How to Get Your West Virginia Social Work License in 2026

Ready to get your West Virginia social work license? The state’s job outlook looks promising. Social worker employment should grow 6% through 2034, and qualified professionals remain in high demand. New social workers will find great opportunities in the field, though the median yearly salary sits at $48,000 – lower than the national average.

Your path to becoming a licensed social worker starts with the West Virginia Board of Social Work requirements. A bachelor’s degree in social work takes about four years. Higher-level positions need a master’s or doctorate from a CSWE-accredited program. The state’s social work license requirements include verified post-graduate experience. You’ll need two years of documented work or 3,000 supervised hours to get clinical licensure.

This guide takes you step-by-step through West Virginia’s social work licensing process for 2026. We cover everything from education prerequisites and exam details to supervised experience requirements and application steps. You’ll find all the information needed to direct your way through the licensing process successfully.

Education Requirements

Your West Virginia social work career starts with the right education. The West Virginia Board of Social Work requires specific educational credentials at each license level. All degrees need accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

You’ll need a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program to qualify at the entry level. This credential lets you earn the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) designation once you pass the required examination. BSW programs in West Virginia generally need a minimum GPA between 2.5 and 3.0.

An Master of Social Work (MSW) degree opens doors to advanced practice opportunities. The MSW makes you eligible for:

• Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
• Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) – with additional supervised experience

Educational institutions across West Virginia offer learning formats that fit different needs. You can get your social work degree through on-campus programs, online options, or hybrid course plans. Many schools also offer part-time and full-time schedules to help you balance education with other commitments.

BSW programs usually take four years and have foundational coursework in human behavior, social welfare policy, research methods, and direct practice skills. The coursework covers vital areas such as human diversity, social justice, wellness, and interprofessional practice.

Field experience is a key part of your training. BSW programs need supervised practicums where you’ll use classroom knowledge in real-life settings under professional guidance. These experiences come with prearranged placements at public or private organizations to build professional competence.

Note that social work programs don’t give academic credit for life experience or previous work instead of required coursework or practicum placements. Every student must complete all educational requirements, whatever their prior experience.

Make sure to check your program’s CSWE accreditation status – you need this to be eligible for licensure in West Virginia. Some programs stand out in unique ways. Bethany College, for example, is the only private liberal arts college in West Virginia with an accredited social work program.

Exam Requirements

Getting your West Virginia social work license requires passing the right Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination. This marks a significant step in your career path. The West Virginia Board of Social Work must give you pre-approval before you can take the exam.

The Board gives automatic pre-approval to anyone with a temporary permit. You can ask the Board about registration pre-approval anytime if you have a temporary license. Just make sure you follow all temporary license rules in the state’s regulation manual.

After getting pre-approval, you’ll need to pick one of these ASWB examination levels based on your background:

• Bachelors Level: Required for CSWE-accredited BSW permit holders and temporary license candidates pursuing LSW status
• Masters Level: For CSWE-accredited MSW graduates prior to completing post-master’s experience (LGSW candidates)
• Advanced Generalist: For candidates with CSWE-accredited MSW plus two years post-master’s general social work practice experience (LCSW candidates)
• Clinical Level: For CSWE-accredited MSW or DSW graduates with evidence of two years post-master’s direct clinical practice experience under LICSW supervision

Test fees change based on the level you choose. Right now, the registration fee is $230 for Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exams. Advanced Generalist or Clinical exams cost $260. You can schedule your exam with Pearson VUE once ASWB confirms your eligibility.

The ASWB Exam Guidebook will help you prepare. It explains the testing process, what you can expect, how exams are created, and question formats. You should read all ASWB instructions and procedures in the handbook before registering. You can find the Candidate Handbook online at the ASWB website.

Pass rates vary among different exam levels. First-time test-takers in 2024 showed these results: Bachelors (67.2%), Masters (73.0%), Advanced Generalist (50.0%), and Clinical (75.3%).

West Virginia’s social work licensing path doesn’t require GRE scores. You might qualify for special testing arrangements if you have a disability, health condition, or if English isn’t your first language.

Note that ASWB exams focus on testing knowledge and skills needed for safe practice. They’re not meant to be complete academic tests.

Supervised Experience

Clinical supervision represents a crucial part of your path to a West Virginia social work license. You must complete supervised practice hours after finishing your education and passing the examination. These hours qualify you for advanced licensure levels, particularly the Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) credential.

LICSW candidates must complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience in at least two years of full-time work. Part-time clinical practice can fulfill this requirement if you meet the board’s total hour standards. You need to document at least 100 hours of supervision, and 60 of these hours must be face-to-face meetings with your clinical supervisor.

Your clinical supervisor must hold an active LICSW license in West Virginia. This requirement will give you training that meets state professional standards and prepares you well for independent practice. The West Virginia board of social work strictly monitors who can provide supervision to maintain high-quality training standards.

You’ll gain experience in different settings while collecting your supervised hours. Many social work students start their practical experience through field internships at:

• Hospitals and healthcare facilities
• Schools and educational institutions
• Government agencies
• Nonprofit organizations

These locations let you develop skills in discharge planning, counseling, case management, and community outreach. Your internship hours don’t count toward post-master’s supervised experience requirements, but they build essential foundational skills.

You and your supervisor must keep detailed records of your experience during the supervision period. This includes quarterly logs of your hours and regular updates of completed supervision. Keep meticulous records since the Board might ask to review this documentation anytime.

