How to Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Social workers play a pivotal role in supporting vulnerable populations throughout the United States. That said, your success will depend on getting the right education and licensure for your goals, so it’s important to do your homework when you decide to enter the social work field — especially if you plan to become a licensed clinical social worker.

As you research how to become a social worker, remember that it takes time to meet the requirements for LCSW roles. Let’s walk through the steps that the licensure process entails, including why it’s crucial to earn a Master of Social Work.

What Degree Is Needed to Be a Social Worker?

The journey to a licensed clinical social worker career is a rewarding experience. Continuing your education is key, and you will take classes taught by expert faculty versed in providing impactful support to clients and imparting relevant competencies for the field of social work.

When searching for the social work degree program for your needs, it’s important to recognize that career options vary for people with undergraduate versus graduate degrees. In many states, the licensure that social workers can attain depends on whether they have earned a bachelor’s or master’s in social work with accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Here are the basics for each type of degree:

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Completing a Bachelor of Social Work degree is a common first step for many people interested in careers in social work. As discussed by the National Association of Social Work (NASW), bachelor’s in social work programs can open doors to junior positions that focus on assisting clients with mental health and aging challenges, along with roles in residential treatment facilities.¹

Earning a BSW can put you on track for initial licensure in many states. In Minnesota, students who complete a CSWE-accredited BSW program can take the bachelor’s exam offered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to become a licensed social worker (LSW).² New social workers can acquire similar credentials in other states,³ such as:

• Wisconsin: Certified Social Worker
• Iowa: Licensed Bachelor of Social Work
• Oregon: Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker

Master of Social Work (MSW)

A Master of Social Work degree is the next step up from a BSW, and earning this credential prepares you for an array of possibilities. According to NASW,¹ taking steps to qualify for careers with MSW requirements can enable you to:

• Provide clinical services independently
• Advance into social work management or leadership
• Oversee social justice initiatives

Believe it or not, you don’t need a Bachelor of Social Work to begin some graduate-level social work programs. With the online Master of Social Work from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, students with bachelor’s degrees in other fields can complete a 60-credit traditional track with generalist and clinical courses. Meanwhile, students with a BSW can complete a 30-credit advanced standing track to earn their MSW in less time.

Similar to bachelor’s programs, social workers should gravitate toward MSW programs with CSWE accreditation. After all, it’s required for attaining master’s-level social work licensure in all states, including the LCSW credential.

What Can You Do with a Master’s in Social Work?

Discover what you can achieve in this field — and lay the foundation for clinical licensure — by pursuing your MSW online with Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Licensure Pathway: How to Become an LCSW or LICSW

Becoming an LCSW is the ultimate goal for many MSW students. That said, the laws governing the licensure process and even the names of licenses vary by state. For example purposes, we will discuss the licensure guidelines for Minnesota, where the licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) credential has the same testing requirements as the LCSW in all other states.³

Types of Social Work Licenses for MSW Graduates

According to the Minnesota Board of Social Work, there are three primary licensure options for individuals who have earned their Master of Social Work:

• Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW): With this license, social workers can provide services under the supervision of senior practitioners.⁴
• Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW): Attaining this licensure allows you to deliver nonclinical social work services independently.⁵
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW): As mentioned earlier, this is similar to LCSW licensure in other states, and it enables social workers to engage in clinical social work practice.⁶

Basic Licensure Requirements^4,5,6

For aspiring practitioners in Minnesota, each type of licensure for MSW graduates includes the following requirements:

• Acquire an MSW with accreditation from CSWE, the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, or another institution with approval from the Board of Social Work.
• Achieve a passing score on the appropriate exam for each level of licensure — see the table below for details. There is also a provisional licensure pathway that does not include exam requirements.
• Complete a criminal background check according to state guidelines. While this step includes a fee, it may be waived for students who already hold a standard or temporary license.
• Affirm you have followed the ethical standards of practice established by the Board of Social Work.

Additional Requirements for Independent and Clinical Social Workers^5,6

While the LGSW credential is available to MSW graduates in Minnesota, there are additional requirements for more advanced licenses:

• LISW: 4,000 supervised nonclinical practice hours
• LICSW: 4,000 supervised clinical practice hours

The LICSW credential also requires 360 clinical clock hours in the following areas of knowledge, which can be met through the clinical MSW curriculum offered by Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota:

• Differential diagnosis and biopsychosocial assessment
• Assessment-based clinical treatment planning
• Clinical intervention methods
• Evaluation methodologies
• Social work values and ethics
• Culturally specific assessment and intervention

Maintaining Your Social Work License

Once you attain licensure, there are steps you must complete to maintain it. Social workers in Minnesota renew their licenses every other year,⁷ which entails:

• Affirming they have fulfilled the continuing education requirements
• Demonstrating they have engaged in supervised practice within two years of finishing an MSW program
• Responding to a list of questions about practice standards
• Paying the licensure renewal fee, which varies across the licensure levels

Licensure Checklist for Master’s Educated Social Workers

Here are Minnesota’s licensure requirements for students who have graduated from a CSWE-accredited MSW program:

*This requirement may be waived for students who already hold a standard or temporary license. There is also an alternative pathway that does not include exam requirements.

