Montana Social Work License Requirements

Looking to get your Montana social work license and take your helping career to the next level? You’ll need to know exactly what it takes to get licensed. Montana only grants social work licenses to professionals with a Master’s or Doctoral degree in Social Work from an accredited institution.

The path to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Montana requires hands-on experience after graduation. You must complete 3,000 hours of postgraduate supervision over two or more years. This includes 1,500 hours of direct client contact. Montana’s board of social work requires 50 hours of direct supervision from an LCSW. Your license stays active when you complete 20 clock hours of continuing education each year.

Let us guide you through every step to get your license. We’ll cover everything from education requirements to exam details and application steps. This guide helps both newcomers starting their social work experience and professionals ready for licensure. You’ll discover everything needed to get your Montana social work license.

Education Requirements

Educational credentials lay the groundwork to get your Montana social work license. The state’s academic standards are clear, and you’ll need to meet them before you can get licensed.

Montana requires a Master’s degree in Social Work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program to get clinical licensure. This rule is firm – you can’t become a licensed clinical practitioner with just a bachelor’s degree.

Montana offers three licensing tiers, each with its own educational requirements:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): You’ll need a Master’s or Doctoral degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program. This is Montana’s highest social work license level.
• Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW): A Master’s degree from an approved program is required. This mid-level credential lets you practice advanced non-clinical work.
• Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW): You must have a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program. This entry-level credential helps you start in foundational positions.

Montana has just three accredited social work programs, plus one online option. Make sure to check your program’s accreditation in the CSWE directory since only accredited degrees qualify for licensing.

A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program might qualify you for advanced standing in Master’s programs. This could cut your MSW completion time from two years to just 9 months.

A DSW (Doctor of Social Work) or PhD in Social Work isn’t required for licensing but could open doors in research, academia, or specialized clinical practice. These advanced degrees take 3-7 years after your MSW, based on your enrollment status.

The Montana board of social work takes a close look at your educational credentials during application review. You’ll need to have your school send official transcripts to prove you completed your degree. The board looks carefully at clinical assessment, diagnosis, and intervention coursework for clinical license seekers.

Program costs vary based on where you live and the type of school you choose. Montana residents pay $8,000 to $10,000 yearly for public university MSW programs. Out-of-state students pay more – between $22,000 and $30,000 per year. Private schools might charge over $30,000 yearly whatever your residency status.

Montana’s social work programs put special focus on field practicums and cultural competency, especially for working with rural and Indigenous communities. This practical experience helps you meet licensing requirements and prepares you for Montana’s unique social service needs.

Your educational path sets the stage for which license you can get in Montana. Smart planning of your studies, with close attention to accreditation and hands-on experience, will help you succeed in getting licensed.

Exam Requirements

The ASWB examination is a vital step to get your Montana social work license after finishing your education. You need to take a specific exam that lines up with your education and career goals.

The Montana board of social work has clear exam rules for each license type. The LBSW license needs the ASWB Bachelors Exam, LMSW license needs the ASWB Masters Exam, and LCSW license needs the ASWB Clinical Exam. This system will give a good way to show your skills at each practice level.

You must follow specific steps to register for the exam. The Montana board should approve your social work license application before you can register for the exam. Once they approve, you can sign up with ASWB. Here’s what each exam costs:

• Associate, Bachelors, or Masters Exam: $230.00
• Advanced Generalist or Clinical Exam: $260.00

ASWB will send you an Authorization to Test email after you register. This email lets you book your test at Pearson VUE. You can take these social work licensing exams at any Pearson VUE test center around the world. This means you can pick a test center that works best for you.

The ASWB helps candidates with special needs. You might qualify for special testing arrangements if you have a disability, health condition, or if English isn’t your first language. You’ll need to follow ASWB’s rules to get these arrangements approved.

ASWB must send your passing exam results straight to the Montana board of social work. This official proof completes the exam part of your license application.

Good preparation helps you pass the exam. ASWB’s Exam Guidebook gives great tips about the test process, exam day details, how they make the exam, and question types. You can find many more study resources, both free and paid.

The National Association of Social Workers Montana Chapter sometimes runs exam prep courses. They’ve planned a Virtual Exam Prep session with Dawn Apgar PhD LSW ACSW for June 29, 2024, from 9am to 4pm. These courses can boost your confidence a lot before the test.

The exam is a big part of getting your Montana social work license. Planning ahead and preparing well will help you clear this milestone successfully.

Supervised Experience

Supervised experience is the foundation of getting your Montana social work license. The Montana Board of Social Work has specific supervision requirements that change based on the type of license you want.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) candidates need 3,000 total hours of post-degree supervised work experience. This supervised practice must last at least 24 months. Here’s what you need:

• At least 100 hours must include individual or group supervision with a qualified supervisor
• Of those 100 hours, at least 50 must be individual, face-to-face supervision with an LCSW
• At least 10 of the face-to-face hours must include direct observation of service delivery

Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW) candidates need 1,500 total hours of supervised work experience over at least 18 months. The requirements include:

• A minimum of 75 hours of individual or group supervision
• At least 25 of those supervision hours must be with client populations you plan to serve

Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) candidates need 500 total hours of supervised work experience over at least 18 months. You’ll need:

• A minimum of 50 hours of individual or group supervision
• At least 10 of those hours must be with your intended client populations

Supervisors must provide at least two hours of supervision for every 160 hours of social work practice, regardless of license type. Qualified supervisors must also have experience and expertise with your client population and methods of practice.

