How to Get Your Maine Social Work License: A Step-by-Step Guide
Looking to get your Maine social work license and boost your career? The path to getting licensed has never been more straightforward. Students can choose flexible study options – a 12-month Online Advanced-Standing MSW or a 27-month Online MSW program.
Maine’s social work license requirements play a vital role in your professional growth. The state’s licensing board offers three certification levels: Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Your license stays active by completing 25 contact hours of continuing education before renewal. This guide takes you step-by-step through the entire licensing process. You’ll learn about education prerequisites, exam criteria, supervised practice requirements and application steps that lead to becoming a licensed social worker in Maine.
Education Requirements
Your Maine social work license requirements depend on the license level you want to pursue. Maine requires you to be at least 18 years old and complete educational credentials that match your career goals.
The three licensing tiers in Maine have substantially different educational qualifications:
To become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), you need a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program. Your undergraduate studies will combine general education courses in sciences and humanities with social work prerequisites. These prerequisites cover philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, statistics, and writing.
The state also offers a “Licensed Social Worker, Conditional” (LSX) path if you have bachelor’s degrees in related fields. The Maine social work license board accepts these related degrees:
- Behavioral Science
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Childhood Development
- Psychology
- Education and Human Development
- Mental Health and Human Services
- Educational Psychology
- Rehabilitation Services
- Sociology
The Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) status requires a Master’s or Doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. MSW programs typically cover advanced coursework in social work values and ethics, practice roles, human behavior frameworks, research skills, and policy analysis.
Students pursuing the Licensed Master Social Worker, Conditional Clinical (LMSW-CC) credential must hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree in social work. This path requires clinical concentration coursework during graduate studies.
The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential also needs a Master’s or Doctoral degree in social work. Students with clinical concentration in their MSW program need less post-graduate supervised experience than those with non-clinical focus.
Since January 1, 2020, all new license applicants must complete at least 12 hours of coursework in family or intimate partner violence. This coursework covers screening, referral strategies, intervention techniques, community resources, cultural factors, evidence-based risk assessment, and same-gender abuse dynamics.
BSW programs in Maine often provide additional certification opportunities. To name just one example, University of Southern Maine’s BSW program prepares students for Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician-Community (MHRT/C) certification. University of Maine’s BSW students can also qualify for MHRT/C certification by taking specific electives with their required courses.
BSW programs require prerequisite courses and minimum academic standards. While requirements vary between schools, most expect a minimum 2.5 GPA. Competitive applicants usually have GPAs above 3.0.
Maine’s social work licensure education paths help practitioners develop professional competencies. Your education must show commitment to social work ethics and prepare you for licensure examination. CSWE-accredited programs meet state licensure eligibility standards.
Exam Requirements
Getting your Maine social work license requires passing the right Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination. Your practice level determines which specific exam you need to test your knowledge and skills.
You need to apply for examination approval through the ASWB website after meeting educational requirements. The application has a non-refundable fee of $60. You have one year to take the examination once approved. So, good preparation timing helps you avoid paying extra fees for reapplication.
The examination fees vary based on license level:
- Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exam: $230
- Advanced Generalist or Clinical exam: $260
The Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credential needs you to pass the ASWB Bachelor’s Examination. Students aiming for a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Master Social Worker, Clinical Conditional (LMSW-CC) must pass the ASWB Master’s Examination. The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) status demands passing the ASWB Clinical Examination.
The Maine social work license board accepts license applications after you pass the examination. You’ll need to pay a $70 application fee plus $21 for the criminal history check. Your first application should include proof of passing the exam and other license-specific documents.
Maine offers an alternative path if you struggle with the examination. From September 1, 2026 through May 1, 2031, you must try the ASWB exam at least once. After an unsuccessful attempt, you can either retake the exam or choose an alternative path with extra supervised practice and competency evaluations.
The University of Southern Maine Libraries’ books and e-books are a great way to get ready for these exams. NASW Maine works with Social Work Examination Services (SWES) to provide exam prep training, and NASW members get a $25 discount.
The ASWB examinations test entry-level competence rather than academic expertise. These exams focus on skills needed for safe practice and cover just part of what social work degree programs teach.
Note that you can get accommodations for the Maine social work license examination if you have a disability, health condition, or English isn’t your first language. The ASWB Exam Guidebook shows you the exam structure, question types, and test day details.
Supervised Experience
Your Maine social work license has three main pillars: education, examination, and supervised experience. The Maine social work license board requires specific supervised practice hours based on your license level and educational background.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) candidates with a clinical concentration MSW need two years or 3,200 hours of supervised social work experience and 96 hours of consultation in clinical social work. Those with a non-clinical concentration MSW need more extensive requirements – four years or 6,400 hours of social work experience plus 192 hours of consultation.
Licensed Social Worker Conditional (LSX) candidates moving up to Licensed Social Worker (LSW) must complete:
- 3,200 hours of social work employment with an active LSX
- 96 hours of consultation during employment
- These requirements need completion between 2 to 4 years
The consultation process follows strict guidelines. Supervisors must verify completion using proper forms once consultation requirements are met or the agreement ends. Your license could face revocation if you don’t complete required hours within the timeframe.
