New Hampshire Social Work License Requirements: What Most Applicants Miss
Getting your New Hampshire social work license opens doors to a profession that’s growing faster than ever. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects social work jobs to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, which outpaces most other occupations. The timing couldn’t be better to join this field. Programs like Simmons University let you earn an MSW in just 9-12 months through their Advanced Standing tracks.
The path to becoming a licensed social worker needs careful attention to detail. New Hampshire Board of Social Work’s specific regulations can be tricky to navigate. Missing significant details during your application leads to unwanted delays and setbacks. This piece guides you through everything you need to know. You’ll learn about education prerequisites, exam details, supervised experience needs, application steps, continuing education requirements, and what it takes to get your social work license in New Hampshire.
Education Requirements
Your New Hampshire social work license starts with getting the right educational credentials. Each license type has specific educational paths you can take through accredited programs.
To become an LSW (Licensed Social Worker), you need to graduate from an accredited BSW program. New Hampshire offers accredited programs at the University of New Hampshire and Plymouth State University. Saint Anselm College is working to get accreditation. After finishing your BSW, you must:
- Keep a minimum 2.6 semester GPA and score at least a C in all major courses
- Complete 40 hours of advisor-approved human service experience before you apply for internship
- Finish a 400-hour internship across two consecutive semesters in your senior year
The LSWA (Licensed Social Work Associate) credential works if you don’t have a BSW. This path is open if you have an Associate’s (AA) or Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in related human service fields like psychology or addiction studies.
The LICSW (Independent Clinical Social Worker) license needs an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program. This license stands out as the only one in New Hampshire that lets you provide psychotherapy services. You can also work in specialized areas such as child and family social work, mental health, substance abuse, and healthcare social work.
Advanced Standing Options
BSW graduates can speed up their MSW education. You might qualify for Advanced Standing admission with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned in the last five years and a minimum 3.2 GPA. This option helps you:
- Get your MSW in just one year (30 credits) instead of two years
- Save time and tuition costs
- Start working toward advanced licensure sooner
MSW Admission Requirements
Standard MSW programs at New Hampshire schools like UNH need:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (minimum 2.7 GPA overall, 3.0 preferred)
- Completed statistics course and liberal arts foundation
- Application materials including transcripts, references, personal statement, and resume
Keep in mind that social work programs in New Hampshire follow CSWE accreditation standards and don’t give course credit for life or work experience. MSW students must complete 62 credit hours of 800 or 900-level courses, plus two two-semester internships that add up to 1,240 hours.
The New Hampshire board of social work matches different practice levels with specific degree requirements. Entry-level positions need a BSW, while independent clinical practice requires an MSW. Doctoral degrees (DSW or PhD) can open doors to careers in leadership, policy development, and academia, though they’re not needed for licensure.
Whatever educational path you pick, understanding social worker degree requirements in New Hampshire helps you plan your career. Clear academic goals and the right program choice will set you up for success as you move through the licensing process.
Exam Requirements
Your next significant step after completing your educational requirements is passing the appropriate examination for your New Hampshire social work license. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) is the non-profit agency that owns and maintains the social work licensure examinations for all states.
The examination process starts when you apply for a social work license and receive pre-approval from the New Hampshire board of social work. You’ll need to complete the “Request to sit for ASWB Clinical Exam” form and submit it to the Board office once you have an approved Candidate for Licensure Agreement. Your full application for licensure should be submitted after passing the exam.
You’ll receive an Authorization to Test email after your exam request is approved. This allows you to register with ASWB and schedule your testing appointment at a Pearson VUE center. The examination registration fees depend on your level:
- Associate, Bachelors, or Masters Exams: $230
- Advanced Generalist or Clinical Exams: $260
ASWB’s website provides great resources to prepare for the exam, including:
- Registration guidelines
- Study guides
- Online practice tests
Many applicants find third-party preparation resources helpful alongside official ASWB materials. These resources help develop test-taking strategies instead of focusing on memorization.
Nonstandard testing arrangements might be available for candidates with disabilities, health conditions, or those who don’t speak English as their primary language. You should ask about these accommodations early in your application process.
Good news for applicants – the GRE isn’t required as part of the social worker degree requirements or licensure process in New Hampshire. This makes the process more accessible to many candidates.
The exam gives a full picture of your knowledge and skills in social work practice. Make sure to have your official ASWB exam scores sent directly to the New Hampshire Board after passing.
The examination requirements are the foundations of your licensure experience. Many applicants don’t allocate enough preparation time or miss important steps in the sequence. The process includes applying for candidacy, getting board approval, registering for the exam, preparing well, and scheduling the test at a Pearson VUE center. A careful approach to these steps helps avoid delays in your licensure approval.
Supervised Experience
Your New Hampshire social work license requires supervised experience as the foundation of your training. This hands-on phase will give a solid foundation of clinical skills under expert guidance before you start independent practice.
The New Hampshire board of social work needs you to set up a formal supervision agreement. This agreement lasts two years with renewal options. You’ll need to pay a small fee of $25.00 when you submit this paperwork. After approval, you can start collecting your required hours.
LICSW license candidates must complete:
- 3,000 hours of post-master’s, supervised, paid clinical experience
- 100 hours of face-to-face supervision with at least one hour each week[102]
- All requirements within a two-year timeframe
Each license level has different supervision needs. Licensed Social Workers (LSW) need 2 years of post-bachelor’s supervised work in mental health or social services. Social Work Associate applicants need varying supervision hours – 100 hours with a bachelor’s degree and 150 hours with an associate degree.