Career Outlook for Licensed Social Workers

The outlook for social work careers is bright. Faster-than-average growth is projected for roles across this field, including for LCSWs.⁸ Let’s explore employment data that’s important to know as you consider becoming a licensed practitioner.

Earning Potential

The salary expectations for careers with Master of Social Work requirements vary by licensure level, with clinical social workers typically earning higher wages. According to Payscale, here are the average salaries for:

• • Licensed Graduate Social Workers: $58,000 per year⁹
  • Licensed Independent Social Workers: $67,000 per year¹⁰
  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers: $73,000 per year¹¹

Of course, each social worker’s salary will depend on their years of experience and chosen specialty. For instance, some of the highest-paid social work careers are available through administration, geriatric social work, and program director roles.

Fields of Social Work with the Projected Employment Growth⁸

Careers in the social work field are available to practitioners with varying levels of licensure, and employment is expected to grow. However, acquiring LCSW licensure allows you to take on greater responsibility, as these practitioners can work with clients to determine diagnoses and treatment options.

Across all the different branches of social work, demand is projected to grow 7 percent from 2023 to 2033, with an average of 67,300 job openings each year. When drilling into that data, you’ll find that employment growth varies by occupation:

• • • Child, family, and school social workers: 5 percent
    • Healthcare social workers: 10 percent
    • Mental health and substance abuse social workers: 12 percent

Social Work Employment in Minnesota

Although LCSWs work in varying capacities, the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that many focus on mental health and substance abuse.⁸ In May 2023, an impressive number of these social workers were employed in Minnesota, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul ranked among the top five metropolitan areas for mental health and substance abuse social worker employment.¹²

Here is the employment data for three types of social work careers in Minnesota:

• • • Child, family, and school social workers: 8,280¹³
    • Healthcare social workers: 2,710¹⁴
    • Mental health and substance abuse social workers: 3,210¹²

Get on Track to Clinical Licensure

Attaining licensure is essential for everyone wanting to begin a career in the social work field. But first, you’ll need to earn an advanced social work degree through a CSWE-accredited program, and the online Master of Social Work from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is an excellent option.

Our online MSW program includes clinical courses and field experiences that provide real-world competencies for in-demand positions. We also offer assistance in finding the right field placement for your goals, including options in clinical settings. Request information to learn how to get started.

Sources

1. NASW. “Types of Social Work Degrees.” n.d. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://www.socialworkers.org/Careers/Career-Center/Explore-Social-Work/Types-of-Social-Work-Degrees.
2. Minnesota Board of Social Work. “Apply for Standard LSW.” n.d. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://mn.gov/boards/social-work/applicants/applyforlicense/lsw.jsp.
3. ASWB. “Licensing requirements by state or province.” n.d. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.aswb.org/licenses/how-to-get-a-license/licensing-requirements-by-state-or-province/.
4. Minnesota Board of Social Work. “Apply for Standard LGSW.” n.d. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://mn.gov/boards/social-work/applicants/applyforlicense/lgsw.jsp.
5. Minnesota Board of Social Work. “Apply for Standard LISW.” n.d. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://mn.gov/boards/social-work/applicants/applyforlicense/lisw.jsp.
6. Minnesota Board of Social Work. “Apply for Standard LICSW.” n.d. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://mn.gov/boards/social-work/applicants/applyforlicense/licsw.jsp.
7. Minnesota Board of Social Work. “License Renewal.” n.d. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://mn.gov/boards/social-work/licensees/licenserenewal/.
8. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Social Workers.” April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.
9. Payscale. “Salary for Certification: Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW).” February 28, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Licensed_Graduate_Social_Worker_(LGSW)/Salary.
10. Payscale. “Salary for Certification: Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW).” February 28, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Licensed_Independent_Social_Worker_(LISW)/Salary.
11. Payscale. “Salary for Certification: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).” June 17, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Licensed_Independent_Clinical_Social_Worker_(LICSW)/Salary.
12. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023. “21-1023 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers.” April 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes211023.htm.
13. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023. “21-1021 Child, Family, and School Social Workers.” April 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes211021.htm.
14. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023. “21-1022 Healthcare Social Workers.” April 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes211022.htm.
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