How to Get Your Indiana Social Work License
Getting your social work license in Indiana leads to a rewarding career. Social workers earn between $54,000 to $73,000 annually according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s Behavioral Health and Human Services (BHHS) Board manages the licensing process. You can choose from three license levels: Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
The path to becoming a licensed social worker in Indiana requires specific education, successful completion of the ASWB exam, supervised experience, and proper documentation submission. LCSW candidates need two years (3000 hours) of paid full-time social work experience. They must also complete four hours of monthly face-to-face supervision with an LCSW. Your Indiana social work license stays active when you complete 40 continuing education hours every two years, with two hours focused on ethics training.
This complete walkthrough will guide you through each step to get your social work license in Indiana. The career outlook looks promising – job growth between 2022 and 2032 should match or exceed national averages.
Education Requirements
Educational qualifications are the foundation you need to get a social work license in Indiana. The Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services (BHHS) Board mandates all licensure candidates to graduate from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accreditation will give you an education that meets national standards for social work practice.
Your career goals determine the specific educational prerequisites for each license level:
Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program is required for entry-level positions. This undergraduate degree gives you foundational knowledge and skills through coursework and supervised field experience. You’ll become eligible to take the ASWB bachelor’s level exam after graduation, which you need for LBSW licensure.
Licensed Social Worker (LSW) The LSW credential opens more professional opportunities and needs either:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program plus two years of supervised work experience, or
- A Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program with no additional experience requirement
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)Clinical practice qualification requires a Master’s or Doctorate degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution. The LCSW represents Indiana’s highest level of social work licensure and allows independent clinical practice after achieving experience requirements.
Advanced Standing Programs Advanced Standing MSW programs might be right for you if you have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. These accelerated options recognize your undergraduate social work education and cut your MSW completion time by half compared to traditional programs. Advanced Standing programs typically require:
- A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program (timeframe varies by institution)
- A minimum GPA (usually 3.0 on a 4.0 scale)
- A grade of B or better in foundation-level social work courses
Ball State University accepts BSW graduates whatever their graduation date, though most institutions need your BSW to be completed within 5-7 years.
Field Education Requirements Supervised practicum experience is essential for all social work degrees. Each license level has specific requirements:
- BSW programs follow CSWE’s minimum field education hours standards
- MSW programs require 500-700 field education hours, based on the institution
- Advanced standing MSW students need about 500-640 hours of field education
Specialization Opportunities Students interested in specific practice areas can choose specialized educational pathways in Indiana:
- School Social Work: Indiana University’s MSW program includes a School Social Work Practice Area that leads to dual licensure as school social workers
- Addiction Counseling: Programs focusing on this area prepare you for additional credentials like Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) or Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC)
Online and Hybrid Options MSW programs with flexible formats are available at several Indiana universities. You can choose from online, in-person, and hybrid learning options at multiple campus locations including Bloomington, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Gary, Lafayette, New Albany, and South Bend.
Note that all social work license applicants must submit official transcripts with their application. These transcripts should show completed graduation requirements and include your degree’s conferral date.
Exam Requirements
The Indiana social work license examination marks a crucial step in your licensing journey. You must pass the appropriate Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination that matches your desired license level.
Exam Requirements by License Level
Each license type needs a specific ASWB examination:
- LBSW (Licensed Bachelor Social Worker): ASWB Bachelor’s exam
- LSW (Licensed Social Worker): ASWB Master’s exam
- LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker): ASWB Clinical exam
Registration Process
Your exam registration follows these steps:
- Submit your application to the Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board
- Receive exam approval from the board
- Register with ASWB after approval
- Schedule your exam with Pearson VUE testing centers
The board’s approval allows you one calendar year to take your examination. This timeframe has no extensions. Your approval becomes invalid if you don’t take the exam during this period, and you’ll need to submit a new application with all documentation.
Examination Fees
ASWB examination fees differ by license level:
- Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Exams: $230
- Advanced Generalist or Clinical Exams: $260
Preparation Resources
You can access several resources to prepare for your licensing exam:
The NASW Indiana Chapter gives you two exam preparation choices:
- Live/virtual workshops (or in-person when possible)
- Online self-study workshops accessible 24/7 for 90 days
On top of that, ASWB offers full-scale online practice tests for registered candidates. These tests are available for the Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Clinical examinations. You’ll need your authorization to test number from your ASWB confirmation email to purchase a practice test.
Jurisprudence Examination
LSW and LCSW reciprocity applicants must also pass a jurisprudence examination. The board will email this exam after approval, and you’ll have fourteen days to complete it. This 30-question examination uses true-false and multiple-choice formats to test your knowledge of Indiana’s behavioral health statutes and rules. You need 75% to pass.
Failed Examination Procedure
The licensing board will email you instructions to retake the exam if you don’t pass. The board processes examination results within 7-10 business days after receiving them.
Note that ASWB must send official examination score reports directly to the licensing board—applicants cannot submit them. Also, reciprocity seekers must have passed the appropriate ASWB exam level or higher for their desired license.
Make sure you have official approval from the Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board before registering for any exam. This authorization is required.
Supervised Experience
Clinical supervision is a vital part of your path to an Indiana social work license, especially when you want LCSW credentials. This hands-on training connects academic knowledge with real-life practice.
