How to Get Your Utah Social Work License: Complete Guide for 2026
Getting your Utah social work license leads to a rewarding career that helps others in your community. Utah provides three license types for social workers: the Social Service Worker (SSW), the Certified Social Worker (CSW), and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Each level lets you serve differently throughout the state.
Social workers play key roles in communities. They work as administrators of community centers and serve as case workers at local, county, and state social services organizations. Your career path depends on understanding Utah’s social worker license requirements. The state requires license renewal every two years on September 30th of even-numbered years. SSWs need 20 hours of continuing education, while CSWs and LCSWs must complete 40 hours.
This complete guide shows you how to get your social work license in Utah. You’ll learn about education prerequisites and supervised experience requirements. The information helps new social workers and those aiming to become LCSWs. The LCSW path requires a CSW license and 4,000 hours of supervised work experience. You’ll find everything needed to direct your path through the licensing process.
Education Requirements
Your path to a Utah social work license depends on the type of license you want. The Utah Social Work Board’s educational requirements are the foundations of your professional experience.
The Social Service Worker (SSW) license needs one of these qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree in Social Work
- A master’s degree in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Mental Health Counseling
- A bachelor’s degree in another field plus three semester hours each in Social Welfare Policy, Human Growth and Development, and Social Work Practice Methods, along with 2,000 hours of qualifying experience
Students who pick the third option with a non-social work bachelor’s degree must finish the required coursework and supervised hours before they apply. Another option lets you qualify for the SSW license by completing the first academic year of a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) approved Master of Social Work curriculum and practicum.
Getting a Certified Social Worker (CSW) license requires a Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited university or college. Recent graduates can apply for this level without field experience. You’ll need to pass the Association of Social Workers Boards (ASWB) Master Level Exam or the Clinical Social Workers Examination from California.
Students who want to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Utah’s highest level of social work licensure, need a Master or Doctorate degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution. This advanced license prepares you for clinical practice and needs substantial supervised experience, which we’ll discuss later.
Utah has several CSWE-accredited MSW programs. The University of Utah’s program connects with over 300 off-campus social service agencies. Students can specialize in Aging, Child Welfare, Forensic Social Work, Global Social Work, Health, Mental Health, and Substance Use. Utah State University’s program offers flexible study options, and full-time students can finish in two years at the Logan campus.
Brigham Young University runs a traditional, campus-based MSW program that focuses on social work practice with families and children. Students choose between Clinical Social Work and Social Work Research emphases and can graduate in 20 months. Utah Valley University has created a hybrid MSW program that blends campus-based coursework with online instruction, which takes two years to complete.
BSW graduates from CSWE-accredited programs should think about the advanced standing option. This program lets you get your MSW in one year of full-time study instead of two. Utah State University’s advanced standing program accepts applicants who got their BSW within the last five years and kept a 3.3 GPA or higher in all undergraduate social work courses.
Licensed certified social workers from other U.S. states, territories, or districts might qualify for licensure by endorsement. They must meet Utah’s education requirements, including a Master’s or Doctorate degree in Social Work.
These programs accept limited numbers each year. UVU’s first-year MSW cohort takes about 30 students, growing to 60 when advanced standing students join in the second year. This selective process will give students quality education and personal attention throughout their studies.
Exam Requirements
Getting your Utah social work license requires understanding the exam process completely. The license type you want determines your exam requirements, which are different by a lot from other states.
The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) states no examination requirements exist for Social Service Worker (SSW) or Certified Social Worker (CSW) licenses. This is different from other states that require exams for every license level.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) candidates must pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam. You might have already met this requirement during your CSW licensing process.
ASWB has changed its pre-approval process. The organization now handles all pre-approvals instead of the Utah Division. Here’s what you need to do:
- Apply for pre-approval directly through ASWB
- Pay the $60 non-refundable application fee
- Wait for approval notification from ASWB
Your approval stays valid for one year to register and take the exam. Next steps include:
- Register with ASWB for your specific exam
- Pay the appropriate registration fee ($260 for the Clinical Exam)
- Schedule your test with Pearson VUE, which administers the exams
DOPL emphasizes you should wait to submit your license application until after passing your required ASWB examination. This helps avoid application complications.
ASWB usually requires a 90-day wait before retaking a failed exam. All the same, you can ask for a waiting period waiver through ASWB’s online form. The form collects all needed information in one submission.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Utah chapter’s resources are a great way to get exam preparation help. NASW-Utah members can access free license prep course materials, including study guides and recorded prep courses from previous years. These materials can boost your chances of passing your first try.
Complete the appropriate DOPL application for your license level after passing your exam. Make sure to include your official ASWB exam scores and other required documentation.
Supervised Experience
Your path to a Utah social work license requires supervised professional experience. The amount of experience you need depends on your target license level and builds on your education.
To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), you’ll need minimum of 3,000 hours of clinical supervision while working as a Utah Certified Social Worker (CSW). Your CSW Intern hours won’t count toward this requirement. You must complete at least 1,200 hours of direct client care after finishing your education.
Your supervised experience must include:
- 100 hours of direct clinical supervision
- 25 direct observation hours at minimum
- Group supervision with other applicants capped at 25 hours
Your clinical social work experience should cover these key areas:
- Individual, family, and group therapy
- Crisis intervention
- Intermediate treatment approaches
- Long-term treatment methodologies
You can’t count clinical practicum hours from your degree program toward this requirement. The training takes at least 18 months to complete, though most people need about two years.
