How to Get Your Nevada Social Work License: A Step-by-Step Guide
Nevada ranks among the top-paying states for social workers in various specializations. Social workers can choose from four distinct licensing pathways: Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Nevada’s licensing process requires completion of an accredited Bachelor or Master of Social Work program through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The state’s social work board needs official transcripts sent directly from your educational institution, and your license will expire each year on your birth month’s last day. The time investment varies based on your chosen credential – LSW requires a minimum of four years while LCSW or LISW needs eight years. Clinical licensure candidates must complete 3,000 supervised practice hours, and 2,000 of these hours must include direct client interaction.
Education Requirements
Your Nevada social work license starts with the right education. The state requires specific educational qualifications at each license level. Most degrees must come from accredited institutions.
Education forms the foundation of professional social work practice in Nevada. Each license level needs specific academic credentials:
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW): You must possess a baccalaureate degree in social work from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or from an institution that is a candidate for such accreditation.
- Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW): This level needs a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited college or university or one that is a candidate for accreditation.
- Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW): You need either a master’s or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution or one that is seeking accreditation.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): Like the LMSW, this credential needs a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited college or university or one that is a candidate for accreditation.
Understanding CSWE Accreditation
CSWE accreditation is vital to get your Nevada social work license. Nevada’s social work board recognizes programs with different accreditation statuses:
- Fully Accredited: Programs that meet all CSWE standards.
- Accredited (Conditional): Programs that don’t comply with one or more standards must address these issues within a year.
- Accredited (Withdrawal in Progress): Programs that are accredited but plan to close.
- Candidacy: Programs that completed at least one year of the Candidacy process will move toward full accreditation within two years.
- Pre-Candidacy: Programs with approved draft standards will get a Candidacy status review within one year.
The board also recognizes programs accredited by CSWE’s Foreign Equivalency Determination Service and the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work.
Nevada Education Institutions
Several Nevada institutions offer social work education programs that meet state licensing requirements. To cite an instance, UNLV’s School of Social Work’s Master of Social Work program helps students meet Nevada’s educational requirements for social work licensure.
You should verify your program’s accreditation status through the CSWE directory. This step will ensure the board recognizes your degree when you apply for your Nevada social work license.
Provisional Licensing Options
You might qualify for a provisional license if you’re still studying. Nevada gives provisional licenses lasting up to three years if you have a related degree and are enrolled in CSWE-accredited social work degree programs. This option lets you practice under supervision while completing your education.
Age and Citizenship Requirements
The Nevada social work board requires all applicants to be at least 21 years old. You must be a United States citizen or have legal permission to work in the United States. These basic qualifications apply to all license levels.
Your educational foundation shapes your entire career. Choose a program that meets Nevada’s social work license requirements carefully. The Nevada social work board updates these requirements periodically, so check with them for the most current standards.
Exam Requirements
Getting your Nevada social work license requires passing the right Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination after completing your education. Each license type needs a specific exam that tests your knowledge and skills.
The Nevada social work board asks candidates to pass one of these ASWB exams based on their license level:
- Bachelors Exam – Required for LSW licensure
- Masters Exam – Required for LMSW licensure
- Clinical Exam – Required for LCSW licensure
- Advanced Generalist Exam – Required for LISW licensure
Registration and Fees
You’ll need to submit your application to the Nevada social work board and wait for approval before registering for the exam. Once approved, you can sign up directly with the ASWB. The exam fees vary – $230 for Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exams, and $260 for Advanced Generalist or Clinical exams.
Pearson VUE handles the exam scheduling at testing centers throughout Nevada and nationwide. You can take the test at any approved location in the country. Your scores will automatically go to Nevada for a $30 fee.
Testing Format and Policies
The computer touchscreen exam gives you four hours to finish. You’ll get your results right after completing the test.
Nevada doesn’t limit how many times you can retake the exam. You just need to wait 90 days between attempts. This gives you time to study and prepare for your next try.
Provisional Licensing Options
Nevada has two provisional license types for exam requirements:
Provisional “A” License – This 90-day temporary license lets you practice while studying for the exam. You need a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program and must pass the exam within 60 days of getting this license. This license works for only one exam attempt, and you can only get one Provisional “A” license.
Provisional “B” License – You can get this license for up to three years if you passed the exam before graduating.
Special Accommodations
The ASWB offers nonstandard testing arrangements if you have a disability, health condition, or if English isn’t your first language. Reach out to them directly to request these accommodations.
Preparation Resources
The ASWB’s Exam Guidebook is a great way to learn about exam structure, question types, and test day expectations. NASW-Nevada also offers review courses that cover exam format and key topics like human development theories, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, psychopathology, and professional ethics.
A full picture of these exam requirements will help you prepare better for this vital step toward your Nevada social work license.
Supervised Experience
Getting supervised experience is a vital step to get advanced Nevada social work license credentials. The Nevada social work board requires both LCSW and LISW candidates to complete 3,000 hours of supervised, postgraduate social work.
LCSW candidates need at least 2,000 hours focused on psychotherapeutic methods and techniques. These methods help diagnose and treat mental and emotional conditions in individuals, families, and groups. The remaining hours can be completed in other areas of clinical social work.
