How to Get Your Arkansas Social Work License
Ready to boost your career and help others with an Arkansas social work license? Arkansas offers three licensure levels that match different career stages: Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Each level creates new opportunities to make a difference in your community.
Your path to becoming a licensed clinical social worker in Arkansas starts with understanding the license requirements. Some universities let you get your MSW online in just 9 months. Other programs take between 12 months for Advanced-Standing MSW and 27 months for a traditional Online MSW. LCSW candidates need to complete at least two years and 4,000 hours of supervised experience after they earn their degree.
Let me guide you through the process of getting your social work license in Arkansas. You’ll learn about education requirements, state examinations, supervised experience hours, and application procedures. This comprehensive overview will give you the tools to advance your social work career to new heights.
Education Requirements
Your Arkansas social work license journey starts with the right education credentials. A degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program is important for all social work licenses in Arkansas. This accreditation verifies that your education meets national standards needed for professional practice.
Your license type determines the education you’ll need:
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW): A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program lets you start practicing under supervision after passing your exam.
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): A Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program opens more advanced practice opportunities.
- Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW): You need an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program plus supervised experience after graduation.
Arkansas has 12 CSWE-accredited BSW and MSW programs throughout the state. These programs offer different delivery methods that fit various learning needs and schedules.
The University of Arkansas MSW program gives you three main paths:
- Regular (2-year) full-time program: This 63-credit hour program suits students without a CSWE-accredited BSW. Students complete one year of foundation courses before moving to advanced concentration.
- Extended (3-year) program: The same 63 credits spread over three years. Students take lighter course loads (6-9 credits per semester) during foundation courses before full-time study in year three.
- Advanced Standing (12-month) program: A focused 39-credit program for students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned in the last six years.
On top of that, three fully accredited online MSW programs in Arkansas deliver similar curriculum to on-campus programs. Students can complete all requirements from home and do field internships near their residence.
MSW programs come with specialized focus areas. Arkansas State University’s MSW program focuses on rural-based clinical social work practice and trauma-informed care. Students can earn an Addictions Studies certificate alongside their degree.
Your chosen program’s accreditation status matters greatly. The CSWE directory lists programs as fully accredited, conditionally accredited (needing fixes within a year), or in candidacy/pre-candidacy status. Make sure your program has full accreditation or candidacy status – both work for getting licensed.
BSW programs often need pre-professional courses before you can start the main program. The University of Arkansas requires students to pass nine specific courses with at least a C grade to become BSW majors instead of pre-social work majors.
Your career goals, budget, and available time will help you pick the right educational path. The most important thing is making sure your program has CSWE accreditation.
Exam Requirements
Getting your Arkansas social work license requires passing the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination after completing your education. This standardized test shows you have the knowledge and skills to practice social work professionally.
Here’s how the examination process works:
- Apply to the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board
The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board must approve your application before you can register for any examination. You need this initial approval – the state board won’t let you take the licensing exam without it. The board will send you confirmation when you’re ready to move forward with exam registration.
- Register with the ASWB
The next step after board approval is registering with the Association of Social Work Boards. Your registration fees will depend on your license type:
- Associate, Bachelors, or Masters Exams: $230.00
- Advanced Generalist or Clinical Exams: $260.00
You’ll need to pay these fees when you register, separate from your state’s application fees.
- Schedule Your Examination
ASWB will send you an Authorization to Test email after processing your registration. This lets you book your test through Pearson VUE, which runs social work licensing exams at test centers worldwide. You can pick your test date and location through their system.
- Prepare for the Examination
Good preparation will help you succeed. The ASWB Exam Guidebook shows you the exam’s structure, question format, and test day details. Many people find specialized study programs helpful for social work licensure exams.
ASWB provides accommodations for special circumstances. You might qualify for nonstandard testing arrangements if you have disabilities or health conditions. Special testing conditions are available if English isn’t your first language.
Clinical licensure candidates must pass the ASWB Clinical Exam as their final test before receiving their Arkansas social work license. This advanced exam checks your grasp of clinical concepts, therapeutic approaches, and ethical practice standards.
Different organizations handle various parts of the examination process. Planning ahead and knowing what’s required will make your licensing process smoother. Stay on top of all messages from the state licensing board and ASWB to keep your certification on track.
Supervised Experience
Getting your Arkansas LCSW license needs supervised experience. This is a vital phase of your professional development. The state has specific requirements to make sure you get proper clinical training from qualified professionals.
You need 4,000 hours of supervised social work experience spread across at least 24 months to qualify for an LCSW license. Your supervisor must be an LCSW with at least three years of full licensure. The supervision should average one hour per week.
Your supervision experience starts when you create and submit a formal Supervision Plan. The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board needs this document within 60 days after you start supervision. Remember, your supervision only counts when you work in a master’s level clinical social work position.