The Utah social work board requires you to work under a qualified supervisor. Your supervisor should be an LCSW with at least two years of practice. Each supervisor must fill out a Verification of Experience form.
Social Service Worker (SSW) license candidates with a non-social work bachelor’s degree need 2,000 hours of qualifying experience. A mental health therapist must supervise this work, which starts after you complete your bachelor’s degree.
This supervised experience helps you develop real-life skills beyond what you learned in class. You’ll apply your theoretical knowledge to real-life situations while getting feedback from seasoned professionals.
Different rules apply if you’re seeking licensure by endorsement from another state. You might qualify through this alternate path if you’ve practiced lawfully as an LCSW (or equivalent) for at least 4,000 hours, including 1,000 hours in mental health therapy.
Application Process
After completing your education, passing exams, and gaining supervised experience, your next vital step is to submit your application for a Utah social work license. The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) manages this process with specific requirements for each license type.
Your Social Service Worker (SSW) license application needs:
- Official transcripts showing your bachelor’s degree in Social Work, master’s degree in a related field, or bachelor’s degree in another field with required coursework
- Documentation of 2,000 hours of qualifying experience (if applicable)
- Supervisor’s completed experience verification form
A Certified Social Worker (CSW) application package needs:
- Official transcripts showing your Master’s or Doctorate degree in Social Work
- Official ASWB Master exam scores (if you’ve taken the exam)
Your Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) application must include:
- Evidence of passing the ASWB Clinical Exam
- Documentation of 3,000 hours of supervised experience completed while licensed as a Utah CSW
- Verification of Experience forms completed by each supervisor who oversaw your clinical hours
Note that hours you get as a CSW Intern don’t count toward your LCSW licensure experience. On top of that, it’s necessary for each supervisor to complete a separate verification form if you worked with multiple supervisors during your training.
The application fee is $120.00 for each license type, which is non-refundable whatever the application outcome. You should complete and pass the appropriate ASWB examination before submitting your DOPL application.
Military members and spouses should check DOPL’s Military Resources page before applying since special provisions might apply. If you hold a current license in another state, territory, or district of the United States, you might qualify for licensure by endorsement.
A complete application package typically includes:
- Academic transcripts in sealed envelopes sent directly to Utah DOPL
- Documentation of supervised hours
- ASWB exam results
- Criminal background check results
DOPL will process your application once you submit all required documentation and fees. You can practice according to your license type’s scope after receiving your Utah social work license.
Note that you have one year to use your ASWB exam approval, so time your application accordingly. Once licensed, you’ll need to keep it current through regular renewal and continuing education, which I’ll cover in the next section.
Continuing Education
Utah social workers need to complete continuing education (CE) credits to keep their licenses active. The state sets September 30 of even-numbered years as the renewal deadline. Different license types come with specific CE requirements.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) need 40 hours of CE credits related to their professional practice every two years. The requirements include 6 hours focused on professional ethics, law, or technology and 2 hours on suicide prevention. LCSWs can take up to 15 hours through online self-study courses. The other 25 hours must come from in-person courses or live, interactive webinars.
Certified Social Workers (CSWs) and Social Service Workers (SSWs) must complete 20 hours of CE per renewal cycle. They need 6 hours covering professional ethics, law, or technology and 2 hours on suicide prevention. CSWs can complete 8 hours through online self-study. The remaining 12 hours should be from in-person courses or live, interactive webinars.
New licensees have adjusted CE requirements. CSWs must complete 0.8 hours for each month they hold the license until expiration. LCSWs need 1.6 hours per licensed month.
CE credits can come from:
- Lectures, seminars, and conferences
- Training sessions
- Real-time, interactive distance learning courses
- College or university courses (3 CE hours per semester hour)
Utah’s Department of Commerce published a Best Practices Guide for Mental Health Therapists using Artificial Intelligence in 2025. Social workers should review this guide as part of their professional growth.
Many providers offer ASWB-approved courses that meet Utah’s requirements. These providers handle course content, but regulatory boards make final decisions about accepted CE credits. This approach helps social workers improve their professional practice while meeting state requirements.
Additional Information
Several significant developments will affect your Utah social work license in 2025, beyond the simple requirements.
The Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact represents a major step forward. This compact lets social workers practice across state lines. Seven states had passed this legislation by April 2024. The compact will benefit professionals who provide telemental health services and those who move between states.
Licensed social workers from other states might qualify for licensure by endorsement. Eligibility requires passing the ASWB Clinical Exam, holding a Master’s Degree in Social Work, and completing 3,000 supervised hours under an LCSW. The Utah social work board won’t accept hours accumulated under non-LCSW supervision.
Social work licenses expire on September 30 of even-numbered years. The renewal fees are $88 for Social Service Workers and $103 for CSWs and LCSWs. LCSWs can transfer up to 10 excess CE hours to the next renewal cycle. CSWs and SSWs can transfer a maximum of 5 hours.
The Utah social work board has released a Best Practices Guide for Mental Health Therapists using Artificial Intelligence. They recommend this guide to support your professional development and address new technology in the field.