How to Get Your Social Work License in North Dakota: Complete 2026 Guide
Social workers in the United States make a median annual wage of $61,330, and the top 10% earn more than $94,910. A career in social work can be rewarding, and getting the right license is a key step in your professional experience in North Dakota.
North Dakota has three different social work license types: Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). The North Dakota Board of Social Work manages these licenses, each with its own education and experience requirements. You can get licensed as a social worker with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited institution. Advanced designations like LCSW and LICSW need at least a master’s level education.
This detailed guide shows you the steps to get your social work license in North Dakota. You’ll learn everything from education requirements to exam preparation and continuing education needs. You also need 30 contact hours of continuing education to renew your license, which helps you keep your credentials current throughout your career.
Education Requirements
Starting your social work career in North Dakota requires the right education. Each license level needs specific academic credentials from accredited institutions.
The North Dakota Board of Social Work requires all social work degrees to come from programs with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation or Canadian Association for Social Work Education for Canadian schools. The board’s regulations state that only social work degrees are accepted – alternative fields won’t qualify for licensure.
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program to get the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) designation. This entry-level credential replaced the previous LSW level in August 2019 and needs you to pass the ASWB Bachelor’s level examination.
The University of North Dakota’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) is a 120-credit program. The program has these core courses:
- Introduction to Social Work (4 credits)
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3 credits)
- Social Work Research (3 credits)
- Generalist Social Work Practice courses
- Field Education requirements
The UND program needs liberal arts courses in psychology, sociology, American government, and statistics. Students must complete 15 credits of advanced social sciences and 6 credits of diversity courses beyond Essential Studies requirements.
The Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) designation needs a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. This credential became the intermediate tier of licensure in North Dakota after August 2019.
The highest level – Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) – needs a master’s or doctorate degree in social work. This advanced credential lets you practice independently and get reimbursement from third-party insurance payers.
North Dakota universities offer several qualifying programs. UND’s Master of Social Work program features Advanced Generalist training that prepares you for all practice settings, including clinical social work. Working professionals can choose from two online tracks:
- Online (Distance) Generalist program: A 60-credit program for those with related bachelor’s degrees but no BSW
- Advanced Generalist program: Designed for graduates with a CSWE-accredited BSW
Your educational path will vary based on your career goals. The University of Mary offers a 30-credit Master of Social Work program as a flexible, affordable online option for bachelor’s-prepared social workers moving into clinical or macro practice.
A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years. Master’s programs need 3-6 semesters after getting your BSW. Programs come in various formats – on-campus, online, full-time, and part-time – to fit different schedules.
Make sure your educational credentials match the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners’ requirements before applying for your license. This step will ensure you can use your education toward licensure eligibility.
Exam Requirements
The ASWB examination is a key milestone you need to clear for your North Dakota social work license. This standardized test will verify your professional skills and readiness after you complete your education.
Your license level determines which ASWB exam the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners requires you to take:
- You must pass the ASWB Bachelor’s level exam to get your Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) credential.
- A passing score on the ASWB Master’s level exam will get you the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) designation.
- The ASWB Clinical exam is needed for clinical licensure.
Keep in mind that you can’t just sign up for these exams on your own. The North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners must first approve your social work license application. They will then let you register for the right exam.
The ASWB registration fees depend on your exam level once you get board approval:
- Associate, Bachelors, or Masters Exams: $230.00
- Advanced Generalist or Clinical Exams: $260.00[84]
Pearson VUE handles the testing at their centers worldwide, and you’ll need to schedule your exam with them. Make sure to keep your authorization number handy since you’ll need it to schedule and handle other paperwork.
ASWB’s full-scale online practice tests are a great way to prepare for most exam levels (Associate, Bachelors, Masters, and Clinical). The Advanced Generalist examination is the only one without an online practice test. You’ll need your test authorization number to buy these practice materials.
NASW North Dakota’s Social Work Licensure Test Review Course helps you develop better test-taking strategies. This self-study option reviews key content areas and gives you six months of access to digital materials with selected readings and handouts.
Special testing arrangements might be available if you have a disability, health condition, or if English isn’t your first language.
NASW-North Dakota’s advocacy committee wants the Board to remove the ASWB exam requirement for licensed BSW and MSW social workers. The exam remains mandatory for now, despite these ongoing discussions.
After you pass your exam, you’ll move on to complete your supervised experience and submit your application to the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners.
Supervised Experience
Clinical supervision forms the practical foundation of your North Dakota social work licensure journey. Social workers seeking the Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) credential need to complete supervised practice before they can receive full licensure.
The North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners requires 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work experience during a 4-year period after earning your master’s degree. This hands-on experience helps build your professional skills and will give a solid path to independent practice.
You’ll need to submit a supervision plan to the board before starting your supervised hours. Your plan should include:
- Your proposed supervisor’s name
- Your supervisor’s license copy
- Details about the supervision setup
The supervision structure requires 150 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision with a board-approved supervisor. Only 50 of these supervision hours can happen in a group setting. Group sessions must stay limited to seven participants, including the supervisor.
