How to Get Your Ohio Social Work License

The social work field in Ohio shows promising growth. Job prospects look strong with expected increases from 4.3% for child and family social workers to 8% for mental health and substance use social workers through 2032. Getting an Ohio social work license is a crucial step in your professional path, and you’ll need to know about the different license levels and what each one needs.

Ohio’s social work licensing system has several tiers. These include the Registered Social Work Assistant (SWA), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), and Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW). Each tier comes with its own social work license requirements. The educational needs start from associate degrees for SWAs and go up to master’s degrees for LISWs. The path to become a fully licensed social worker in Ohio takes about four years to finish all the work to be done and meet other requirements.

This guide walks you through each step to get your social work license in Ohio. You’ll learn about educational requirements, exam details, supervised experience needs, and how to apply. The information here will help you move forward whether you’re just beginning your social work education or ready to take your career to the next level. This detailed guide will direct your path to becoming a licensed social work professional in Ohio for 2026 and beyond.

Education Requirements

Getting an Ohio social work license starts with meeting specific educational qualifications based on the license level you want. The Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board requires social work degrees from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Your educational path depends on which license you’re pursuing:

• For Registered Social Work Assistant (SWA) – Complete an associate degree in social service technology with at least 30 semester hours of core social work skills and an additional 14 semester hours in related courses such as psychology or sociology
• For Licensed Social Worker (LSW) – Earn a bachelor’s degree (BSW, BSSW, or BASW), master’s degree, or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
• For Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) – Get a master’s degree (MSW, MSSA) or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-accredited program

The board doesn’t accept “related degrees” for social work licensure anymore. Your degree must be specifically in social work, whatever the exact degree name. Each program must maintain CSWE accreditation for your degree to qualify for licensure.

You can start the licensing process early if you’re in your final semester. You’ll need to submit a letter of good standing from your social work program on official letterhead. This letter should include your full name, specify your social work degree, state your expected graduation date, and confirm you’re in good academic standing. The board will only issue your license after receiving your official transcript with the conferred degree.

Ohio universities offer excellent CSWE-accredited social work programs. Ohio University’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees come with flexible scheduling options. Plus, the University of Akron lets qualified BSW graduates complete their MSW in just 11 months through Advanced Standing.

After earning your LSW with a master’s degree, you’ll need more experience to get your LISW. The requirements include two full years (24 unique months) and 3,000 hours of supervised social work experience after getting both your MSW and LSW. Your supervision must average one hour for every 20 hours of work, adding up to at least 150 supervision hours.

Part-time practice is fine, but you can’t get credit for more than 1,500 hours in any 12-month period. Extra hours beyond 1,500 in your first year won’t carry over. If you don’t reach 1,500 hours in your first year, you can take more time to complete them.

These Ohio social work license requirements will shape your career path. Your choice of degree determines which license levels you can pursue. Before you enroll in any program, check its CSWE accreditation in the directory of accredited programs to make sure your degree qualifies for Ohio licensure.

Exam Requirements

Getting your Ohio social work license requires passing an exam after completing your education. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) creates and manages these standardized tests. These exams make sure social workers can practice safely and ethically.

Your education level determines which exam you’ll take. Students who are about to graduate or have completed their Bachelor’s degree must take the ASWB Bachelor’s exam. The same applies to Master’s students and graduates who need to take the Master’s exam.

The exam registration works in a specific way. You need to submit your license application to the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. They’ll send you an exam pre-approval email after reviewing your application. This email lets you know you can register for your exam with ASWB. These emails often end up in spam folders, so check there too. You can also register on the ASWB website if your eLicense dashboard shows “Exam Eligible” status.

The examination fees change based on your exam level. Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exams cost $230.00. Advanced Generalist or Clinical exams cost $260.00. ASWB will send you details to schedule your exam at a Pearson Vue testing center after you pay.

You’ll find many resources to help you prepare. The ASWB Exam Guidebook gives great information about the testing process, exam day expectations, and question formats. NASW Ohio provides preparation options too. They work with AATBS, a leading prep material provider, to give members a 35% discount. NASW Ohio started offering free licensure prep courses in 2023 to make the process more fair.

You can register again if you don’t pass the first time, as long as your board approval is still valid. Your original approval stays active for twelve months, so you don’t need new approval after failing. The eLicense system lets you select “Exam Re-approval” under the Options on your LSW license tile if your approval expires.

Special arrangements are available if you have disabilities, health conditions, or speak English as a second language. These options help make the exam process fair for everyone.

Knowing these Ohio social work license requirements helps you plan better for this vital step. Good preparation and understanding of the process will help you complete this requirement and move forward with your Ohio social work license.

Supervised Experience

Professional supervision is a vital component to advance to the Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) level in Ohio. This requirement will give a solid foundation of professional competence under qualified guidance before you start practicing independently.

You must complete two full years (24 unique months) of supervised social work experience to get your social work license at the LISW level after getting both your MSW and LSW. Your work experience should include at least 3,000 hours of work experience in a social work setting during this period.

