How to Get Your Pennsylvania Social Work License
Social work opportunities in Pennsylvania continue to expand rapidly. Mental health and substance use social worker jobs should grow by 7.9% between 2022 and 2032. The state expects healthcare social worker positions to rise by 7.4%, while child, family, and school social worker roles will increase by 4.5% during this time. The state faces a serious shortage of social service providers, including social workers right now.
Your career path in this growing field requires a clear understanding of Pennsylvania’s social work board regulations. The state provides three license types: Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). The PA social work license requirements also include completing 30 continuing education hours for each renewal period. These hours must cover ethics, child abuse recognition, and suicide prevention training. Social workers need to renew their licenses between March 1, 2023 and February 28, 2025, with a $95 renewal fee.
This guide will help you understand everything about getting your Pennsylvania social work license. You’ll learn about education requirements, application process and much more.
Education Requirements
Your Pennsylvania social work license starts with the right education. Each license type needs specific academic qualifications.
A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program is needed for the Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) credential. This entry-level license lets you practice under supervision but not independently.
Higher levels of licensure need more advanced education. The Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credential requires either a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), social welfare, or a doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution. LSW professionals use specialized knowledge of social resources and therapeutic techniques to help people improve their personal, interpersonal, and social adjustments.
The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) stands at the highest level of licensure. You’ll need your LSW credential first. Both LSW and LCSW candidates must have an MSW degree, and LCSW requires extra supervised clinical experience.
Accreditation Matters
The Pennsylvania social work board requires degrees from CSWE-accredited programs. This accreditation lines up with the National Association of Social Work’s Code of Ethics and maintains professional standards. Students from foreign institutions must submit a Council on Social Work Education evaluation to show their credentials match those from an accredited American graduate program.
MSW Program Specifics
Pennsylvania has 21 graduate social work programs at private universities, an Ivy League university, and public universities within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Among these, 17 MSW programs have CSWE accreditation.
A typical MSW program includes:
- 60 course credits (36-39 credits for advanced standing programs)
- 900-1000 field practice hours
- Specialized coursework in social work ethics, human development, trauma recovery, and serving diverse populations
Several Pennsylvania schools offer budget-friendly advanced standing programs for BSW holders. These accelerated tracks can cut MSW completion time by 1-2 years.
The degree requirements include specific coursework in child abuse recognition and reporting under Act 68 of 2008. This law states that only licensed individuals or graduates from CSWE-accredited programs can use the title “social worker” or “SW”.
Your choice of an accredited program that matches your career goals is a vital first step. This decision will help you meet all Pennsylvania social work license requirements, whether you’re pursuing an LBSW, LSW, or LCSW.
Exam Requirements
Getting your Pennsylvania social work license requires passing specific exams after completing your education. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) handles all social work licensure exams for Pennsylvania across all license types.
You’ll need different ASWB exams based on your license level. The ASWB Bachelor’s examination is required for the Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) credential. Anyone seeking the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) designation must pass the ASWB Master’s examination. The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) candidates need to clear the ASWB Clinical examination.
Pennsylvania’s social work board sets a passing score of 70% on the exam. This score might differ in other states, as this requirement applies specifically to the Commonwealth.
Examination Fees and Registration
Here’s what you’ll pay for your exam:
- Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s exam: $230
- Advanced Generalist or Clinical exam: $260
The Pennsylvania social work board must approve your application before you can register through ASWB. You can then contact Pearson VUE to pick your testing location and date.
Exam Preparation
You can reduce stress and avoid delays by knowing the testing process well. ASWB’s Exam Guidebook offers helpful details about exam procedures, test day expectations, exam development, and question formats.
Special Accommodations
You might qualify for nonstandard testing arrangements if you have a disability, health condition, or if English isn’t your first language. Remember to request these accommodations when you register for the exam.
Retaking the Exam
ASWB requires a 90-day wait before retaking the exam if you don’t pass your first try. Your licensure application with the Pennsylvania State Board stays valid for six months. After that, you’ll need a new application to become eligible for reexamination.
The exam tests your professional knowledge and competency to ensure you meet industry standards. Understanding these PA social work license requirements will help you direct your path through this vital step toward getting your license.
Supervised Experience
Getting your Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential in Pennsylvania requires 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. You can start accumulating these hours only after earning your LSW license and master’s degree in social work.
The Pennsylvania social work board has set clear guidelines. You need to complete these hours within a timeframe of two to six years. The board used to limit practitioners to between 500 and 1,800 hours yearly, but this rule no longer applies.
Your supervised experience must include at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact through:
- Assessment
- Psychotherapy
- Other psychosocial-therapeutic interventions
- Consultation
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
The other half of your clinical hours should focus on client-related work like case documentation, court testimony, or advocacy. Administrative tasks don’t count toward these required hours.
The supervision requirements state you need two hours of supervision for every 40 hours of clinical experience. One hour must be individual and face-to-face, while the other can happen in a group setting. A practitioner working 20 hours weekly would need individual supervision one week and either individual or group supervision the next.
