Working to help those in need is an honorable profession, and in order to do it well, one must be rigorously trained and deeply knowledgeable about their field. Because of this, social workers across the United States are required to receive their social work license from the state in which they intend to practice in order to secure employment.
A social work license establishes that you have met all of the standard benchmarks of training and education and are well-equipped to take responsibility in critical situations. This means that any reputable social work organization, as well as schools, medical facilities, and other places that employ social workers, will require you to have one in order to join their ranks.
You cannot become a social worker without your state license, so you should make sure you have factored this into your timeline.
Getting your social work license in Texas isn’t difficult per se, but it can be time-intensive and requires no small amount of preparation. Because of this, aspiring social workers shouldn’t make it an afterthought.
So how does one become a licensed social worker in Texas, and what does each social work license allow you to do? Read on to learn everything you need to know about getting a Texas social work license.
Types of Social Work License
The first thing to determine as you plot your path to becoming a social worker is figuring out what level of social work license you’d like to have. Different licenses allow social workers to perform different roles, in turn requiring different types of training.
The more prepared you are for the specific licensing requirements for your career goals, the easier it will be for you to plan your graduate and postgraduate trajectory.
Below are the primary social work license types available in Texas, taken from the Texas Administrative Code.
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
Education Requirement: BSW
License Exam: ASWB Bachelor Examination
Additional Field Work Hours Required: None
Those who have not attended Master of Social Work programs but hold their Bachelor of Social Work degree are eligible to become LBSWs. This can help them secure certain positions in social work organizations, though not the full-fledged title of a social worker, which requires an MSW and a higher level of license. The best candidates for these licenses are people who wish to get their feet wet in the world of social work to be sure they would like to make the larger investment of pursuing their graduate degree.
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Education Requirement: MSW
License Exam: ASWB Master’s Examination
Additional Field Work Hours Required: None
If you intend to serve in social work roles concerned with coordinating resources for clients – such as case manager or program director – becoming an LMSW is the right path for you. Upon completing your MSW, you will immediately be able to take the Licensed Master Social Worker qualifying exam, making this the fastest path to the full responsibilities of a social worker available. That said, LMSWs are not authorized to work as therapists or counselors. Those who wish to provide that type of direct service to individuals, groups, and families should look into becoming LCSWs (see below).
Licensed Master Social Worker – Advanced Practice (LMSW-AP)
Education Requirement: MSW
License Exam: ASWB Advanced Generalist Exam
Additional Field Work Hours Required: 3,000 hours of supervised work and 100 hours of supervision (approx. two years)
For those who wish to hold high-ranking roles in social work organizations, becoming an LMSW-AP can help you expedite this process. This is the highest level of certification available for social workers who do not wish to take on clinical practice but want to hold leadership roles in the social work field. While it is possible for LMSWs to rise in the ranks without holding this level of license, this process is likely to occur more gradually, so investing in this license level can quicken your career progress.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Education Requirement: MSW
License Exam: ASWB Clinical Exam
Additional Field Work Hours Required: 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work (approx. two years)
Those who know they would like to provide counseling or other therapeutic services directly to clients should set their sights on becoming Licensed Clinical Social Workers. Though it requires more work, this is a popular path for social workers, as it involves performing a personal and highly skilled role in the lives of people in need. Though it is possible to pursue clinical licensing after becoming an LMSW, many if not most LCSWs choose to pursue this license directly after graduate school ends so that they can launch their careers as counselors as quickly as possible.
Planning for Your Licensing Journey Ahead of Time
If you are enrolling in a Master of Social Work program, it’s good to have an open mind about the focus area you’d like to devote your career to. (For more information about choosing your social work concentration, visit our guide here.) However, it’s useful to have a stronger sense of the type of role you’d like to play as a social worker, even if you aren’t certain what exact specialization you wish to pursue. This is so that you can make all preparations – financial, logistical, and motivational – prior to launching your licensing journey.
A few good questions to ask yourself as you consider your desired social work license level are the following:
- What type of service would I like to provide to clients?
- Do I prefer attending to clients’ emotional needs or to their material and logistical concerns?
- Do I prefer a micro scale focus (dealing with individuals and clients directly) or a macro scale one (responding to the needs of communities overall)?
- What would I like my social work career to look like in ten years?
Having a sense of your answers to these questions will help you clarify what you are looking for from your social work education, in turn laying out the timeline for the years to come.
Steps to Becoming a Licensed Social Worker in Texas
As noted above, license requirements for social workers can vary depending on which exact license you are seeking. However, there are some basic steps for receiving your social work credential in Texas that every aspiring social worker should know, no matter what your license level.