Your supervised experience must meet these significant guidelines:
- Complete the hours between 2 and 3 years
- Get board approval for your internship program before you start
- Attend weekly one-hour supervision sessions with your supervisor
The internship program needs these four key components:
- An examination (if the board requires it)
- A board-approved setting
- A supervisor approved by the board
- A supervision plan with board approval
Your clinical abilities must show competency in:
- Complete psychosocial assessment skills
- DSM diagnostic determination
- Treatment planning with clear goals
- Different clinical intervention approaches
- Documentation and treatment outcome reviews
- Understanding of psychopharmacology and addictions
- Skills in suicidal/homicidal evaluation
Professional conduct skills play an equally significant role. These include building professional clinical relationships, appropriate “use of self” with clients and colleagues, dedication to social work values and ethics, and effective use of supervision.
The Nevada social work license requirements have specific supervisor qualifications based on your license path. LCSW candidates need supervision from a licensed Clinical Social Worker. LISW candidates can work with either a licensed Independent Social Worker or a Clinical Social Worker.
The Nevada social work board requires quarterly progress reports for review and approval during supervised experience. These reports matter significantly. The board might reject reports that don’t meet requirements or lack information, which could result in losing credit for internship hours.
If your internship ends early, you have 30 days to close cases. You must tell clients in writing right away and help transfer or continue their services to minimize any negative effects.
Application Process
Your Nevada social work license application marks the last step in the licensing journey. The Nevada social work board needs a complete application with detailed documentation.
The board takes a 45-day processing period to review complete submissions. Your application might face delays or rejection if it lacks required information. You can check your application’s progress through the online Application Status Form.
Your application package should include electronic copies of these key documents:
- Birth Certificate or Passport
- Current Picture ID
- Name Change Documents (if applicable)
- Verification of eligibility for Armed Services Discount (if applicable)
- Court records for any positive criminal history
The board places special importance on fingerprinting requirements. You should print and submit the Fingerprint Waiver form from the board’s website separately. Previous applicants should check with the board office about new fingerprint requirements.
The Nevada social work board strictly follows application deadlines. The board closes applications that remain incomplete after nine months, while endorsement applications expire in six months. The board keeps all fees from closed applications without refunds.
Licensed social workers from other states can seek licensure by endorsement. The board checks all your current and previous licenses. Most state boards provide online verification access to the Nevada social work board. Social workers licensed in Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, or Utah must send written license verification directly to the board.
The board offers different application paths based on your credentials. Each path – LSW (bachelor’s degree holders), LMSW (master’s degree holders), LCSW (currently licensed clinical social workers from other states), and LISW (currently licensed independent social workers from other states) has its own application process.
You can pay the application fee by credit or debit card when you submit your application.
Continuing Education
Your Nevada social work license requires professional development through continuing education (CE). The Nevada social work board sets specific CE requirements based on your license type. You need to collect these credits every two years.
Licensed Social Workers (LSW), Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW), and Licensed Associate Social Workers (LASW) must complete 30 CE hours every two years. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and Licensed Independent Social Workers (LISW) need 36 CE hours in each two-year period.
Whatever license type you hold, all social work professionals must meet these specific content requirements by 2024:
- 4 hours in ethics
- 2 hours in suicide prevention and awareness
- 6 hours in cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion
LSW and LASW license holders need 10 hours in their practice field, while LCSW and LISW practitioners must complete 12 hours in their specialty area.
The Nevada social work board recognizes several CE providers. Courses approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) or the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) National Office or Nevada Chapter automatically qualify. NASW’s Social Work Online CE Institute offers online education with member discounts.
The board’s website lets you check your CE collection cycle. You can verify your license to see if you’re on an even or odd year cycle and when your next CE submission comes due.
The Nevada social work board allows professionals who reach age 70 and retire to request a CE requirement waiver. Until then, ongoing education remains vital to keep your Nevada social work license active throughout your career.
Additional Information
Your Nevada social work license process involves more than just getting the basic license. These extra details will give you a smoother experience as you build your professional career.
The Nevada social work board gives a 50% reduction on the original license fee to active members of the Armed Forces, their spouses, veterans, and veterans’ surviving spouses. This discount helps military-affiliated professionals who face unique challenges while starting their careers.
Social workers moving to Nevada with existing licenses can apply through licensure by endorsement. The application costs $125.00, which matches the standard license fee. Nevada doesn’t accept other state licenses automatically, but you can transfer your credentials based on your existing qualifications.
Nevada differs from other states because it doesn’t have an “inactive” status for licenses. You must renew your license every year to keep practicing. Missing your renewal date means you can’t practice social work until you complete all renewal requirements. Your renewal deadline falls on the last month’s last day of your birth month each year.
The Nevada social work board will send you renewal reminders by email and postcard 45 days before your deadline. The responsibility to renew on time stays with you.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Nevada Chapter provides helpful resources if you need help with your license:
- Malpractice liability insurance options
- Specialty credentials and certifications
- Continuing education opportunities
- CE Tracker for monitoring your professional development requirements
Keeping in touch with both the licensing board and professional groups like NASW-Nevada will give you great support throughout your career as a licensed social worker in Nevada.