How to Get Your North Carolina Social Work License

Getting your North Carolina social work license sets you up for a stable career in this fast-growing field. North Carolina will likely become the nation’s seventh-largest state by the early 2030’s, with 11.7 million residents. This population boom means more jobs for qualified social workers in every specialty. Healthcare social workers can expect job opportunities to grow by 16.6% from 2022-2032, which is much higher than the national rate of 9.6%.

You’ll need to understand the licensing requirements before starting your practice in the state. North Carolina requires all clinical social workers to be licensed. The state doesn’t offer licensure reciprocity with any other state. Social workers must complete 3000 hours of paid clinical supervised work experience. This experience should be spread over two to six years. Your credentials can boost your earning potential by a lot – BSW-level social workers make around $55,700 while MSW-level social workers earn about $61,580. This page guides you through every step to get your North Carolina social work license, from education requirements to the application process that the North Carolina social work board oversees.

Education Requirements

Educational credentials form the backbone of every North Carolina social work license. The North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board (NCSWCLB) evaluates academic qualifications during the application process. A degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program remains mandatory to obtain social work credentials in North Carolina.

Each credential has specific education requirements:

Certified Social Worker (CSW) – This voluntary credential needs a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program. The CSW represents the only social work credential in North Carolina that BSW holders can obtain. CSW practitioners can work in generalist, non-clinical roles such as case management, child welfare counseling, and residential counseling.

Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) – Professionals need a Master of Social Work (MSW), Doctor of Social Work (DSW), or PhD in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution. CMSWs take on advanced roles in school social work, medical social work, program development, and policy analysis.

Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) – Social workers need a CSWE-accredited BSW plus 3,000 hours of post-degree administrative work experience. The CSWM credential opens doors to non-clinical administrative or managerial positions.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) – Clinical practice aspirants must have an MSW, DSW, or PhD in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. LCSWAs can work under supervision while gaining experience needed for full licensure.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – The highest licensure level demands an MSW, DSW, or PhD in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. North Carolina law permits only LCSW holders to practice clinical social work, including diagnosis, treatment of mental disorders, and psychotherapy.

The Department of Public Instruction awards professional educator’s licenses with school social work specialization. Deans of Education or Licensure Officers from approved programs typically provide these recommendations.

CSWE-accredited MSW programs across North Carolina have their own admission requirements. Most programs look for:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Competitive GPA (usually 3.0 or higher, some programs accept 2.5-3.0 with qualifying test scores)
• Personal statement or essay
• Professional references
• Resume showing relevant experience

Advanced Standing admission (accelerated program for BSW holders) typically needs:

• BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned within the last 5-7 years
• Higher GPA requirements (usually 3.2-3.5 in social work courses)

Social work programs in North Carolina do not give academic credit for life experience or previous work. Programs often set different application deadlines for various tracks, with priority deadlines falling between January and February.

Your education timeline varies based on your chosen path. BSW completion takes four years, while an MSW needs 1-3 additional years depending on Advanced Standing eligibility. Clinical license requirements include supervised experience and passing the appropriate examination.

Exam Requirements

Getting your North Carolina social work license requires passing an important examination. After completing your education, you’ll need to show your competency by passing the right Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam that matches your desired credential level.

Different credentials need specific examinations:

• Certified Social Worker (CSW): ASWB Bachelor level examination
• Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW): ASWB Master level examination or ACSW examination
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): ASWB Clinical level examination
• Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM): ASWB Advanced Generalist level examination

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) doesn’t need an original examination. In spite of that, you’ll need to pass the ASWB Clinical level examination to qualify as a full LCSW. You can get examination eligibility from the North Carolina social work board after documenting two years of supervised clinical practice.

The ASWB charges these examination fees:

• Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exam: $230
• Advanced Generalist or Clinical exam: $260

These fees don’t include your application and license fees that go to the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.

You must apply for licensure through the state board and receive pre-approval before registering for any examination. The board lets you register with ASWB to schedule your exam after approval. Your ACSW credential could save you from taking another exam since the board sees the ACSW examination as equal to the CMSW certification requirement.

The National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter (NASW-NC) provides great resources to help you prepare for the clinical licensure examination. Members can borrow preparation materials including the DSM-5 Overview-Quick Study Guide and the Social Work ASWB Clinical Exam Guide. NASW-NC also offers detailed exam preparation courses with workshops, electronic study guides, and practice tests that match the actual exam format.

ASWB offers nonstandard testing arrangements if you need special testing accommodations due to a disability, health condition, or if English isn’t your first language.

Note that your examination eligibility expires if you don’t use it within the board’s specified timeframe. Schedule your exam soon after getting approval. The ASWB Exam Guidebook gives you all the details about exam structure, question format, and what to expect on exam day.

The ASWB examination is just one part of getting your social worker license. You’ll still need to complete any supervised experience requirements and submit your full application to the board for final approval.

Supervised Experience

Getting supervised experience plays a crucial role in your path to becoming a licensed social worker in North Carolina. The state’s social work board requires specific supervised practice after earning your MSW degree before you can become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

The LCSW licensure requires 3,000 hours of post-MSW paid clinical employment under proper supervision. You must complete these hours between two and six consecutive years. Your educational program’s practicum or internship experience doesn’t count toward this requirement.

