Career Path
How to Become a Social Worker: Degree, License and Timeline
How Do You Become a Social Worker?
To become a social worker, earn a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), complete its supervised field practicum of at least 400 hours, then apply to your state board for a bachelor's-level license where one exists: 42 of 52 jurisdictions issue one, and 31 name the ASWB Bachelors exam. Clinical practice takes a Master of Social Work (MSW), which BSW graduates can often finish in about a year through advanced standing. Start by comparing CSWE-accredited BSW programs.
How to Become a Social Worker, in Brief
The usual route to becoming a social worker runs through a Bachelor of Social Work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics calls the BSW the most common requirement for entry-level nonclinical social worker positions, and clinical social workers need a master’s degree, supervised clinical experience and a state license on top of it.
So there are really two destinations. One is a bachelor’s-level social worker in child welfare, case management or community services, licensed in the 42 jurisdictions that issue a bachelor’s credential. The other is a clinical social worker with an MSW. The BSW is the first step toward both, and it shortens the second.
Choose your target state early. Licensing is set state by state, and the differences between, say, Texas and New York change how fast you can work under a social work title.
The Steps From First Class to First License
The order here matters, so it is a numbered list.
- Choose a CSWE-accredited BSW program. There are 631 BSW programs at 565 schools; 605 are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and 26 are in candidacy or pre-candidacy. CSWE treats students who start in or before a program’s candidacy year as graduates of an accredited program if it goes on to earn initial accreditation. Browse the BSW program directory.
- Finish general education and apply to the major. Most programs admit you to the social work major partway through college, with a GPA floor and prerequisite courses. If you start at a community college, a published transfer pathway such as UT Arlington’s keeps your credits moving; 199 programs state one. The transfer finder matches you to them.
- Complete the field practicum. CSWE requires at least 400 hours of supervised field education. Among the 161 programs that state their hours, the median is 430.
- Graduate and apply to your state board. ASWB’s process starts with the board: you apply for licensure first, and once approved you register for the exam.
- Pass the licensing exam. 31 jurisdictions name the ASWB Bachelors exam for their bachelor’s license. A few use no exam or a different level, covered below.
- Complete any supervised practice your state requires. Some states license you at graduation; others require supervised hours before the full license or before independent work.
- Earn an MSW if you want clinical practice. BSW graduates of accredited programs can apply for advanced standing, and 323 BSW schools offer it in their own MSW.
Where a Bachelor’s Degree Is Enough to Get Licensed
Of 52 jurisdictions (the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico), 42 issue a bachelor’s-level social work credential, under 14 titles including LBSW, LSW, LSWA, RSW and CSW. How you get it varies more than the titles suggest:
| State | Bachelor’s credential | Exam | What else the board requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) | ASWB Bachelors | Students in a qualifying program may test while still in school |
| Michigan | Limited LBSW, then LBSW | None for the limited license; ASWB Bachelors for the LBSW | 4,000 hours of post-degree supervised experience over at least 2 years |
| Maryland | Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) | ASWB Bachelors | Independent practice possible after 3 years and 4,500 supervised hours |
| Montana | LBSW candidate (SWLB), then LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | At least 500 hours of supervised experience over at least 18 months |
| Louisiana | Registered Social Worker (RSW) | None | A registration, not a license; criminal history screening |
| Oregon | Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW) | ASWB Bachelors | Oregon laws and rules exam |
| New Mexico | Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) | ASWB Bachelors | Jurisprudence exam and a course in New Mexico cultures |
| South Carolina | Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) | ASWB Bachelors | Age 21 or older; final-semester students may test early |
| North Carolina | Certified Social Worker (CSW) | ASWB Bachelors | Voluntary certification for nonclinical practice |
| Nebraska | Certified Social Worker (CSW) | None | Title-protection certificate; degree and application only |
Ten states issue no bachelor’s-level credential: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. You can still work in social services there with a BSW, but your first social work license comes after the MSW. In California, for example, the first step is the Associate Clinical Social Worker registration for MSW graduates; in New York it is the LMSW.
Look up any state in the BSW license checker, and see the full board-by-board breakdown in the LBSW license guide.
How Long Each Stage Takes
Time to practice depends on three clocks: the bachelor’s itself, your state’s licensing rules and, if you want clinical work, the MSW.
The bachelor’s. Full-time students follow a standard bachelor’s plan. Transfer students should look at the 199 programs with stated transfer pathways and the 18 built specifically for degree completion for students who already have college credit. The accelerated BSW programs and degree completion programs pages list the faster options.
