How to Get Your Massachusetts Social Work License: Expert Guide [2026 Requirements]

Social work job opportunities will grow 6% between 2024 and 2034, much faster than other careers. A career in social work in Massachusetts starts with understanding the state’s license requirements.

The state has four different social work license levels that range from supervised associate positions to independent clinical practice. Your chosen path will need an accredited degree, professional references, a passing score in the ASWB exam, and 1,000-3,500 hours of supervised practice. Massachusetts’s licensing system works great for healthcare social workers. This is especially true in Greater Boston, which has 25 hospitals and 20 community health centers.

This guide breaks down everything about getting your social work license in Massachusetts. You’ll find details about education requirements and how to apply with the state’s board of social work. The guide will help you get your LSWA, LSW, LCSW, or the advanced LICSW credential with clear steps to direct you through the licensing process.

Education Requirements

Your Massachusetts social work career path starts with the right educational qualifications. The Massachusetts Board of Social Work sets specific educational criteria for each license level. These criteria ensure practitioners have the right knowledge base to practice.

Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA)

The LSWA provides an entry point to the social work profession. You can qualify with:

• A bachelor’s degree in any field
• An associate degree in a human services field from an accredited institution
• A high school diploma plus four years of documented experience

You’ll need to pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Associate exam. No supervised experience hours are needed.

Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

The fastest way to get your LSW credential is with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program. The Massachusetts board also accepts these alternative paths:

• Bachelor’s degree in any field plus two years (3,500 hours) of supervised experience
• 75 semester hours of college plus five years of supervised experience
• 60 semester hours of college plus six years of supervised experience
• 30 semester hours of college plus eight years of supervised experience
• High school diploma plus ten years (17,500 hours) of supervised experience

Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)

The next step up is the LCSW license. You’ll need a Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution. This license opens doors to advanced practice. The degree is enough – no extra supervised experience needed.

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

Massachusetts’s highest social work license, the LICSW, requires:

• An MSW, Doctor of Social Work (DSW), or PhD in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program
• A current LCSW license
• 3,500 hours of post-LCSW clinical experience with 100 hours of face-to-face supervision under an LICSW

CSWE Accreditation Importance

CSWE accreditation is a vital factor in choosing your social work program. The Council lists accredited programs under these statuses:

• Fully Accredited
• Accredited (Conditional)
• Accredited (Withdrawal in Progress)
• Candidacy
• Pre-Candidacy

Check your program’s current accreditation status in the CSWE directory before you enroll.

MSW Program Options

MSW programs in Massachusetts come in several formats to fit your schedule:

• Traditional full-time programs (typically 2 years)
• Accelerated part-time programs (3 years)
• Extended part-time programs (4 years)
• Advanced Standing options for BSW holders (1 year full-time or 2 years part-time)

Online options are now available with specializations in Mental Health and Trauma, Health, Equity and Wellness, Direct Practice, or Community Administration and Policy Practice.

Most MSW programs look for:

• A minimum 2.8 undergraduate GPA
• A 3.0 social work GPA for Advanced Standing (BSW holders)
• A professional statement about your social work interest
• Recommendation letters
• A resume showing relevant experience

These educational requirements create a clear path through Massachusetts’s social work license requirements. You can plan your educational trip based on your career goals.

Exam Requirements

Getting your Massachusetts social work license requires passing the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination. Your license level determines which ASWB exam you need to take to prove your knowledge and skills in the field.

Matching Exams to License Levels

Your targeted social work license in Massachusetts directly determines which ASWB exam you’ll take:

• LSWA candidates take the Associate Level exam
• LSW applicants complete the Bachelors Level exam
• LCSW candidates sit for the Masters Level exam
• LICSW aspirants must pass the Clinical Level exam

Registration Process

You’ll need to follow these three steps to register for the exam:

1. Apply to the Massachusetts board of social work and get approval to test
2. Register with ASWB after receiving board approval
3. Book your exam slot at Pearson VUE testing centers

The exam fees must be paid to ASWB when you register. The Associate, Bachelors, and Masters exams cost $230, while the Clinical exam costs $260.

Exam Format and Structure

The ASWB exam includes 170 multiple-choice questions. Only 150 questions count toward your score, while 20 are pretest items for future exams. You get four hours to finish the test.

You need a scaled score of 75 to pass the Massachusetts social work license exam. You’ll get unofficial results right after the test, and ASWB will send official results later.

Additional Considerations

ASWB’s website offers resources if you need special testing arrangements or ESL accommodations. You can also reach out to the Massachusetts Licensing Board at 617-701-8681.

After passing, you’ll pay an initial licensure fee based on your license level:

• LICSW: $82
• LCSW: $68
• LSW: $54
• LSWA: $42

If you don’t pass, you must wait 90 days before taking the exam again.

Preparation Resources

Here’s how you can prepare better:

NASW-MA runs a one-day Licensing Test Prep Course that covers Massachusetts licensure rules, exam content, and test-taking strategies. ASWB also offers free practice tests on their website.

The test focuses on four main areas:

• Human development, diversity, and behavior in the environment
• Assessment/diagnosis and intervention/treatment planning
• Interventions with clients/client systems
• Professional relationships, values, and ethics

Note that passing your exam doesn’t automatically give you a license. The final step is paying your initial licensure fee to get your license number from the Massachusetts board of social work.

Supervised Experience

Clinical supervision represents the foundation of advancing your social work license in Massachusetts. Social workers pursuing the Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) credential must complete 3,500 hours of clinical social work experience within a minimum two-year period after getting their LCSW license.

