How to Get Your Washington Social Work License: Expert Step-by-Step Guide

A career as a licensed social worker in Washington can be rewarding and lucrative. Social workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area rank sixth among “all other” social workers and earn an average of $92,780 annually. The field shows strong growth potential with a projected increase of 6% through 2034.

The path to becoming a licensed social worker in Washington is clear, but you need a graduate degree in social work first. Washington’s Department of Health (DOH) offers two advanced license types: Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Each license has specific supervised experience requirements. LASW candidates must complete 3,200 hours while LICSW candidates need 4,000 hours of postgraduate clinical work. The Washington State Department of Health, which serves as the state’s social work board, requires social workers to complete 18 hours of continuing education each year to maintain their license.

This page will guide you through every step to get your Washington social work license. You’ll learn about education requirements, application procedures, and everything else you need to start your career in this growing field.

Education Requirements

A proper education lays the groundwork for your Washington social work license. Washington stands out from other states by requiring graduate-level credentials for all social work licenses.

You need a master’s or doctoral degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program to qualify for any social work license in Washington. This educational foundation creates a consistent professional standard for all practitioners in the state.

The Washington State Department of Health needs your official transcripts that show your degree and graduation date. Your school must send these transcripts directly to the Department. Students with international credentials must provide an official English translation of any transcripts in other languages.

Washington maintains the same educational standards for all license types:

• Licensed Social Worker Associate — Advanced (LSWAA): or doctoral degree in social work plus declaration that you’re working toward full licensure
• Licensed Social Worker Associate — Independent Clinical (LSWAIC): Master’s or doctoral degree in social work plus declaration that you’re working toward full licensure
• Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW): Master’s or doctoral degree in social work
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW): Master’s or doctoral degree in social work

A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree won’t qualify you for a Washington license directly. Yet it can be a smart first step. BSW graduates from CSWE-accredited programs often qualify for Advanced Standing MSW programs. These programs take just one year instead of two. This faster route can save you $20,000-$40,000 in tuition and let you start your licensed practice sooner.

Washington offers several options if you’re pursuing a master’s degree. You can choose from full-time two-year programs, flexible part-time options, and advanced standing programs specifically designed for BSW graduates. The state has multiple CSWE-accredited programs at Eastern Washington University, the University of Washington, and Washington State University.

After completing your education, you’ll need supervised practice before becoming fully licensed. Note that starting October 1, 2025, you can practice under supervision for up to 120 days while the Washington board of social work reviews your completed associate license application.

Washington’s educational requirements for social work licenses are clear and specific. Your application process will go smoothly if your graduate program has CSWE accreditation and your school sends official transcripts directly to the Department of Health. A solid educational foundation will prepare you well for your future practice in the field.

Exam Requirements

Your Washington social work license journey starts with passing the right licensing exam. The state requires specific exams based on the credential level you want.

The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) handles all licensing exams in Washington. They create and maintain standardized tests that assess social workers’ ability to practice safely and ethically. You can take these exams throughout the year at secure testing centers across the United States, Canada, and other countries.

Each license type needs a specific exam:

• Licensed Social Worker Associate – Advanced (LSWAA): Master’s-level ASWB exam
• Licensed Social Worker Associate – Independent Clinical (LSWAIC): Master’s-level ASWB exam
• Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW): Advanced Generalist ASWB exam
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW): Clinical ASWB exam

Your career goals and license type determine which exam you’ll take. The Washington social work license requirements state that you need to submit your application to the Washington board of social work before signing up for any exam. You’ll get instructions about exam registration after your application gets approved.

Exam fees change based on the level. Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exams cost $230. Advanced Generalist or Clinical exams cost $260. You can schedule your test at any convenient time since there are no fixed dates.

Every ASWB test has 170 questions with different passing scores for each exam type. The Clinical exam needs a score of 102-111 to pass, while the Advanced Generalist exam requires 98-107. The scoring system uses a criterion-referenced approach. This means you’re measured against set standards rather than other test-takers.

A newer study, published in 2024 by first-time test-takers shows varied pass rates. The Masters exam has a 73.0% success rate. The Advanced Generalist exam sits at 50.0%, and the Clinical exam shows 75.3%. Groups with more than 200 candidates tend to have the most reliable pass rates.

The ASWB website offers study guides and practice exams to help you prepare. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Washington Chapter also runs exam prep workshops for clinical or advanced generalist level exams.

After you pass, ASWB sends your scores directly to the Washington State Department of Health for verification. This step must happen before your license application can move forward.

A good grasp of these exam requirements helps you plan your path to licensure better. The next vital step after passing your exam involves completing your supervised experience hours.

Supervised Experience

Supervised practice represents the third pillar of Washington license requirements, along with education and examination. The Washington board of social work sets specific supervision hours you need based on your license type.

Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) candidates must complete 3,000 supervised hours. This includes 800 hours of direct client contact. The supervision requirement breaks down into 90 hours total, with 40 hours of one-to-one supervision. The remaining 50 hours can be either one-to-one or group supervision.

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) candidates need 3,000 supervised hours spread across at least two years. The requirements include 1,000 hours of direct client contact under LICSW supervision. You’ll need 100 hours of direct supervision, with 70 hours under a licensed independent clinical social worker. Sixty hours must be one-to-one supervision, while you can complete the rest in either one-to-one or group settings.