The bachelor’s license. In states like Texas and South Carolina you can test near graduation. Other states require supervised work before the full license:
| State | Supervised experience for the bachelor’s license, as the board states it |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 4,000 hours over not less than 2 years, while holding the limited license |
| New Hampshire | 4,000 hours within 2 to 4 years for the LSW, with 100 hours of individual supervision |
| Maine | 96 hours of consultation alongside 3,200 hours of social work employment |
| Montana | At least 500 hours over at least 18 months, with 50 hours of supervision |
| Alabama | After licensure, 96 hours of supervision over 24 months within a 36-month window |
The MSW. BLS reports that MSW programs generally take 2 years, and that some let BSW graduates finish in under 2 years. CSWE requires at least 900 field hours across the BSW and MSW combined for advanced standing students, which is how your bachelor’s practicum counts toward the master’s.
Can You Be Licensed With a BSW? Every State
| State | Bachelor's license | Exam | CSWE BSW schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama social work programs | LBSW | – | 15 |
| Alaska social work programs | Baccalaureate Social Worker | ASWB Bachelors | 2 |
| Arizona social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 4 |
| Arkansas social work programs | LSW | ASWB Bachelors | 10 |
| California social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 24 |
| Colorado social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 5 |
| Connecticut social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 9 |
| Delaware social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 1 |
| District of Columbia social work programs | LSWA | ASWB Associate level (17 DCMR 7004.6; D.C. Code 3-1208.01 requires the examination process at the associate level) | 4 |
| Florida social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 15 |
| Georgia social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 11 |
| Hawaii social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 3 |
| Idaho social work programs | LSW | ASWB (applicable exam for the license type) | 5 |
| Illinois social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 19 |
| Indiana social work programs | Bachelor's Degree Social Worker | – | 17 |
| Iowa social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 13 |
| Kansas social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 10 |
| Kentucky social work programs | LSW | ASWB Bachelors | 14 |
| Louisiana social work programs | RSW | none | 8 |
| Maine social work programs | LSX, LS | none | 5 |
| Maryland social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 8 |
| Massachusetts social work programs | LSWA, LSW | ASWB Associate | 10 |
| Michigan social work programs | Limited SST, SST, Limited LBSW, LBSW | none | 21 |
| Minnesota social work programs | LSW | ASWB Bachelors | 18 |
| Mississippi social work programs | LSW | ASWB Bachelors | 10 |
| Missouri social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 15 |
| Montana social work programs | SWLB, LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 2 |
| Nebraska social work programs | CSW | none | 6 |
| Nevada social work programs | LSW | ASWB Bachelors | 2 |
| New Hampshire social work programs | LSWA, LSW | ASWB Associate | 3 |
| New Jersey social work programs | CSW | – | 13 |
| New Mexico social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 4 |
| New York social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 30 |
| North Carolina social work programs | CSW | ASWB Bachelors | 23 |
| North Dakota social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 4 |
| Ohio social work programs | LSW | ASWB Bachelors or ASWB Masters (the board approves the exam the applicant qualifies for) | 27 |
| Oklahoma social work programs | LSWA | ASWB (exam level not assigned to this license in the rules retrieved) | 5 |
| Oregon social work programs | RBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 5 |
| Pennsylvania social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 30 |
| Puerto Rico social work programs | Profesional del Trabajo Social Licenciado(a) Provisional, Profesional del Trabajo Social Licenciado(a) Permanente (por experiencia) | – | 11 |
| Rhode Island social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 3 |
| South Carolina social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 5 |
| South Dakota social work programs | SWA, Social Worker | ASWB (board-prescribed exam; level not named in the rule) | 4 |
| Tennessee social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 19 |
| Texas social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 37 |
| Utah social work programs | Social Service Worker | none | 5 |
| Vermont social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 3 |
| Virginia social work programs | LBSW | ASWB Bachelors | 14 |
| Washington social work programs | None: licensing starts at the MSW | – | 9 |
| West Virginia social work programs | Provisional License to Practice as a Social Worker, LSW | ASWB Bachelors | 7 |
| Wisconsin social work programs | SW | ASWB Bachelors | 16 |
| Wyoming social work programs | CSW | ASWB Bachelors | 1 |
From each state's social work board, September 2026; license titles and exam names as the boards state them.
The ASWB Bachelors Exam in Plain Terms
The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) writes the exams most states use. Its categories are Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist and Clinical, and the board decides which one you take. Each exam has 122 questions, 110 of them scored, with a four-hour limit, taken at a Pearson test center. Registration for the Bachelors exam costs US$230. In 2025, 70.4% of first-time Bachelors test-takers passed.
Not every bachelor’s credential uses it. Louisiana’s RSW, Nebraska’s CSW and Utah’s Social Service Worker license require no exam, and DC’s Licensed Social Work Associate uses the ASWB Associate level. Ohio issues one LSW title to bachelor’s and master’s graduates and approves the Bachelors or Masters exam depending on your degree.
The MSW Route and Advanced Standing
If you want to provide therapy, diagnose or work in clinical health care, plan for an MSW from the start. BLS notes that all states require clinical social workers to be licensed, and that clinical licensure needs supervised clinical experience after the master’s and a clinical exam.