LCSW candidates must complete at least two years of post-graduate clinical social work experience under proper supervision. The supervised practice requires a minimum of 3,000 hours. You can complete these hours between 21 and 48 months. These hours must come from a clinical setting where you provide direct services to clients.
Your supervised experience needs four hours of face-to-face supervision each month from a qualified supervisor. A qualified supervisor must be:
- A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- A licensed physician with training in psychiatric medicine
- A licensed psychologist
- A licensed marriage and family therapist
- A licensed mental health counselor
The rules changed after November 1, 2003. Now your supervisor must be an LCSW.
Indiana’s virtual supervision options give you more flexibility. You can now complete all your required supervision hours through live visual and audio interaction. The virtual supervision must follow HIPAA rules and cannot include phone calls, emails, or texts.
Your supervised experience must happen at your supervisor’s location unless qualified supervision exists at another site. This rule helps maintain proper oversight during your professional growth.
The supervised clinical social work hours you collect after getting a temporary permit stay valid for four years. Plan your supervision schedule carefully because of this time limit.
You and your supervisor must fill out verification forms to document your supervised hours. These forms need notarization, and your supervisor must send them directly to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
Addiction counseling credentials have different requirements. You need to complete a supervised practicum or internship with at least 350 hours of addiction counseling services. Additional supervised practice may be needed based on the specific credential you want.
Application Process
The path to your Indiana social work license demands attention to detail after completing your education and examinations. The Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board, under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA), oversees this vital step.
Your journey starts with submitting an application through the IPLA website. A non-refundable and non-transferable standard application fee of $50.00 applies. Your application package must include these significant documents:
- Official transcripts from each institution listed on your application, showing graduation requirements have been met and degree conferral date
- Criminal background check (required for all applicants)
- Passport-quality photograph
- Name change documentation (if applicable) such as marriage certificates or divorce decrees
- Verification of licensure from every state where you currently hold or have held a license
Students in their final semester can receive exam approval before graduation with a letter of good standing from their university. The board reviews your materials and grants permission to register for the appropriate ASWB examination upon approval.
You must take the examination within one calendar year after receiving board approval without extensions. Your approval becomes invalid if you don’t test within this timeframe, which means you’ll need to submit a new application.
A temporary permit might help you start working before completing the full licensure process. This permit costs an additional $25.00 and stays valid up to 12 months or until you pass the examination. Note that each applicant can receive only one temporary permit.
Indiana welcomes social workers licensed in other states through a reciprocity pathway. This process needs:
- Completed reciprocity application form
- License verification from your current state
- Criminal background check
- ASWB examination scores
LCSW reciprocity applicants need to document their post-graduate supervised experience.
Application processing times depend on completeness and board review schedules. The IPLA’s online portal lets you track your application status.
ASWB must send your passing scores directly to the licensing board since applicants cannot submit them personally. The board processes your license within 7-10 business days after receiving your passing scores.
Continuing Education
Your Indiana social work license needs regular CE credits throughout your career. The state splits these requirements into two main categories with specific guidelines.
Social workers in Indiana need 40 hours of continuing education every two years. You must spread these hours over two years with 20 hours annually. The license renewal deadline falls on March 31st of each even year, so planning your CE schedule becomes significant to keep your credentials current.
The CE hours fall into two distinct categories:
Category I activities include formal learning through:
- Workshops and seminars approved by board-approved organizations
- Accredited home study programs
- Classes within the curriculum of an accredited educational institution
Category II covers self-directed education like:
- Professional journal reading
- Case conferences
- Service on boards or commissions related to the social work profession
Your CE hours need a specific split – at least 50% must come from Category I, while Category II can make up the remaining 50%. Each two-year licensing period requires a minimum of 2 hours in ethics and professional conduct, which includes boundary issues.
The Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board recognizes courses from providers approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. ASWB ACE continuing education credits get recognition from most U.S. states and all Canadian provinces, though regulatory boards make final decisions about course acceptance.
Programs need submission at least two months before the event date. You’ll get documentation that proves your participation and earned CE hours after completing approved courses.
Several institutions offer economical solutions to meet your CE requirements. The Indiana University School of Social Work provides year-round professional development opportunities with minimal or no fees, which helps reduce your licensure maintenance costs.
Additional Information
Your Indiana social work licensure experience involves several important factors beyond the basic requirements. All social work licenses in Indiana expire on April 1st of even years. You should plan your application timing to maximize your license’s duration.
Indiana offers a reciprocity pathway if you already have a license in another state. You’ll need to submit verification of your current license, prove exam completion, and pay the $50 application fee. LSW and LCSW reciprocity applicants must pass a jurisprudence examination – a 30-question test on Indiana behavioral health statutes that requires a 75% passing score.
Temporary permits can help you practice while waiting for full licensure. These permits last 180 days or until you get your exam results, whichever comes first. You can reapply up to three times after failed exam attempts, though permits aren’t renewable after expiration.
Legislative changes have boosted flexibility in the licensing process:
- BSW students in their final semester can apply and test before graduation starting July 2025
- LSW candidates pursuing LCSW credentials can now complete all supervision virtually since 2024
School social work candidates should contact the Division of Professional Standards within the Department of Education instead of the IPLA.
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency will guide you through the licensing process.
Applications stay active for one year after submission. You’ll need to resubmit all documentation if your application becomes abandoned after this period.