The supervision must follow specific guidelines:

• You need one hour of individual or group supervision for every 20 hours of work, with a minimum of 150 total supervision hours
• Supervision must be provided by an LISW with Supervision Designation (LISW-S)
• There cannot be a direct family relationship between you and your supervisor

Your first step should be establishing a supervision relationship by exchanging resumes with potential supervisors to verify qualifications and ensure a good match. A formal supervision contract comes next, which outlines expectations, learning goals, meeting frequency, and financial arrangements.

Keep in mind that part-time workers cannot be credited with more than 1,500 hours during any 12-month period. Your excess hours from the first year won’t carry over to the second year. The timeframe extends until you reach that milestone if you don’t complete 1,500 hours in the first 12 months.

Detailed documentation should be maintained throughout your supervision period. The Ohio CSWMFT Board requires a supervision log that documents each supervision session, and your supervisor must sign it at least quarterly. These records should include dates, content, and goals of supervision that must be available upon request.

Supervision sessions can take place via video conferencing or telephone with proper confidentiality safeguards. The training supervision must begin with an original face-to-face meeting.

The difference between clinical and training supervision plays a key role in meeting Ohio social work license requirements. Clinical supervision evaluates performance and client welfare, while training supervision focuses on professional development toward independent licensure.

Your LISW-S supervisor must submit a Professional Employment Reference Form to confirm your completed hours. This documentation proves that you’ve met all supervision requirements and are ready for independent practice responsibilities.

Application Process

The social work license application starts with an online submission through Ohio’s eLicense portal. You need to create a user account with a unique ID and password if you don’t have one. This digital system makes the licensing procedure easier and lets you monitor your application progress.

The LSW license application requires an $80.00 fee plus a $3.50 processing charge. Advanced licenses such as LISW, LPCC, or IMFT cost $100.00 with the same $3.50 processing fee. The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board reviews your application after submission.

Your application must include these key components:

• Official transcripts showing your conferred degree sent directly from your institution
• Exam results from your ASWB examination
• Completed BCI and FBI background checks
• For LISW applicants, documentation of completed supervised experience

Background checks serve as a crucial security measure. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) checks must be completed successfully. These checks stay valid for one year. You can start this process by visiting a WebCheck location like a local police station, sheriff’s department, or DMV with printed instructions.

Students can start their application process early during their final semester by submitting a letter of good standing from their program. This letter should include your name, degree information, predicted graduation date, and confirmation of good academic standing. You must provide official transcripts showing your conferred degree before receiving your license.

Your eLicense account makes application tracking simple. Log in and click “Review Status” under the Options menu on your license application tile. The review checklist displays completed requirements including background checks, transcripts, supervision hours, and exam scores.

Licensed applicants from other states follow a different process. They must send their ASWB exam results to Ohio officials and prove their current license’s validity. Ohio will join the Social Work Licensure Compact in 2025, allowing multi-state practice privileges to qualifying licensees.

The board sends an email confirmation after verifying all requirements. This includes a printable wall certificate for your workplace display.

Continuing Education

Your Ohio social work license requires continuing education (CE) hours throughout your career. These requirements help you stay updated with current practices and improve your professional skills.

Licensed Social Workers (LSW) and Licensed Independent Social Workers (LISW) must complete 30 clock hours of continuing education every two years from their original licensure date. Social Work Assistants (SWA) need 15 hours per renewal period. Three of your total required hours must cover ethics whatever your license type.

You can choose from several CE options:

• Workshops and seminars
• College coursework (one semester hour equals 15 clock hours)
• Webinars and distance learning
• Authored publications (up to 10 hours per article)
• Teaching presentations
• Volunteer service (up to 6 hours)

The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board accepts courses from specific approved providers. Social workers can complete programs approved by the Ohio CSWMFT Board, Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), or National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Distance learning has become more available—you can now earn all required CE hours through online or distance learning courses. This flexibility lets you complete requirements at your own pace.

Dual licensees can use their CE hours toward multiple licenses if the CEs were taken within the two-year renewal cycle and approved for both licenses.

Ohio allows “banking” or carrying over a maximum of 12 hours toward your next renewal period. This provision rewards professionals who complete more than the minimum requirements.

Keep in mind that you must complete all CE hours before renewing your license. Renewing with insufficient hours violates Ohio license requirements. The renewal process includes a standard fee plus a $3.50 transaction fee required by the state.

Additional Information

Social workers from other states can easily get their license in Ohio through reciprocity. Out-of-state social workers need to submit their ASWB exam results and verify their current license to apply for an Ohio license. Ohio’s social work system has two main licensing levels, and choosing the right one is vital. Licensed Social Workers (LSW) work under supervision, while Licensed Independent Social Workers (LISW) can diagnose and treat patients independently.

Social work salaries in Ohio differ based on specialization:

• Healthcare Social Workers: $64,650 annually
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers: $51,210 annually
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: $50,400 annually
• Other Social Work specialties: $62,190 annually

Ohio’s job market for social workers shows promising growth with rates between 4.3% and 8% through 2032.

Professional organizations are a great way to get support throughout your career. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Ohio Chapter helps with advocacy, networking, and continuing education. The Ohio School Social Work Association (OSSWA) focuses on school social workers by providing professional development and legislative advocacy.

Social work licenses come from state authorities, not national ones. This means you’ll need an Ohio license even if you’re already licensed somewhere else. Your examination score stays valid in any state that uses that specific licensing exam, which makes moving between states easier.