Supervision requires at least one hour of face-to-face individual time. Additional learning activities make up the remaining hours. Your supervisor needs to document your performance and verify total supervised hours.
A Licensed Master Social Worker with Conditional Clinical status (LMSW-CC) lets you conduct psychosocial evaluation and treat mental illness and emotional disorders. This work needs supervision from a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Your supervision records must show details about your duties, service types, and the patients you serve. Supervisors need to complete verification forms that confirm all state requirements are met, including how often and how long supervision sessions last.
This supervised experience helps you build professional competence under qualified guidance before independent practice. After completing your supervised hours, you’ll need to submit verification documents to the Maine social work license board with your license advancement application.
Application Process
The final step to get your Maine social work license comes after you complete your education, exams, and supervised experience requirements. The Maine social work license board reviews applications in order. This process usually takes 7-14 business days.
You need to submit your application through the board’s official website. Each license type needs specific documents and fees with the application. Make sure your application is complete and accurate since the fees cannot be refunded.
All license types require these items:
- A completed online application
- Fee payments ($25 application fee, $70 licensure fee, and $21 criminal background check fee)
- Official verification of all professional licenses you hold or have held, including expired ones
- Official transcripts from your educational program
LSW (Licensed Social Worker) candidates must meet simple requirements. These include passing the ASWB Bachelor’s examination and submitting a “Agreement to Provide Consultation” form with a qualified consultant’s signature.
LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) applicants must show they passed the ASWB Master’s examination. They also need an official transcript proving their MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
LMSW-CC (Clinical Conditional) candidates have extra requirements. These include a clinical concentration worksheet and consultation agreement.
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) applications need verification forms. These should show 96 hours of consultation along with 3,200 hours of clinical social work employment.
Note that the state board doesn’t receive documents you sent to ASWB for exam qualification. You’ll need to submit all required documents again with your license application if you’re a first-time applicant.
Licensed professionals from other states can apply through endorsement. This optimized process needs an online endorsement application and verification of all professional licenses.
The Maine social work license board conducts a full review after receiving your application. This includes credential verification and eligibility assessment. You can practice legally in Maine once your license is approved.
Check that you have all documents ready before submitting your application. Keep copies of everything you submit. These might help if questions come up during the review.
The ASWB exam approval stays valid for one year. Plan your application timing well to avoid extra fees and reapplication.
Continuing Education
You need to complete ongoing professional development through continuing education (CE) to keep your Maine social work license active. The state of Maine social work license board requires 25 hours of continuing education every two years for all license types.
Your continuing education must cover these specific topics:
- Ethics: At least 4 contact hours for most licensees, which increases to 6 hours for conditionally licensed social workers (LSX)
- Psychosocial Assessment: LSX licensees need at least 6 contact hours in this area
- Family or Intimate Partner Violence: A one-time requirement of 12 contact hours
You can earn CE credits through formal courses, workshops, conferences, and seminars. Maine lets you complete up to 10 hours of your total CE requirement through distance learning courses during each 2-year licensing period.
The renewal process for your Maine social work credentials requires proper documentation. You should keep records of all completed continuing education activities because the board might conduct audits to verify compliance. Keep detailed records for at least four years after each renewal period.
Maine social work licenses need renewal by December 31st of their expiration year. The renewal costs $70, and you’ll pay an extra $50 late renewal fee if you renew within 90 days after expiration.
You can find approved continuing education through several organizations. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program reviews and approves continuing education providers. NASW Maine also certifies organizations and individuals who want CE approval for trainings and workshops.
Many courses are available through different providers to meet the ethics requirement. The family or intimate partner violence requirement offers options like courses on elder abuse, digital technology and domestic violence, and child abuse in ethnic minority communities.
Keeping up with your continuing education will give you professional competence and helps you meet the state of Maine social work license board requirements for ongoing practice.
Additional Information
Your Maine social work license maintenance involves several key considerations beyond basic licensure requirements. The state social work license board sends all correspondence through email, making a valid email address on file significant.
The 10-day notification rule is a vital requirement. You must notify the board within 10 days about any name or address changes, criminal convictions, professional license disciplinary actions, or changes to your original application qualifications.
Social workers in Maine serve as mandated reporters. State law requires medical, mental health, and social services personnel to report suspected abuse or neglect of children or incapacitated adults to the Department of Health and Human Services immediately.
The fee structure includes:
- License application: $70.00
- Criminal history check: $21.00
- Renewal fee: $70.00
- Late renewal fee (up to 90 days after expiration): $50.00
Maine social work licenses remain valid for two years. Note that conditional licenses can be renewed only once. Applications submitted more than 90 days after expiration require meeting all new applicant requirements.
Maine’s recent legislation brings exciting opportunities through an interstate compact for social worker licensure. This agreement makes practicing across state lines easier for practitioners. Seven other states have passed similar legislation, and at least 19 more states are thinking about it. Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut might join this compact too.
The Department of Professional and Financial Regulation welcomes calls for current information. The Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation’s database offers free online license verification, as paper verifications no longer exist.