Your supervisor’s credentials matter. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker with five years of clinical experience in the past decade must oversee at least 1,500 of your hours. Someone with a master’s or doctoral degree in a related field and five years of experience can supervise the remaining hours. Each supervisor can guide up to six supervisees at once without special approval.
Your supervised work needs to happen in one setting. You can either work 30-50 hours weekly for at least three months or put in 15 hours weekly over six months. Both you and your supervisor should keep detailed records throughout this journey.
After completing your supervised hours, you’ll submit verification through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). Your supervisor will confirm your compliance on the experience verification section of your application.
The supervised experience sets LSW and LCSW credentials apart. A good grasp of these PA social work license requirements will help you direct your path successfully.
Application Process
The Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) offers a quick online process to get your Pennsylvania social work license. This digital platform manages everything from original submissions to renewals and makes the process available to all applicants. The process requires attention to detail.
Your journey starts with creating a PALS account. The application needs you to select “State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors” as your licensing board. New applicants can begin right after creating their account. Simple questions will guide you to find the right license type that matches your qualifications.
Application fees depend on your credential type:
- LBSW/LSW: $75
- LCSW: $90
- License renewal (all types): $95 every two years
Your application must include these important documents:
- FBI Criminal Background Check – Valid for 180 days from application date
- Child Abuse Recognition Training – Three hours of Board-approved training
- Official Transcripts – Sent directly from your educational institution
- License Verifications – Required if licensed in other jurisdictions
- Education Verification Form – Needed for final semester students
The next step requires completing mandatory fingerprinting and the National Practitioner Data Bank Self-Query before submitting your application and fee. Your background check needs completion within 90 days after submission. The state police will process your request automatically upon application.
The Pennsylvania social work board reviews submissions chronologically. You’ll get an email showing your eligibility to register for the appropriate ASWB examination after approval. The examination eligibility lasts six months, but you can request extensions by updating expired documents.
Students in their final semester can start this process before graduating. The ASWB examination doesn’t require an official transcript, but your license remains pending until the Board receives your final transcript that confirms your degree.
Act 41 creates a path for out-of-state social workers to get licensed. You might qualify with a current license in good standing from another state, active work experience for two of the last five years, completion of Pennsylvania’s requirements, and payment of all fees.
Accurate documentation and careful attention to these steps will help you get your Pennsylvania social work license efficiently while meeting all requirements.
Continuing Education
You retain control of your Pennsylvania social work license through professional development and continuing education (CE). The Pennsylvania social work board defines CE as “education and training oriented toward maintenance, improvement or enhancement of social work practice”. This requirement will give a way to keep practitioners up to date with evolving best practices and knowledge.
Licensed social workers must complete 30 CE contact hours during each biennial renewal period. The current licensing period runs from March 1 through February 28 of a two-year period. These 30 hours must include:
- 3 hours must focus on Professional Ethics
- 2 hours must cover Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training (from approved Act 31 providers only)
- 1 hour must address Suicide Prevention
Social workers with their first license get a one-time exemption from these requirements. Your first license renewal doesn’t require the full 30 hours. Notwithstanding that, first-time renewal applicants must complete the 2 hours of mandated Act 31 Child Abuse Reporter Training.
The Pennsylvania social work board eliminated all live CE requirements on November 19, 2019. This change lets you complete your continuing education through online and distance learning options.
Your CE courses must come from providers pre-approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (including NASW) or those specifically approved by the PA state regulatory board. The state recognizes many pre-approved providers. These include CSWE-accredited programs, the Association of Social Work Boards, accredited colleges and universities, and various professional associations.
Your CE certificates play a vital role in maintaining compliance. Each certificate must show the course date, location, title, provider name, instructors’ names, and number of CEs awarded. The state requires you to keep records of completed CE for four years after completion since you may face an audit.
Extra CE hours don’t transfer to future renewal periods. Any hours beyond the required 30 can’t count toward your next renewal cycle.
Continuing education goes beyond just meeting requirements. It helps you grow professionally and become more competent as a social worker in Pennsylvania.
Additional Information
Your Pennsylvania social work license journey involves more than just meeting basic requirements. The license renewal deadline is set for February 28, 2025, so you should mark this date.
Pennsylvania doesn’t currently offer licensing reciprocity with other states. Notwithstanding that, new legislation to join the Social Work Licensure Compact is in progress. Member states plan to start issuing multi-state reciprocity licenses in 2025. Social workers from other states must complete Pennsylvania’s examination, educational, and clinical experience requirements to practice here.
The ASWB Masters examination eligibility stays valid for six months after approval. You should plan well because expired documentation needs updates for extensions.
Background checks are mandatory. Every applicant must get a fingerprint-based FBI background check. The process starts with pre-registration through IdentoGO using your application’s service code.
License verification goes beyond educational credentials. You must submit license verifications from all states where you hold or have held a health-related professional license, whatever its current status.
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-PA) and Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work offer excellent professional resources. These organizations help boost your career growth through networking and advocacy support.
Healthcare social workers lead the earnings chart at $63,870 per year as you progress in your career.