Social Work Licensure Mississippi: Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Licensed in 2026
Mississippi’s social work licensure program provides multiple career paths with three distinct license levels. You can become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in just four years – the time it takes to finish a BSW degree. But reaching Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) status needs more education and experience that adds up to eight years.
Your Mississippi social work license requires a degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution. LCSW candidates must earn a Master or Doctorate of Social Work degree and complete 1,000 face-to-face client hours under LCSW supervision. The Mississippi Board of Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapists (SWMFT) sets different renewal fees based on license levels: $70 for LSW, $100 for LMSW, and $110 for LCSW. This piece walks you through the licensure process steps and explains the education requirements, examination process, supervised experience needs, and continuing education obligations for 2025.
Education Requirements
A degree from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the foundation for social work licensure in Mississippi. Each license level needs specific educational qualifications that line up with your professional goals.
You’ll need to complete a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program to get the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credential. These undergraduate programs need at least 120 semester credits and include a 400-hour field education component. Mississippi has 11 CSWE-accredited BSW programs, giving you several options to start your social work career.
The Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) level needs a Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution. Full-time students usually complete traditional MSW programs in two years or four semesters. Part-time students take one to two extra years to finish their degree. MSW programs require you to complete at least 900 hours of supervised field education at approved agencies or organizations.
You must get the LMSW credential first to become a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW). The LCSW also needs a master’s or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
BSW graduates can take advantage of advanced standing options in many MSW programs to complete their master’s degree faster. Advanced standing qualification typically needs:
- A BSW degree earned within the last five to seven years
- A minimum undergraduate GPA (often 3.0 or higher)
- B grades or better in all social work major courses
Advanced standing students do fewer courses and field education hours (450-700 hours instead of 900-1200 hours in traditional programs). The University of Southern Mississippi’s advanced standing track needs 450 hours of supervised field education and takes about 1.5 years to finish.
MSW programs usually require a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5-3.0 on a four-point scale. Your undergraduate degree doesn’t have to be in social work for traditional MSW programs.
The right CSWE-accredited program that matches your career goals is where your educational experience begins. Mississippi’s Board of Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy has specific requirements for education verification. Your licensure application must include a notarized Verification of Education Form (Form 267) sent to your educational institution’s registrar’s office.
BSW students complete about 450 hours of supervised field experience, while traditional MSW programs require at least 900 hours. These supervised internships are a great way to get practical experience under licensed social workers’ guidance, preparing you for ground challenges of the profession.
Note that Mississippi’s social work curriculum prepares you for the state’s licensure exam. Contact other state’s licensing boards to understand their reciprocity guidelines and additional requirements if you want to practice elsewhere.
Exam Requirements
The ASWB examination is a crucial step to get your social work licensure in Mississippi. Once you complete your education requirements, your next big step toward becoming a licensed professional is to pass the right ASWB exam.
You need to pass a specific ASWB exam for each license level. The LMSW credential requires you to pass the ASWB Master exam. This exam reviews your grasp of social work principles at the master’s level and costs $230.00 to register. You’ll need to contact the ASWB directly to register for this examination after submitting your application to the Mississippi Board of Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapists.
The LCSW path requires you to take the ASWB Clinical Exam after your application submission. This advanced assessment costs $260.00, which reflects its specialized nature.
The testing process stays consistent whatever exam you choose. You’ll need to contact Pearson VUE to schedule your test date and location after registering with the ASWB and paying the fee. Pearson VUE handles all ASWB exams as the official test administrator throughout Mississippi.
Let’s take a closer look at the exam content areas you should know:
- Human development, diversity, and behavior in the environment
- Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning
- Psychotherapy, clinical interventions, and case management
- Professional values and ethics
The ASWB portal allows you to retake an exam if needed. Remember that each testing attempt requires a new registration fee.
Your application process includes extra fees beyond the exam registration. A $25.00 application fee and a $50.00 background check fee are required with your fingerprints. The state board asks for your official school transcripts and a passport photo too.
Make sure your application reaches the state board before scheduling your exam. The board must verify your eligibility first. Starting the application process early gives you enough time for processing and possible retesting.
The National Association of Social Workers Mississippi Chapter’s licensure preparation courses are a great way to get ready for the exam. These resources help you manage test anxiety and understand the exam format better.
Supervised Experience
Getting supervised experience is a vital step in your trip to LCSW licensure in Mississippi. Your LMSW credential is just the beginning. A well-laid-out supervision process will build your clinical skills and prepare you to practice independently.
The first step needs you to submit an Application to Enter into Contract for Supervision Toward Licensed Certified Social Worker Status. Send this to the Mississippi Board of Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapists with an $80 processing fee. You’ll need to find a Board-approved LCSW supervisor and work together to create a Plan of Supervision. The Board must approve this plan before you can start your supervision.
