Licensure in the state of Texas

Test prep resources

  • Social Work Test Prep (SWTP) study guides: The DiNitto Center offers physical study guides in-person at our office. Students and recent graduates can borrow the study guide for no charge up to six months after graduation, for a loan period of 14 days with an option to renew if there are no holds. If you have graduated more than six months ago, there will be a $30 administrative fee or $50 administrative fee if bundled with a practice exam. If you are none UT-affiliated, there is a $40 administrative fee or a $65 administrative fee if bundled with a practice exam.
  • Online Practice Exams remain available and free of charge for Steve Hicks School students. Alumni who graduated more than six months ago have to pay a $30 administrative fee. Non-UT affiliated people can check out the exams as well, but have to pay a $35 administrative fee. Please email our office at dccs@austin.utexas.edu to register for an online practice exam for LBSW, LMSW, or LCSW

General information

  • DiNitto Center step-by-step guide to licensure in Texas, LBSW LMSW: Download PDF.
  • DiNitto Center social work licensure and supervision: Download PDF.
  • Association of Social Work Boards BSW exam outline: Download PDF.
  • Association of Social Work Boards MSSW exam outline: Download PDF.

Helpful links

Professional licensure disclosures

The University of Texas at Austin makes every effort to ensure state licensure or certification information is current; however, state requirements may change. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Texas, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program.

For more information on professional licensure requirements in the field, please contact Marian Mahaffey or visit UT Austin’s professional licensure disclosure page.

See accrediting agencies affiliated with UT Austin.

National Licensing Boards

Association of Social Work Boards

State Licensing Boards

ALABAMAAlabama State Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Alabama.

ALASKAAlaska Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Alaska.

ARIZONAArizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Arizona.

ARKANSASArkansas Social Work Licensing Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Certified Social Worker in Arkansas.

CALIFORNIACalifornia Board of Behavioral Sciences. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Associate Clinical Social Worker in California.

COLORADOColorado State Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado.

CONNECTICUTConnecticut Department of Public Health. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Master’s Level Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Connecticut.

DELAWAREDelaware Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelors Social Worker, Licensed Masters Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Delaware.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAWashington, D.C. Board of Social Work. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Work Associate, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Licensed Independent Social Worker and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the District of Columbia.

FLORIDAFlorida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Certified Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida.

GEORGIAGeorgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Georgia.

HAWAIIHawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Hawaii.

IDAHOIdaho Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Idaho.

ILLINOISIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker 1, Licensed Social Worker 2, Licensed Clinical Social Worker 1 and Licensed Clinical Social Worker 2 in Illinois.

INDIANAIndiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Indiana.

IOWAIowa Department of Public Health. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Independent Social Worker in Iowa.

KANSASKansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker in Kansas.

KENTUCKYKentucky Board of Social Work. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker 1, Licensed Social Worker 2, Certified Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Kentucky.

LOUISIANALouisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Registered Social Worker, Certified Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Louisiana.

MAINEMaine State Board of Social Work Licensure. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker 1, Licensed Social Worker 2-conditional, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker-clinical conditional, Licensed Clinical Social Worker 1 and Licensed Clinical Social Worker 2 in Maine.

MARYLANDMaryland Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Masters Social Worker, Licensed Certified Social Worker and Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical in Maryland.

MASSACHUSETTSMassachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Work Associate 1, Licensed Social Work Associate 2, Licensed Social Work Associate 3, Licensed Social Worker 1, Licensed Social Worker 2, Licensed Social Worker 3, Licensed Social Worker 4, Licensed Social Worker 5, Licensed Social Worker 6, Licensed Certified Social Worker and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts.

MICHIGANMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Limited Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker-Macro and Licensed Master Social Worker-Clinical in Michigan.

MINNESOTAMinnesota Board of Social Work. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Licensed Independent Social Worker and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota.

MISSISSIPPIMississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Certified Social Worker and Licensed Master Social Worker in Mississippi.

MISSOURIMissouri Committee for Social Workers. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelors Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Advanced Macro Social Worker in Missouri.

MONTANAMontana Board of Behavioral Health. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master’s Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Montana.

NEBRASKANebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Certified Social Worker, Provisional Certified Master Social Worker, Certified Master Social Worker, Provisional Mental Health Practitioner, Licensed Provisional Mental Health Practitioner and Licensed Independent Provisional Mental Health Practitioner in Nebraska.

NEVADANevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Social Worker, Independent Social Worker and Clinical Social Worker in Nevada.

NEW HAMPSHIRENew Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in New Hampshire.

NEW JERSEYNew Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Certified Social Worker-1, Certified Social Worker-2, Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey.

NEW MEXICONew Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Independent Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Mexico.

NEW YORKNew York Office of the Professions. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York.

NORTH CAROLINANorth Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Certified Social Worker, Certified Social Work Manager, Certified Master Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina.

NORTH DAKOTANorth Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Dakota.

OHIOOhio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapists Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Independent Social Worker in Ohio.

OKLAHOMAOklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Work Associate, Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker – Administration and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oklahoma.

OREGONOregon Board of Licensed Social Workers. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master’s Social Worker, Certified Social Work Associate and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oregon.

PACIFIC TERRITORIES

GUAMGuam Board of Social Work. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Guam.

UT Austin has not determined whether completion of the BSW and MSSW meets educational requirements to apply for licensure as a social worker in other Pacific territories.

PENNSYLVANIAPennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Pennsylvania.

PUERTO RICOPuerto Rico Professional Social Workers Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Bachelor’s prepared Social Worker License and Master’s prepared Social Worker License in Puerto Rico.

RHODE ISLANDRhode Island Department of Health. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Rhode Island.

SOUTH CAROLINASouth Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Independent Social Worker-CP and Licensed Independent Social Worker-AP in South Carolina.

SOUTH DAKOTASouth Dakota Social Work Examiners Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker, Certified Social Worker and Certified Social Worker in Private Independent Practice in South Dakota.

TENNESSEETennessee Board of Social Workers. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Tennessee.

TEXASTexas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. Completion of UT Austin’s BSW and MSSW accredited by Council on Social Work Education program meets Texas educational requirements to apply for licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker – Advanced Practice and Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

UTAHUtah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Social Service Worker-1, Social Service Worker-2, Certified Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Utah.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDSDepartment of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Social Worker 1, Certified Social Worker and Certified Independent Social Worker in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

VERMONTVermont Office of Professional Regulation. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Vermont.

VIRGINIAVirginia Board of Social Work. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Associate Social Worker, Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master’s Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia.

WASHINGTONWashington Department of Health. Completion of the MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Licensed Social Worker Associate Advanced, Licensed Advanced Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker Associate Independent Clinical and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Washington.

WEST VIRGINIAWest Virginia Board of Social Work. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Provisional Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Licensed Certified Social Worker and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in West Virginia.

WISCONSINWisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Social Work Training Certificate, Certified Social Worker, Advance Practice Social Worker, Certified Independent Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Wisconsin.

WYOMINGWyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board. Completion of the BSW and MSSW program meets educational requirements to apply for registration or licensure as a Certified Social Worker, Provisional Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Wyoming.