The Washington social work license requirements allow a 10% reduction in supervised hours if you’ve worked as a Substance Use Disorder Professional for at least three years in the last decade. This brings your total requirement down from 3,000 to 2,700 hours.

Your supervisor must meet these qualifications:

• A valid, unrestricted license in good standing for at least two years
• No blood or legal relation, cohabitation, peer relationship, or recent therapeutic relationship
• 15 clock hours of supervision training through courses, continuing education, or supervision of supervision
• 25 hours of clinical supervision experience
• Two years of post-licensure clinical experience

Supervisors must give you a department-provided declaration confirming their qualifications before supervision begins. They need to show a full understanding of your practice activities, including your setting, records, financial management, ethics, and backup coverage plans[132].

Supervisors verify your supervised hours through specific forms. You might skip proving supervision hours if you’ve held a license in another state for more than five years without any disciplinary or criminal issues. Otherwise, your previous supervisors must confirm your experience using official Washington board of social work forms.

Supervision helps you apply your social work education practically. The Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work and similar organizations list approved supervisors who work with pre-licensure candidates at reduced rates.

Application Process

Getting your Washington social work license through the Washington Department of Health needs specific documents and fees. You can submit your application online through their portal or use traditional paper forms.

The Department of Health website guides you through the online application process step by step. Once you complete it, you’ll get a pending credential number from the Provider Credential Search. Remember to use this number whenever you contact them.

Paper applications need different forms based on your license type:

• Social Worker License Application Packet
• Social Worker Expired License Activation Application
• Portability of Professional Licenses form (for military members and spouses)

Each license has its own documentation requirements. Associate licenses (LSWAA/LSWAIC) need:

• Official graduate transcripts sent straight from your institution
• Approved Supervisor Licensed Social Worker form
• Application fee ($35 for LSWAA, $51 for LSWAIC)

Full licenses (LASW/LICSW) require:

• Verification of Social Worker Supervised Postgraduate Experience form
• Application and licensing fee ($216)

Quick responses to Department of Health questions help speed up the process. The department wants to process 90% of complete applications within 3-6 weeks. The actual processing takes 4 months and 3 weeks on average.

Your application goes through several verification steps:

• Educational credentials
• Other licenses held
• Supervised experience
• Exam results
• Background check results

Recent data shows about 3,600 potential mental health professionals waited for license approval in Washington as of August 2025. Staff shortages and technical problems with the department’s new licensing platform caused this backlog.

Military spouses or registered domestic partners might qualify to get their applications processed faster. Just submit your military transfer orders to Washington and proof of marriage or domestic partnership.

From October 1, 2025, people with complete associate license applications can practice under supervision up to 120 days while waiting for approval. During this time, you must:

• Work under an approved supervisor
• Answer requests for more documents quickly
• Stop practicing right away if your license gets denied or the 120-day period ends

A complete application, early fingerprinting, and regular status checks help avoid delays. When you follow the Washington social work license requirements carefully, you’ll get your license from the Washington board of social work.

Continuing Education

Your social work license needs specific continuing education (CE) requirements that the Washington Department of Health oversees. The requirements differ based on your license type and status.

Licensed Advanced Social Workers (LASW) and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) need to complete 36 hours of continuing education every two years. Associate licensees need 18 hours each year. These hours should enhance your professional competence effectively.

Your CE hours must include these key components:

• Ethics Training: At least 6 hours in professional ethics and law every two years
• Suicide Assessment: 6 hours in suicide assessment, treatment, and management every 6 years
• Health Equity: Starting January 1, 2024, a minimum of 2 hours in health equity training every four years

The Washington board of social work recognizes CE credits from providers of all types, as long as industry-recognized organizations approve them. You can earn credits through programs approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), or accredited higher learning institutions.

You can complete up to 26 of the 36 required hours through distance learning courses. This gives you the flexibility to take online courses that meet state standards.

Record keeping plays a vital role in your career. You should keep all CE activity records and completion certificates for at least four years. The state might request these documents during license renewal or audits.

Teaching educational content earns you CE credits equal to what attendees receive. You can count each presentation just once per reporting period. The Washington social work license requirements for continuing education help practitioners stay updated with current best practices, ethical standards, and field knowledge.

Additional Information

A Washington social work license comes with many more resources and options available to both new applicants and professionals with years of experience.

Washington welcomes out-of-state applicants through reciprocity pathways based on substantial equivalency. The state recognizes 49 states that have equivalent or greater scope compared to Washington, and all but one of these states meet the criteria – Nevada represents the exception. Military spouses can get faster processing when they submit their transfer orders and marriage proof.

The Washington Department of Health offers useful resources and maintains a voluntary supervisor directory that helps professionals find supervision. The DOH website lets employers and clients check and confirm a social worker’s credentials and licensure status online.

Professionals who hold the Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work from ABECSW or the DCSW/QCSW from NASW can skip some requirements. These credentials meet the state’s education and experience criteria automatically.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Washington Chapter is a great way to connect with peers. They host regular licensure presentations and keep an updated list of licensed supervisors ready to help. These professional resources are invaluable throughout your career development.