Specific guidelines govern supervision requirements. You’ll need at least 100 hours with a qualified supervisor. Your supervisor must be an MSW with an LCSW license and two years of clinical social work experience beyond their LCSW licensure. Regular supervision happens every two weeks, with one hour of supervision per 30 hours of clinical practice.

Your supervision can take two forms:

• Individual supervision: One-on-one, face-to-face sessions where your supervisor reviews clinical cases, documentation, and provides direction
• Group supervision: Face-to-face sessions with multiple supervisees where the supervisor reviews clinical work and provides feedback

Group settings can provide up to 25 hours of your required supervision. The board allows up to 50 hours through technology unless pre-approved. Technology-based sessions need synchronous visual and audio communication that maintains confidentiality standards.

The LCSWA (Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate) credential offers an entry point if you lack experience. While LCSWA needs no prior experience, you must report your supervision and practice to the board every six months. Each reporting period needs a case narrative about at least one clinical case, which your supervisor must review and co-sign.

Keep in mind that state law defines qualified clinical social work experience. This work has sections on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, addictive, behavioral, or developmental disorders and conditions. Basic needs assessment or supportive counseling may not qualify unless they accompany diagnostic and treatment services.

Application Process

The first step to get your professional license is submitting your application to the North Carolina social work board. Your application package requirements depend on whether you want the LCSWA (associate) or LCSW (full clinical) credential.

For the LCSWA application package, you need to prepare:

• Completed application form from the NCSWCLB website
• Non-refundable application fee of $145.00 payable only by money order or certified bank check
• Official sealed transcripts from your CSWE-accredited MSW program
• Three completed Professional Reference Forms, with at least one from a supervisor
• Employment Verification Form with attached job description (if currently employed)
• Position Statement on Clinical Supervision signed by your clinical supervisor
• Emergency Crisis Plan outlining backup procedures

You’ll need the LCSW Short Form Application to upgrade your license after getting your LCSWA credential and completing supervised hours. This upgrade requires documentation of your supervised clinical experience and the appropriate fee.

International degree holders must contact the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) to determine educational equivalency. Military-trained applicants and military spouses don’t pay the original application fee. They may also receive credit for experience they got through their military occupational specialty with proper documentation.

Send your complete application package with tracking through your preferred carrier after collecting all required documents. Remember these key points:

• The board takes at least 21 days to process after receiving all materials
• Schools may send official transcripts electronically directly to the board
• Incomplete applications will delay your process substantially

Your LCSWA credential lasts only two years. You must pass the ASWB Clinical Level exam to renew your LCSWA credential and continue accruing hours if you haven’t completed your required clinical hours during this time.

Licensure delays happen due to incomplete documentation, starting clinical work before getting your LCSWA (hours won’t count retroactively), and not disclosing background issues upfront.

The LCSWA allows you to start accumulating supervised clinical experience. You must submit six-month review forms to document your progress during this period. Your full LCSW credential, which allows independent clinical practice in North Carolina, comes after completing all requirements and passing the examination.

Continuing Education

NC social workers must complete ongoing professional development to keep their licenses active. The North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board sets specific requirements that help social workers stay up-to-date with professional knowledge and technical skills.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associates (LCSWA) and all other credential levels need to complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. The requirements include 4 hours specifically focused on ethics related to social work practice and ethical decision-making. Social workers can complete up to 20 hours through distance learning.

The board pro-rates CE requirements for licensees with shorter renewal cycles. A one-year renewal needs 20 hours of CE with 2 hours in ethics, while a six-month renewal needs 10 hours with at least 1 hour in ethics. The board adjusts ethics requirements by quarter cycles. Any period equal to or less than 6 months requires a minimum of 1 hour of ethics training.

Acceptable CE activities include:

• Seminars, workshops, and conferences
• Live/synchronous webinars with interactive dialog (equal to in-person training)
• Distance learning activities (online courses, home study courses, recorded webinars) with ASWB or NASW-NC pre-approval

The board lets social workers choose their CE courses without pre-approval. In spite of that, your CE activity might face an audit. You don’t need to submit certificates with your renewal, but keep verifiable proof of attendance and credit hours.

Social workers can request non-practicing status through written notification if they need a break. This status removes CE and fee requirements. Note that LCSWA licensees’ six-year time limit for completing LCSW requirements continues during non-practicing status.

A written request reactivates licenses on non-practicing status before expiration. After expiration, submit the Renewal Affidavit with CE documentation for the most recent two-year period and the current renewal fee.

Additional Information

North Carolina doesn’t automatically accept social work licenses from other states. The state’s social work board needs to get a full picture of your qualifications through a detailed review process. Your current license must be active and in good standing. You also need to prove you got it through examination. The board will assess your education, exam scores, and experience documentation on a case-by-case basis.

Military personnel and their spouses get special treatment, including fee waivers. Service members can use their military occupational specialty experience toward licensing requirements. They just need to document it properly with Form DD 2586.

Anyone with a criminal record should submit certified court documents. A cover letter that explains how these events affected them both personally and professionally is also needed. The board takes time to review these materials carefully during the application process.

Good news lies ahead for social workers in North Carolina. The state will join the Social Work Licensure Compact in 2025 after getting unanimous legislative approval. This change will let licensed clinical social workers practice in all participating states. The new system will be especially helpful for relocating professionals and military spouses.

The job market looks promising in all specialties. Healthcare social workers should see a 16.6% growth through 2032. Mental health social workers can expect 15.1% growth, while child, family, and school social workers will likely see a 14.2% increase.