Your supervised experience must last at least 24 months. This period should not go beyond 36 consecutive months. Special extensions are possible for medical issues or job changes. You must ask for any extensions 60 days before the 36-month period ends. The Board can give you up to six more months if needed.
The rules say you need 100 hours of face-to-face supervision with your LCSW supervisor. Half of these sessions must be one-on-one meetings. The good news is you can get up to four hours of credit just for working with your supervisor to develop the supervision plan.
Your client contact hours must reach at least 1,000 hours face-to-face. Every six months, your supervisor will review your progress and send reports to the Board. These reviews should show your growth and improvement over time.
Sometimes supervisors change. When this happens, your current supervisor must fill out an evaluation form and a Termination of Supervision Form. These forms show your total supervised hours. The Board needs these documents within 30 days after the supervision ends. You’ll then submit a new application, supervisory contract, and update your plan as needed.
After completing all your supervised hours, you can take the ASWB clinical exam – your final step to becoming an LCSW in Mississippi. Of course, keeping good records throughout makes your path to full licensure much smoother.
Application Process
Mississippi’s social work licensure application process requires several steps through the Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists. You can apply through three different paths: by examination (if you’re a recent graduate), by reciprocity (if you’re licensed in another state with ASWB exam completion), or through universal recognition reciprocity (if you’re a licensed professional who moved to Mississippi).
The Mississippi Board now uses a simplified online application portal that replaces the old application form. This portal lets you submit your application and pay fees electronically. You’ll need these essential documents:
- Initial Application (Form 266) with a $27.00 processing fee (money order or cashier’s check only)
- Verification of Education Form (Form 267) – fill out the top portion, get it notarized, and mail to your college registrar’s office
- Request for Fingerprint Card Form with a $50.00 fee
- Official school transcripts
- Passport photo
LMSW applicants must include a $25.00 application fee plus the $50.00 background check fee. After passing the ASWB exam, you’ll pay an initial license fee of $75.00 for bachelor level or $110.00 for LMSW or LCSW. The fee drops to $32.00 when upgrading from LSW to LMSW or LMSW to LCSW.
New applicants should check the Application Instructions and Checklist on the board’s website. You can submit most forms via email. The fingerprint card needs to go by mail to PO Box 4508, Jackson, MS 39296.
LCSW applicants who completed their supervised experience requirements must submit the Mississippi social work license form. This comes with a $25.00 application fee and a $50.00 processing fee.
Your application name should match your driver’s license exactly. All fees are non-refundable.
The board takes about two weeks to review your completed application and send an exam approval letter with instructions. Your test scores reach the board within two weeks after completion. The board issues your license number once you meet all requirements and pay all fees.
Continuing Education
Social workers in Mississippi must complete continuing education (CE) requirements set by the Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists to keep their license active. Licensed social workers at all levels: LSW, LMSW, and LCSW need 40 hours of continuing education every two years.
The requirements split between distance and face-to-face learning. You can complete 20 hours through online or distance learning, while the other 20 hours must be face-to-face. Live webinars through Zoom or Microsoft Teams now count as face-to-face continuing education, but pre-recorded sessions fall under online/distance learning hours.
Your 40 CE hours must cover specific content areas:
- 4 hours in professional ethics
- 2 hours in cultural diversity/multicultural issues/cultural competency
- 1 hour in mandated reporting (effective July 1, 2020)
Social workers with supervisory roles must complete 2 hours of clinical supervision training as part of their CE requirements.
Mississippi’s approved programs provide many CE opportunities. The Board’s Social Work Continuing Education Committee (SWCEC) reviews and approves CE activities, except those from designated providers. Universities and professional organizations offer approved CE programs that cover topics like ethics, cultural diversity, and specialized practice areas.
The board’s “unused hours” system lets you apply CE hours from three years before your license expires if they weren’t used in previous renewals. Ethics, cultural diversity, and mandated reporting hours can’t be carried over under this rule.
The Mississippi Board suggests using their online licensee portal to renew and track your CE hours, including unused ones. This system helps you stay compliant with CE requirements throughout your career.
Additional Information
The Mississippi Code defines social work practice as “the professional activity directed at enhancing, protecting or restoring people’s capacity for social functioning”. Each license level comes with specific limitations that you must understand to practice professionally. The Licensed Social Worker (LSW) cannot diagnose, treat, or conduct therapeutic groups or psychotherapy.
Mississippi law requires you to practice only within your competency areas, whatever services other licensed social workers provide. The Mississippi Board needs updates about changes in your address, name, or other identifying information through their official forms.
The Board has launched a new Licensee Portal system starting 2025. You can access your license certificate and card digitally anytime. These documents will be stored electronically instead of being mailed.
Social workers moving to Mississippi with existing licenses can get licensed through Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses. The state requires proof of residency through a state-issued ID, residential utility bill, property ownership/lease documentation, or employment verification.