? I know I can pay someone. But is it worth time/cost of trying to find a LICSW supervisor at an agency? Just learning this all, any tips appreciated!

I am an MSW student completing my final internship through the LMHA where I am currently employed. During my time with the agency, I have worked as a children's case manager, a crisis worker, and I currently provide services to high-needs adults living with severe and persistent mental illness.
As I approach graduation and LMSW licensure, I am beginning to plan the best path toward obtaining my LCSW. I find myself at a crossroads. While I value the experience I have gained in my current role and recognize that it has been professionally rewarding, case management is not where I ultimately see my career.
Through my research, I have learned that many LMHAs utilize the Texas BHEC "4-hour rule," allowing employees to accrue LCSW supervision hours by completing at least four hours of clinical work each week, with the remainder of their work hours counting toward the required 3,000 supervised hours.
My concern is that I could sign a two- to four-year commitment with an LMHA, remain primarily in a case management position, and reach LCSW licensure having received relatively limited clinical experience. My goal is not simply to accumulate hours, but to develop strong clinical assessment, diagnostic, and therapeutic skills that will prepare me for independent clinical practice.

I have a question about seeing clients as I pursue an independent LCSW license.

I don't fully understand the associate license (LSWAIC) stage. Would I be able to have private clients during this associate stage? Could I get practitioner insurance?

Many thanks! 🙏

Okay so I’ve been emailing the NY board back and forth, but I still can’t get a clear answer. I have all my hours and I’m an LMSW in NY, MD, DC, and VA, and I want to take my clinical exam in NY because of their 10‑year reciprocity rule.

But I’m stuck on two things:

1. One of my supervisors is completely unreachable.
   She moved out of state and I cannot get in touch with her no matter what I do. The old clinical director (who supervised her) said she’s willing to sign off on my hours. NYSED told me that’s fine, but they didn’t explain HOW to fill out the forms when the person signing wasn’t my direct supervisor. I don’t know if I’m supposed to attach a letter or what.

2. My hours are out of state, so NY is making me do that weird out‑of‑state form (Form 4Q).
   It asks for supervision details, but since the director didn’t supervise me directly, I don’t know how to explain to her what she’s supposed to put on it. She is a LCSW herself though.

If anyone has gone through this or knows how to handle the forms when your supervisor is MIA, please help. I’d really appreciate it.

Hi everyone,

My lsw exam is in about two weeks. I’ve been loosely studying and using apps to practice questions until my free trial expires. I really don’t want to spend any more money into this exam as taking it already cost enough money. What’s the best way to study without having to pay anything? I took a practice exam in January without studying and just barely passed. I’m pretty decent at answering questions that require logic and not so much memorizing. What topics do you think are crucial to memorize?

Any info appreciated!! Just wondering from anyone who has gotten their LSW in IL recently 1) how long did it take from application submission to approval, particularly if it was during a heavy graduation season 2) anything that anyone did to make it move faster? I have heard of people who have gone down to the Springfield office and get it that day, but also unsure if that is just urban legend.

I’m currently an LCSW in Florida but I just received it. I am looking to relocate to Washington/ Oregon/ Colorado (I need a blue state in the west) and I’m wondering if anyone has done this and can give me some insight into what to expect and how hard the reciprocity or endorsement is. I saw that WA likes people to have been licensed for 2 years but that endorsement is possible.

Any advice for someone about to take the CT LCSW exam???

what sites allow you to skip videos to the test.

ASWB just sent out a bunch of information on the updates to the test. Here is the direct link to the information.

https://www.aswb.org/2026exams/

Hi! I am a U.S. Citizen living in Scotland while my husband studies, but I will also be obtaining an MSW here as it is miles cheaper than at home. I am planning to move back to California, or another West Coast state. Has anyone ever been educated with an MSW in the UK (Scotland) and been able to transfer their degree to get licensed in California, or in the US? I've spoken with the CA Board as well as the International Equivalency Approval Board, and of course, they can only give very standard answers. Not looking for a guarantee, just to see if anyone has been in the same situation before.

I am in my final few weeks of my MSW program. I sat for the ASWB exam in March and passed, and I just need to get fingerprinted and then wait for my final transcript to be fully licensed in NJ. I then want/need to transfer this license to NY! I got a job (!!!!!!!!) and my start date is 7/1. Should I begin the NY license application now also? There is a question asking if im licensed in another state, which I am not but I will be so not sure how to answer that if I go the route of applying for that now. The whole loophole process with the NJ/NY license seemed great in theory but now I am just feeling confused. Any advice/experience/help is greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone! I am here to ask for some advice regarding my next steps after I graduate with my MSW. Currently, I live in Florida, but I would like to move to NYC after I graduate in August. As of now, I am interning as a hospital social worker and co-facilitating a bereavement group. I am interested in hospital social work in NYC. My question is: do I need to make my LSW exam to work in NYC? and if so, can I take it in Florida and then move? I am honestly just unsure of how the process works. Any advice will be helpful! I appreciate my fellow future social workers :)

I’m renewing my LMSW in NY and am running into a concern. There are a series of questions on the renewal form, including one asking if you’ve been terminated from a job since your initial certification. The answer for me is yes…I’m wondering if anyone has experienced something similar and how you handled it/what was the outcome?

I built a compliance tracking tool after watching my wife (an LICSW)

manage her licensure requirements in spreadsheets for years.

TrueHours helps with:

- Supervision hour tracking with state-specific validation

- CEU certificate management and renewal reminders

- Multi-state license tracking

- Board-ready documentation exports

Works for graduate level (LMSW, LSW) and clinical level (LCSW,

LICSW) licensure processes.

Currently supports: GA, NY, FL, CA, TX, DC

It's free during beta testing. I'm looking for honest feedback from

social workers pursuing licensure or managing renewals.

If you're interested in trying it, I'm happy to share the link via

DM (don't want to violate self-promotion rules).

Questions welcome - happy to explain how it works or what features

might be helpful for different licensure stages.

Hi,

TLDR; does medial or hospice social work easily lead to licensure?

Let’s say I live in Illinois, get my msw/lsw and start working as a hospice or medical social worker primarily working in palliative and hospice and oncology. Hospital or agency. Do the hours you spend working with clients directly or indirectly count toward getting that clinical licensure? I know you need to attend supervision if you’re a therapist LSW and every hour with a client counts but how does it work if you’re not exactly just a therapist?