Your supervisor should be a licensed professional in the state where you receive supervision. Licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, or pastoral physiotherapists can supervise you. The supervisor must maintain professional boundaries without any conflicts that could affect their judgment.
Supervision sessions can happen in person or through HIPAA-compliant video calls. This makes supervision more available, especially when you have to work in rural New Hampshire areas.
Your license application needs these documents about your supervised experience:
- A completed Summary of Supervised Clinical Experience form
- Supervisor’s Confirmation of Clinical Experience forms in signed and sealed envelopes
- Professional reference from at least one supervisor
Your claimed hours must match exactly with your supervisor’s verification.
Many candidates miss some vital points about supervision. Classwork, practicum experiences, and course-related activities don’t count as supervised experience. Working as a 1099 employee in private practice also doesn’t qualify as acceptable supervised professional experience. These differences are significant parts of the social worker degree requirements.
The Board already has your approved Supervision Agreement on file if you’re an active candidate. You won’t need to send it again with your license application. This makes the process easier for candidates already working on their supervision hours.
Application Process
A complete and accurate application plays a significant role in getting your social work license without delays. The New Hampshire board of social work follows a well-laid-out application process that needs your attention to detail.
Note that you must pass the ASWB Clinical Level Exam before you submit your application for licensure. After completing your education and examination requirements, you’ll need these important documents:
- Completed application booklet and resume
- Summary of Supervised Clinical Experience form
- Supervisor’s Confirmation of Clinical Experience form(s) in a signed and sealed envelope
- Professional Reference forms from three references (at least one from a supervisor)
- Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts in sealed envelopes from your institutions
- Proof of passing the ASWB exam
- New Hampshire Criminal Offender Record Report with fingerprints
- Application fee payable to the State of New Hampshire
LICSW applicants need their supervisors to document required hours by completing the verification forms.
Paper applications can be paid through personal checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks. Make sure all payments are properly prepared to avoid any delays.
Your application processing time depends on how complete it is and the board’s current workload. The process usually takes several months. You can track your application status through the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice’s online portal.
Applicants who want licensure by endorsement from another state have more requirements. You’ll need primary source verification of your current license that shows you’re in good standing. Your previous jurisdiction’s requirements should match New Hampshire’s standards closely.
You should also know about common mistakes that could put your license at risk:
- Not renewing your license on time, which leads to expiration
- Working with an expired license, which can bring disciplinary action
- Providing false information on your application, which leads to discipline
Candidates who already have an approved Supervision Agreement with the Board don’t need to submit it again with their application. Keep copies of everything you’ve submitted previously.
Review administrative rules Mhp 100-500 online and check that you meet all social worker degree requirements before applying. Keep a copy of your application handy throughout the process.
Continuing Education
You need ongoing professional development through continuing education to keep your social work license active. The New Hampshire board of social work sets specific requirements that help social workers stay up to date with best practices and ethical standards.
Licensed LICSWs must complete 40 approved continuing education units (CEUs) every two years. These requirements have:
- At least 6 of the 40 CEUs must focus on ethics and come from Category A
- At least 3 of the 40 CEUs must address suicide prevention, likewise from Category A
- Minimum of 30 hours must be completed from Category A
- Maximum of 10 hours can come from Category B (optional)
The difference between categories is a vital part of meeting your social worker degree requirements. Category A covers structured learning opportunities like seminars, workshops, live interactive webinars, and home study courses. Category B has mental health seminars that don’t meet Category A requirements, publication of professional books, and articles in professional journals.
Home study courses (recorded webinars) are limited to 20 hours maximum. All the same, you can complete all 40 required hours through live interactive webinars if you prefer.
Several approved providers offer Category A continuing education. These include the American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, National Board for Certified Counselors, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Counseling Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, and Association of Social Work Boards. The New Hampshire Board accepts courses from any provider that the Association of Social Work Boards approves.
Starting February 22, 2023, you must renew your New Hampshire social work license every two years by the last day of your original issue month. Many organizations across the state offer continuing education opportunities. NASW NH and The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester provide high-quality professional development programs.
You must file a petition with the board at least 60 days before your license expires if you can’t meet continuing education requirements. The board may grant this waiver in specific cases, usually due to health issues, family emergencies, or circumstances beyond your control.
Additional Information
Getting your New Hampshire social work license requires more than just meeting basic requirements. You need to know where to find vital resources. The Office of Professional Licensure & Certification (OPLC) at 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301 handles all licensing matters.
The board has set up OPLCLicensing9@oplc.nh.gov for your application questions. License renewals now happen through their online portal where you can track your application progress. Starting February 2023, professionals must renew their licenses every two years by the last day of their original issuance month.
The Board of Mental Health Practice maintains quality standards through proper licensure oversight. Their oversight extends to Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Pastoral Psychotherapists.
Regulatory changes happen frequently. The social work licensing examinations will see administrative updates in March 2025. Membership in professional organizations like NASW-NH helps you stay current with changes and access advocacy resources.
New Hampshire has established reciprocity agreements with other states, though requirements differ between states. The board’s website offers a helpful FAQ section to help you understand these social worker degree requirements better.