NOTE: The following steps provide a general overview for social workers pursuing a variety of levels of social work license. For our focused step-by-step guides, you’re encouraged to take a look at our LCSW How-To Guide and our LMSW How-To Guide, which provide more details on the exact information you need to know to complete each level of license.
1. Obtain Your Social Work Degree
In order to qualify for any type of social work license in the United States, one must hold a Social Work degree. In most cases – and for any social work license that grants you the full responsibilities of a social worker – this should be a Master of Social Work degree. (For those pursuing the LBSW, only a Bachelor of Social Work degree is necessary.)
A full-time MSW program takes two years, including classes and mandatory field work hours. Those who complete their MSWs on a part-time basis typically complete their programs in three to four years.
2. Complete Your Additional Field Work Hours
MSW graduates who are pursuing their LMSW credential do not need to complete additional field work hours, so they can move on to Step 3. However, those who are pursuing an LMSW-AP or LCSW license are obligated to complete an additional 3,000 hours of supervised field work, amounting to about two years’ worth of work.
One does not simply complete field work hours on their own; rather, it is a formally overseen process requiring a supervisor who will sign off on the time you have spent in your social work organization of choice. These hours are submitted to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. You cannot submit field work hours retroactively, so it’s crucial to arrange for your licensing supervision in advance of beginning your internship.
3. Pass Your Social Work License Exams
Any social worker seeking licensing will have two exams to complete after finishing their field work. One of these is unilaterally required for social workers and the other will be determined by the level of license you seek.
Across the board, Texas social workers are expected to complete the Texas Jurisprudence Exam. No matter what level of license you are pursuing, this will be a necessary step to securing your credential. This is an open-book exam that ensures prospective social workers can grasp the laws related to psychological practice in the state.
Your next exam will be your ASWB Licensure Exam. As noted in the license overviews above, there are different exams for different levels of license. These are:
- ASWB Bachelor Examination (for LBSW)
- ASWB Master Examination (for LMSW)
- ASWB Advanced Generalist Examination (for LMSW-AP)
- ASWB Clinical Examination (for LCSW)
Your Master of Social Work program is likely to remind you of all registration dates so that you can take your exams as soon as you are ready to. ASWB exams are only offered a few times a year, so it’s critical that you keep track of deadlines to keep your career goals on track.
It’s also important to remember that your social work license exam prep is your responsibility, so it’s important to give it the time and dedication it deserves. Many students choose to study for their exams with peers starting several months before their exam date to be sure they are sufficiently prepared when they finally take it.
4. Apply for Social Work License
After completing your social work degree program, your additional field work hours (if necessary), and your exams, you may feel ready to finally step into the full fledged role of a social worker. You are, but your license will not be given to you automatically.
In Texas, social workers must apply to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council to receive their licenses.
This will require you to provide records of your degree completion, field work hours fulfillment, and passed exams. Assuming you have completed all of these, you should have no trouble receiving your license once your application is processed.
FAQs
Can I become a social worker without a license?
No. Social work organizations throughout Texas (as well as the rest of the country) will require all applicants for open positions to hold ASWB-certified social work licenses in order to practice. This is the only way to ensure that all social work professionals have the required education and training to take on the critical responsibilities that come with their work.
Will I get my social work license automatically upon completing my MSW program?
No. There are several other steps social workers must complete to receive their licenses, and multiple types of license with different procedural requirements. All license levels require social workers to complete the Texas Jurisprudence exam and the appropriate level of ASWB exam. To become an LCSW, MSW graduates must also complete 3,000 hours (approximately two years) of supervised field experience before qualifying for their ASWB clinical exams.
What are the different licenses available for social workers?
Social workers in Texas can pursue the following license levels: Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (for those who only hold Bachelor of Social Work degrees), Licensed Master Social Worker (for those who wish to perform case management and coordination roles), Licensed Master Social Worker – Advanced Practice (for those who seek leadership roles in social work organizations), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (for those who wish to provide therapy and direct counseling services to clients).
Can I take on the full responsibilities of a social worker with an LBSW?
No. An LBSW offers a licensing option for those who hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree, but this is not a sufficient level of education to become a full-fledged social worker. An LBSW offers an opportunity for BSWs to take on some roles in social work organizations, but by law they will need to be limited, as only more advanced training can allow one to hold more advanced positions.
Is social work license transfer to another state possible?
Some states offer a system known as license reciprocity, which allows social workers to transfer their licenses without completing the full licensure requirements of their new residence. Texas does not have a formal license reciprocity system in place, but applicants who already hold social work licenses may be able to submit their licenses to the Texas Board of Social Work Examiners to bypass their ASWB exam. To learn everything you need to know about Texas social work license reciprocity, visit our guide here.