The Massachusetts board requires at least 100 hours of individual face-to-face clinical supervision with a licensed LICSW. You need one hour of supervision for every 35 hours worked, with a weekly limit of one hour. This structured approach helps you build proper clinical skills under expert guidance.

Part-time social workers have prorated supervision requirements based on their work hours while meeting basic standards:

• 20 hours/week requires 36 minutes of supervision weekly (0.6 hours)
• 5 hours/week requires 30 minutes of supervision weekly (0.5 hours)
• 75 hours/week requires 15 minutes of supervision weekly (0.25 hours)

Social workers putting in less than 8.75 hours weekly still need 15 minutes of supervision each week.

Your clinical supervisor should have a valid LICSW license. Supervisors working exclusively as government employees may be exempt from licensure if they meet equivalent requirements. Some jurisdictions allow supervisors with licenses from other states that match Massachusetts LICSW standards.

The Massachusetts social work license requirements have evolved since 2021. The board now accepts supervision through videoconferencing alongside traditional in-person meetings. Phone supervision remains prohibited.

Your LICSW supervisor must document your clinical hours on the state social work application form after completing supervised experience. This documentation confirms you’ve met both total hours and face-to-face supervision requirements.

Keeping detailed records of your clinical experiences and supervision sessions is vital. These records are a great way to get your final application ready for licensure advancement.

The National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Chapter can help if you can’t find appropriate supervision at work. Their Member-to-Member Supervision program connects LCSWs with LICSW supervisors based on practice specialty, location, and accessibility.

Supervision combines administrative oversight, educational development, and supportive guidance. These elements are vital to prepare you for independent clinical practice under the social work license regulations.

Application Process

The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) handles social work license applications in Massachusetts. They work on behalf of the Massachusetts board of social work with authorization from the Department of Public Health.

Your first step is creating an account on the Health Professions Licensing Portal. The process has moved completely online, which makes it much easier than the old paper system. Your application needs these items:

• Official transcripts from your CSWE-accredited school in sealed envelopes
• Three references (two professional and one supervisory)
• At least one reference must be from an LICSW or LCSW
• One reference must come from your second-year field placement supervisor
• Passport-style photograph
• Notarized application and Criminal History Acknowledgement Form

The application fee structure changes based on your situation:

• New applicant (all license types): $173.00
• Reciprocity applications: $187.00-$267.00 (varies by license type)
• Relicensure: $153.00
• Application updates: $50.00

ASWB usually reviews your materials within two weeks after submission. You’ll receive an email confirming your eligibility to take the licensing exam with registration instructions.

The final step after passing your exam requires paying the original licensure fee:

• LICSW: $82.00
• LCSW: $68.00
• LSW: $54.00
• LSWA: $42.00

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers have an extra requirement. You must enroll with MassHealth as a fully participating or non-billing provider to renew or get your LICSW. This applies whatever your practice status or location. LICSWs can order, refer, or prescribe services for MassHealth members under state law, which makes this step mandatory.

You should tell the board right away about any changes in your application information. The regulations give you 30 days to fix any issues or provide missing information after receiving notice, unless you get more time.

You can’t get refunds for any licensing exams, application processing, or license fees. However, Massachusetts recently received a grant that might cover your original application and license fees until the grant money runs out.

Continuing Education

You need to complete specific continuing education (CE) requirements to keep your Massachusetts social work license active. The Massachusetts board of social work sets different CE hours based on your credential level. Here’s what you need before each biennial license renewal:

• LICSW: 30 hours every two years, with at least 10 hours in clinical content and 3 hours in professional ethics
• LCSW: 20 hours every two years
• LSW: 15 hours every two years
• LSWA: 10 hours every two years

The board now requires all licensed social workers to complete 2 hours of anti-racism training and 1 hour of anti-discrimination training starting September 28, 2023. A single course lasting at least 3 hours can meet both these requirements at once.

Massachusetts social work license requirements include a one-time board-approved training on domestic violence and sexual violence. You can take this training for free through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Your CE activities should boost your professional competence. These can include workshops, seminars, academic courses, self-study programs, and professional presentations. The board only accepts CE approved by these recognized organizations:

• CSWE-accredited social work degree programs
• ASWB Approved Continuing Education (ACE) programs
• National Association of Social Workers or its chapters
• Other approved US/Canadian social work licensing entities

You can earn up to 25% of your required CE credits from related professions if they’re approved by organizations like the American Psychological Association or National Board for Certified Counselors.

Random audits happen regularly, so keep your CE documentation for at least two renewal cycles (4 years). The board currently allows unlimited online CE hours.

Social workers hired exclusively by state, county, or municipal governments may qualify for certain exemptions. The Board might grant extensions for CE requirements in special circumstances. Just make sure to ask in writing before your renewal date.

Additional Information

Massachusetts provides a pathway through reciprocity for social workers who hold licenses in other states. You can get a Massachusetts license with your current social work license from any state participating in the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Your existing license should match one of Massachusetts’s four license classifications to meet education and experience requirements.

The reciprocity application needs these documents:

• Official academic transcripts
• Three professional references
• A certified ASWB score report
• A 2×2 inch photo
• A criminal record acknowledgment form

License fees through reciprocity range from $187-$267, depending on the type of license.

Massachusetts has updated its license renewal cycle. Your license now needs renewal every other year on your birthday from the date of your original issue. The Health Professions Licensing Portal handles all online renewals.

Need help with licensing? Here’s who to contact:

• Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Work
• ASWB Application Processing

The National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Chapter (NASW-MA) provides many more resources to help with your licensing process, including test prep materials and professional guidance.