Montana’s multi-tiered licensure system will give you proper supervision before you start independent practice. The National Association of Social Workers Montana Chapter states, “Supervision to new practitioners serves to build competency in practice and offers support to new social workers that may be working in the hardest settings in the social work field”.

The NASW Montana Clinical Supervisor Registry helps connect license candidates with potential supervisors throughout the state. The registry has various licensed professionals (LCSW, LMSW, LCPC, LAC, and LMFT clinicians). Keep in mind that LCSW candidates must get at least 50 hours of face-to-face supervision from an LCSW.

LMSW and LBSW applicants who aren’t licensed in another jurisdiction must complete their supervised work experience hours within five years of applying. Proper documentation and timely completion of supervision requirements are vital for successful licensure.

Application Process

Getting your Montana social work license is straightforward after completing your education, examination, and supervised experience requirements. The Montana Board of Social Work lets you apply online or through paper submissions. The online process usually moves faster.

Before you start, gather these documents:

• Official license verification from every state where you’ve held a professional license
• Certified education transcripts sent straight from your college or university
• Fingerprint and background check results from the Montana Department of Justice
• Noncriminal Justice Applicant’s Rights form
• ASWB exam results sent directly from ASWB
• Proof of completed supervised experience (3,000 hours over 24 months for LCSW)
• $200.00 application fee

Military spouses and families can get their licenses faster through special support from the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. Starting your application before moving to Montana helps you get your license right after arrival. Let customer service know you’re a military spouse to get extra help.

Keep your email address active since the board uses it as their main way to reach you. The application team will check your materials and verify your credentials, including any out-of-state licenses.

The board can give you a 60-day provisional license if license verifications from other states take time, but you meet all other requirements. This temporary license works just like a full one while you wait for outstanding verifications, so you can start working right away.

You can create an account to apply online or download paper forms from the Montana Board of Social Work website. Make sure to include all required documents listed in your specific license type’s checklist.

A well-prepared application package and careful attention to board guidelines will help you get your Montana social work license quickly. The board staff are ready to answer your questions and help you through the process.

Continuing Education

You need ongoing professional education to keep your Montana social work license current and make your practice work. The Montana board of social work has specific continuing education (CE) requirements that all licensees must complete.

Licensed social workers in Montana, including LCSW, LMSW, and LBSW practitioners, must complete 20 hours of continuing education annually before they can renew their license. This requirement helps social workers stay updated with evolving best practices and deliver high standards of care.

The 20 required hours must include at least two hours specifically related to suicide prevention. This specialized training shows Montana’s steadfast dedication to addressing this critical public health concern.

Social workers who complete more than 20 hours can carry forward extra hours to the next year, up to 20 hours maximum. This gives flexibility to practitioners who take part in extensive professional development.

The Montana board of social work requires practitioners with multiple license types to get the full 20 hours of CE for each license. Therefore, someone holding both LCSW and LCPC credentials would need to complete 40 total hours each year.

CE requirements start after your first license renewal. In spite of that, new licensees should plan their professional development early to meet compliance requirements at renewal time.

Licensees must choose quality programs that:

• Focus on protecting public health, safety, and welfare
• Add to professional knowledge and competence

Montana accepts CE completed through programs of all types. In fact, there are no limits on home study or online courses that count toward CE requirements. This flexibility lets social workers access professional development whatever their location or schedule.

Social workers must keep records of all CE activities for three years and show them to the board when asked. Records need to include:

• Licensee’s name
• Course title and content description
• Presenter or sponsor details
• Course dates
• Number of CE hours earned

The department reviews hardship exemption requests from CE requirements case by case.

Montana social work license holders can find approved courses through many providers. Programs from providers approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program are accessible to more people.

Additional Information

Montana’s social work licensing system went through major changes in 2019. The NASW Montana chapter’s legislative efforts altered the map by creating a multi-tiered licensure system. Montana previously had just one licensure path – the Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Now social workers can choose from three distinct licensing tiers, which creates new opportunities for bachelor’s and master’s level practitioners who don’t want to pursue clinical practice.

Social workers must renew their Montana licenses every year with a USD 149.00 renewal fee. The Montana board of social work makes verification easier by accepting online confirmations from other states where possible. Professionals who face verification delays but meet other criteria can receive a provisional 60-day license while their documentation is pending.

Montana welcomes professionals licensed in other states through licensure by endorsement, also known as reciprocity. ASWB exam scores stay valid across all states that use that specific exam.

The state recently introduced temporary provisions including a Legacy Clause. This clause helped experienced social workers get LBSW or LMSW licenses without supervision hours or exams if they had over 4,000 hours of social work experience. December 31, 2024 marks the end date of this provision.

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health website offers detailed information about administrative rules, supervision resources, and application forms.