Advanced standing is the payoff for choosing a BSW. CSWE awards it only to graduates of accredited bachelor’s programs, and 323 BSW schools run their own advanced standing MSW. Staying at the same school can be the simplest path: Auburn University, the University of Alaska Anchorage and Arizona State University all pair a BSW with an advanced standing MSW. The BSW to MSW guide compares credits and timelines, and mswdegree.com covers every MSW program.
Where You Can Work, and What It Pays
Federal wage data (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025) counts 775,920 social workers across its social worker occupations. The largest group, child, family and school social workers, numbers 392,550 with a median annual wage of $59,550. Healthcare social workers earn a median of $67,880, and mental health and substance abuse social workers $60,280, though clinical roles in those fields need the MSW.
Related roles open to BSW graduates include social and human service assistants (median $45,930) and probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (median $66,270). Social and community service managers earn a median of $80,390. See the case manager, child protective services worker and probation officer career guides for the work itself.
What a Social Work Education Costs
Federal undergraduate tuition and fees for a full-time year (NCES College Navigator, 2023-24) have a median of $13,212 across the 565 BSW schools. Public schools, 306 of them, have a median of $9,708, against $35,910 for private schools. The full range runs from $2,684 to $68,237.
Title IV-E child welfare stipends, offered by 52 programs, can cover part of your costs in exchange for working in public child welfare after graduation. The child welfare BSW programs page lists them, and the BSW cost guide breaks down prices by school type.
Choosing a Program That Keeps Your Options Open
Pick a program with these points in mind:
- Accreditation first. Only CSWE-accredited or candidacy programs lead to advanced standing and most state licenses.
- Your licensing state. If it is one of the 42 with a bachelor’s credential, check the exam and any supervised hours. If it is one of the ten without, weigh the MSW route more heavily.
- Practicum fit. Ask where students are placed and confirm online programs can place you locally; the practicum is always in person.
- A same-school MSW. With 323 options, you can often stay put for advanced standing, as you could at Western Carolina University.
- Total cost. Compare public and private medians and look for Title IV-E support if child welfare interests you.
Match programs to these criteria with the program matcher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Become a Social Worker Without a Degree?
Not as a licensed social worker in most states. A few credentials accept less: Massachusetts' Licensed Social Work Associate accepts an associate degree, 60 credit hours in a human service field or a bachelor's in any field, and Michigan registers Social Service Technicians with an associate degree in social work or 60 semester credit hours plus human services work. These are support roles, not the professional social worker license.
Do You Need a Master's to Be a Social Worker?
Not for entry-level nonclinical work, where a BSW is the most common requirement according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You do need an MSW for clinical social work, and in the ten states without a bachelor's license (including California, New York and Florida) your first license comes after the MSW.
How Long Does It Take to Get Licensed After a BSW?
In many states you can apply right after graduation, and Texas lets students in a qualifying program sit for the ASWB Bachelors exam while still in school. Some states add supervised work first: Michigan's LBSW requires 4,000 hours of supervised experience over at least two years under a limited license.
How Hard Is the ASWB Bachelors Exam?
ASWB reports a 2025 first-time pass rate of 70.4% for the Bachelors exam. The test has 122 multiple-choice questions, 110 of them scored, with a four-hour time limit.
What Is the Fastest Way to Become a Social Worker?
Earn a CSWE-accredited BSW and apply for your state's bachelor's-level license at graduation. If you want clinical work, choose a BSW school with its own advanced standing MSW: 323 BSW schools offer one, and BLS notes that some programs let BSW graduates finish the MSW in under 2 years.
Can You Become a Social Worker With a Psychology Degree?
You can enter an MSW program with a bachelor's in almost any field, but you won't qualify for advanced standing, which CSWE reserves for graduates of accredited BSW programs. A few states also offer alternate bachelor's-level routes, such as West Virginia's four-year provisional license for related degrees.
Keep Reading
- Social Work DegreeWhat a social work degree (BSW) is, how it differs from related majors, what it costs and the licenses and jobs it leads to
- BSW to MSWHow a BSW shortens the MSW through advanced standing, which schools run combined tracks, and what it saves
- BSW License (LBSW)Which states license BSW graduates, the license titles, the ASWB Bachelors exam and what each license allows
- BSW Admission RequirementsHow students are admitted to BSW programs and the social work major, with requirements from verified programs
- BSW Coursework and Field PracticumWhat BSW students study, how the field practicum works and how many hours programs require
- BSW Cost and Financial AidBSW tuition from federal figures and published rates, aid, Title IV-E stipends and loan rules
Sources
- CSWE: Accreditation FAQs
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers
- ASWB: Social work licensing exam information
- ASWB: Exam pass rates
- Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners: How to become an LBSW
- Each state's social work licensing board, reviewed September 2026 (linked in the table)
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): exams