Your clinical supervisor needs to meet specific qualifications. Qualified supervisors include:
- LCSWs with two years of experience or LICSWs
- Licensed clinical psychologists
- Licensed psychiatrists
Your supervisor will review your competencies in several key areas during your supervised experience:
- Knowledge of identified theory base
- Differential diagnosis application
- Treatment plan creation and monitoring
- Professional relationship development
- Client risk assessment for imminent danger
- Ethical relationship implementation with clients and colleagues
The board’s office needs a new supervision plan right away if you change supervisors.
Detailed documentation plays a vital role throughout your supervised experience. Keep thorough records of all supervision sessions, including dates, times, and topics discussed. The board might ask to verify this information, so good record-keeping matters.
MSW graduates typically complete 450 hours of field education for generalist practice. This is different from the 3,000 post-graduate hours needed for clinical licensure. Clinical hours must focus on building advanced clinical skills beyond your educational program’s training.
Regular evaluations from your supervisor during your supervised experience help develop skills needed for independent practice. This prepares you for your final application with the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners.
Application Process
The North Dakota Board of Social Work offers two ways to get your social work license. These pathways are the foundations of your professional trip.
Original Licensure Method
This path works for applicants who don’t have a current license in another state. You need to:
- Submit your application form to the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners
- Pay the required fees: $25.00 non-refundable application fee plus $75.00 license fee ($100.00 total)
- Provide official transcripts from your educational institution
- Submit completed reference forms from professional references
- Complete a criminal history background check
The board will authorize you to take the ASWB Master’s level examination after you submit your application. Note that you must pass this exam within one year from your application date.
Licensure by Reciprocity Method
You can apply through reciprocity if you have a social work license in another jurisdiction. Your current jurisdiction’s requirements should match or exceed North Dakota’s standards. This path requires you to:
- Complete the online application form
- Pay a non-refundable fee of $150.00
- Request license verification from your current licensing board
- Complete criminal history and child abuse background checks
The board then reviews your application to check if it matches North Dakota standards.
Documentation Requirements
The board sends you a background check packet with forms for criminal history records and child abuse/neglect checks. These checks take 2-3 weeks to process after you submit them with the fee.
ASWB sends your exam scores directly to the board within 10 days. You don’t need to do anything else about the test scores.
Your license won’t be issued until the board approves all required documentation. The board issues licenses weekly, unless special review is needed.
You can check your application status through the board’s online system. The board will mail your license once you meet all requirements.
The requirements are different for people upgrading from an existing North Dakota LSW license. They only need to pay the $25.00 application fee instead of the full $100.00.
Continuing Education
Social workers in North Dakota must complete professional development through continuing education to keep their license active. The North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners requires 30 approved continuing education contact hours during each two-year licensing period. License renewals run from January 1 of even-numbered years through December 31 of odd-numbered years.
Several limitations shape these requirements. You can complete up to 10 contact hours through independent learning, which has online studies without live interaction. Live webinars count as face-to-face hours rather than independent learning. Your continuing education must include at least 2 contact hours focused on social work ethics.
The requirements change for new social workers based on their original licensure date:
- You need 15 approved continuing education hours if licensed between January 1 and June 30 of the odd-numbered year
- The board requires no continuing education hours if licensed on or after July 1 of the odd-numbered year
Your continuing education should boost your professional competence. Acceptable content areas cover:
- Theories and concepts of human behavior and social environment
- Social work knowledge and skills
- Research or practice evaluation
- Social work ethics
- Cross-disciplinary courses relevant to social work practice
Approved formats cover workshops, professional conferences, webinars, academic coursework, and presentations by licensees. Academic coursework converts differently – one semester credit hour equals 15 contact hours.
The board won’t let you carry extra hours to the next licensing period. You must track your CE records and keep documentation for at least 4 years.
The board might extend your continuing education deadline if you face extreme hardship, such as medical emergencies. This needs a written request with your renewal application.
Additional Information
The North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners serves as your main resource for questions about your social work licensure experience. This six-member board, 40 years old, appointed by the governor manages everything in social work practice in the state.
The board has two main responsibilities: licensing qualified applicants to practice social work and making sure licensees follow laws and regulations that govern practice. These responsibilities protect the public and help professionals grow.
North Dakota has a strong community of licensed social workers. The state’s current numbers show 1,442 Licensed Baccalaureate Social Workers, 500 Licensed Master Social Workers, and 895 Licensed Clinical Social Workers in active practice. These numbers highlight how the profession thrives at every license level.
Social workers in North Dakota earn competitive salaries. The average annual wage for all social work positions reaches approximately $70,050. Each specialty comes with its own salary range:
- Child, Family and School Social Workers: $62,510 annually
- Healthcare Social Workers: $60,540 annually
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: $58,510 annually
Note that email communication with the board isn’t encrypted or secure. You should avoid sending sensitive information through the general contact form or standard email. The board’s website provides license verification tools and application status tracking.
You might want to think about joining professional organizations like the North Dakota chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Members get access to networking opportunities, professional development resources, and advocacy initiatives that advance the profession in the state.
Social workers in North Dakota can build their careers in a variety of settings. The profession offers flexibility and meaningful opportunities to serve communities throughout the state, from hospitals and schools to mental health facilities and government agencies.