You can get supervision individually or in groups. All the same, there are some limits. Group supervision can’t be more than half your total supervision hours. Each group should have no more than four supervisees. By the time you finish, you’ll need at least 100 direct supervision hours.
Your supervisor will help you grow in five key areas:
- Ethical practice fundamentals
- Practice management skills
- Skills for maintaining professional competence
- Development of professional identity
- Clinical practice skills
The supervision process makes sure you’re accountable for client care, agency standards, regulatory requirements, and professional ethics. You’ll work with your supervisor to set clear, measurable goals that match your learning needs and career growth.
A new Supervision Plan is needed within 60 days if you change jobs or supervisors. You’ll also need an updated plan if your job duties or supervision goals change. After completing supervision, your supervisor must fill out an evaluation form. Submit this to the Board within 60 days of your final session.
The regulations don’t require detailed records of supervision sessions, but keeping them is a smart move. These records show your professional growth during this significant career stage.
Supervision builds the foundation for your future as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. It helps you develop the skills you need to serve clients well and maintain high professional standards.
Application Process
The formal application process for your Arkansas social work license starts after you complete your education and examination requirements. This significant step combines all your hard work into an official submission to the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board.
Your Arkansas social work license application package has several key components. You’ll need to fill out the standard Application Form from the Board office or their website. The Application Checklist and Instructions document will help you stay on track and not miss anything.
LSW or LMSW applicants get a provisional license valid for one year after their original application is approved. You must pass the appropriate ASWB examination during this time. You can take the exam up to three times before you need to reapply and pay more fees.
Your complete application must include:
- Official transcripts sent directly from your educational institution to the Board
- Application fee of $100.00 for standard submission or $105.00 for online submission
- Supervision verification (for LCSW applicants)
- Completed criminal background check
The criminal background check is a vital requirement. The Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau requires you to apply for a detailed check that includes fingerprinting. Plan your budget to include an extra $35.75 for this process.
Social workers moving to Arkansas with active licenses from other states must submit the Verification of Licensure form. This document shows your standing with previous licensing authorities.
LCSW applicants go through a more detailed process because of their supervised experience requirements. You need to submit your application with the supervision evaluation form from your supervisor after completing 4,000 supervised hours. Submit this evaluation within 60 days of your final supervision session.
The Board provides specific forms to update your personal information after getting your license. You can also request a replacement if your license gets lost or damaged.
The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board lets you submit forms in different ways. You can email them for forms that aren’t online. This makes the process accessible whatever your comfort level with technology.
Continuing Education
Your Arkansas social work license renewal depends on continuous professional development through education. Unlike the original licensure process, continuing education will give you current knowledge of evolving best practices and theoretical approaches throughout your career.
Licensed social workers in Arkansas (LSW, LMSW, and LCSW) must complete 30 hours of continuing education during each two-year license period to keep their renewal eligibility. The requirements include at least 3 hours focused on ethics education.
Arkansas has specific guidelines about delivery methods, though topics are flexible. You can complete up to 15 hours through independent home study courses. The remaining hours must come from face-to-face instruction. Live and interactive webinars count as face-to-face instruction, which helps busy professionals manage their time better.
The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board considers acceptable continuing education activities as “formalized activities that are directed at developing and enhancing an individual’s social work knowledge base and service delivery skills”. These activities include:
- Short academic courses
- Workshops and seminars
- Conferences and lectures
- College or university courses
- Independent study courses
- Internet-based education
You, as the licensee, must decide which continuing education activities fit your professional development. The Board doesn’t pre-approve all workshops. Your professional judgment determines which activities apply to your practice.
Documentation plays a crucial role. Keep records of all completed continuing education activities because the Board may conduct random audits to verify compliance. A formal extension procedure exists if you need more time to complete your hours. Remember to follow this procedure before your license expires.
Your attention to these continuing education requirements ensures your continued licensure and professional growth as a social worker serving Arkansas’s people.
Additional Information
The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board, established by Act 791 of 1981, has regulated social work practice in the state for over 42 years. The board holds monthly meetings on the second Monday at the Freeway Medical Building in Little Rock. These meetings welcome public attendance.
LSW or LMSW candidates receive a one-year provisional license to pass their licensing examination. The LCSW level does not offer provisional licensing.
Your expired license qualifies for renewal within a three-month grace period. The renewal process needs a standard application, an $80 late fee plus the $4 renewal fee, and proof of completed continuing education. Licenses become non-renewable after this grace period. You must start fresh as a new applicant.
Anyone can report complaints against licensees to the board. The board also starts investigations based on reasonable cause. This oversight helps social workers maintain their professional standards.
Background checks play a vital role in the licensing process. Arkansas social work licenses exclude individuals guilty of offenses listed in A.C.A. 17-103-307. The board may grant waivers under specific conditions.
Social workers moving between states can use their ASWB exam results in any jurisdiction that accepts that particular licensing exam. This feature makes interstate practice easier, though other requirements might apply.
The board’s website and office welcome questions about your Arkansas social work license.