Provisional License candidates following alternative paths face additional requirements. They must meet their licensing supervisor face-to-face at least once every three months for four continuous years. They also need to complete required coursework and continuing education credits along with supervised practice.

After finishing your supervised experience requirements, you can apply for full licensure at your intended practice level. This assumes you’ve met all other social work license requirements. Your supervised experience then becomes a credential that lets you practice independently throughout West Virginia.

Application Process

The West Virginia Board of Social Work has a well-laid-out application process that needs your careful attention. You’ll need to take specific steps to get your West Virginia social work license after completing your education and gathering your credentials.

Your documentation needs to be precise. Official transcripts must come directly from your school to the Board. LICSW candidates need their supervisors to fill out verification forms that show supervised experience hours. These documents are the foundations of your qualification for your chosen license level.

You must pick the right application form based on the license you want:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
• Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

You can get application forms from the West Virginia Board of Social Work website or directly from their office. Your completed application and supporting documents must go through mail—not fax or email—to keep your personal information safe.

The application comes with fees. Each license type costs $100.00. Exam fees are separate: LSW and LGSW exams cost $230.00, while LCSW and LICSW exams are $260.00.

The Board gives you several payment options. You can pay by credit or debit card through the WV State Treasurer’s e-Government Services Program that takes Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. In spite of that, credit card payments add a 2.25% user fee. Remember to send your payment receipt copy to the Board.

The Board typically takes fifteen business days to process applications. Some cases might need full Board review, which takes longer.

Stay in touch with the Board during this process to track your application status. You can ask for your West Virginia license verification to be sent to another state for $23.00.

A correct application the first time saves you from delays. Send everything to: WV Board of Social Work, PO Box 5459, Charleston, WV 25361. Once processed, you’ll receive your West Virginia social work license and can start practicing at your approved level.

Continuing Education

Your West Virginia social work license renewal depends on continuous professional development through continuing education (CE). The West Virginia board of social work now requires all regular licensed social workers to complete 30 hours of approved continuing education every two years. This marks a reduction from the previous 40-hour requirement.

The CE requirements fall into two main categories:

• Category I Hours: Licensed social workers must complete at least 20 hours from board-approved providers. These hours should include 10 hours of face-to-face or synchronous training, which can happen in-person or through virtual platforms like Zoom.
• Category II Hours: Individual Professional Activities (Provider #490000) can account for up to 10 hours. These activities include reading relevant journals, attending non-approved workshops, and conducting internet research on social work methods.

The specialized content requirements deserve special attention. Your Category I hours must include at least 2 hours covering mental health conditions specific to veterans and their family members. Additionally, you need at least 1 hour focused on social work ethics.

CE Broker offers the quickest way to handle license renewal. This free service tracks your continuing education credits and eliminates the need to keep physical certificates. Your completed courses get stored digitally through CE Broker, which means no extra paperwork during renewal.

Each license type comes with specific CE requirements. Provisional licensees must complete 20 hours every two years without using independent study. Service Worker Registrants also need 20 hours, including 2 hours on veterans’ mental health and 2 hours on ethics.

Licensed social workers can access approved continuing education through multiple channels. The West Virginia board of social work’s website lists certified providers and individually approved programs. The approved providers typically include the National Association of Social Workers, the Association of Social Work Boards, other state licensing boards, and CSWE-accredited social work programs.

Additional Information

The West Virginia board of social work provides several license types beyond the standard licensing process. Social work professionals who meet specific criteria can choose from three main license categories: Regular Licenses (A, B, C, D), Temporary Permits, and Provisional Licenses. Professionals can also apply for special designations like Emeritus Status or Inactive Status licenses.

Regular board meetings happen throughout the year to handle applications and professional concerns. The 2025 meetings will take place on January 16, March 31, May 15, July 17, September 11, and November 20. These dates matter when you plan your licensure timeline.

The board’s administrative processes continue to improve. New physical license certificates now measure 5½ x 8½ inches that align with the Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025. This act lets social workers with equivalent licenses from other states practice in West Virginia when they relocate.

The board typically processes applications and renewals within 15 business days after receiving them. You should wait at least 15 days before asking about your application status. Early status checks can slow down the process and strain the board’s resources.

Provisional licensing supervisors must submit their Annual Meeting and Progress Reports by January for all licensees they supervised last year. The provisional licensees need to submit their Annual Compliance forms in July.

The board charges $23.00 for license verification services. You might need this service when applying for a license in another state with your West Virginia credentials.

License certificates now arrive by email 3-4 months before renewal deadlines. Keep your email information updated with the board to receive these important communications on time.

Next Steps

Getting your West Virginia social work license is one of the most important steps in your professional career. A well-planned approach to education, examination, supervision, and application typically takes 6-8 years to complete for top-tier credentials. Licensed social workers can tap into many more advantages once they complete this process.

The state’s licensure structure creates clear paths for professional growth. You can start as an LSW with a bachelor’s degree and work your way up to LICSW status as you build your education and experience. This career progression gives you more practice authority and usually leads to better earning potential.

The West Virginia Board of Social Work website is your main source for information that includes application forms, requirement updates, and answers to common questions. Professional organizations like the National Association of Social Workers-West Virginia Chapter are a great way to get networking opportunities and professional support.

Your license application needs careful attention to detail. Keep copies of all submissions, continuing education certificates, and board correspondence. A detailed timeline with application deadlines, exam dates, and renewal requirements will help you progress smoothly through each stage. Careful preparation and following social work license requirements will help you direct your way through West Virginia’s licensure process and build a strong foundation in this vital profession.