It’s not possible to practice social work in the state of Texas (or anywhere in the U.S.) without a license. Because of this, it’s imperative for aspiring social workers who are eager to get their careers started to make plans that account for the licensing process.
Though it isn’t especially complicated, getting one’s social work license can take time and effort, meaning it will benefit you to keep licensing requirements in mind as you pursue your degree.
Your social work license demonstrates to prospective employers and clients alike that you have received the extensive training and education needed to handle the high demands of the social work profession. Without it, you will not be a candidate for social worker positions.
Who Determines Licensed Social Worker Requirements in Texas?
Social work licenses are issued on a state-by-state basis, with different licensing exams administered in each place. Because of this, your social work license will only leave you eligible for social work positions in the state where you intend to base your career. (For those who hold social work licenses but plan to move to another state, it is often possible to transfer your license for your new residence through a license reciprocity program. Read our guide on Texas license reciprocity here.)
In Texas, social work licenses are conferred by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), who administer all exams, process mandatory field work hours, and process license renewals for working social workers. They set regulations to ensure that all social workers in the state are thoroughly trained and equipped for success in their professional lives.
It should not be hard to meet the BHEC’s qualification requirements for social workers, assuming you are enrolled in a CSWE accredited Master of Social Work program and follow the correct protocols for reporting your field work hours. But it’s important to be aware of these guidelines as you begin planning for your social work journey, as they will be enforced strictly.
Social Worker Education Requirements
No matter what arena of the social work profession they work in, social workers are required to hold MSW degrees in order to practice. This means that if you’re eager to take on the full responsibilities of a social worker, you must complete a Master of Social Work program first.
An MSW program will equip you with the advanced knowledge and skills required to take on the intensive responsibilities of a social worker.
Without a graduate degree, you will not be able to take the next steps toward obtaining your social work license, so this should be the first step for anyone looking to make their first moves into the field.
If you don’t yet hold a bachelor’s degree but have your eyes on a social work career, you can expedite your academic process by pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. In and of itself, this will not be sufficient for you to meet Texas social work license requirements. However, a BSW will allow you to abridge your Master of Social Work program to half its normal time, allowing you to dive into your career plans as quickly as possible.
How does this work? Those who hold BSWs are uniquely eligible for Advanced Standing Master of Social Work programs, which are designed specifically for those who studied social work as undergraduates. Since their baccalaureate coursework overlaps with the first year of an MSW education, these students are permitted to bypass the first year of a social work master’s program, shortening their graduate experience to just one year (when completed full-time). This is an excellent option for people who are eager to get their professional lives started as quickly as possible.
The Importance of Attending an Accredited Program
There are many factors to consider when choosing your MSW program, from areas of concentration offered by your schools of choice to the format (online, in-person, or hybrid) of your program. But one consideration must take precedence before any of those other questions come into play: your program’s accreditation.
Aspiring social workers should only apply to schools that hold accreditation from the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). These are the only schools that will leave you eligible for social work licensing in Texas.
This information should not be difficult for you to find as you are researching schools, but you must know to look for it. (You can rest assured that all schools featured on this website are properly accredited.) This means that if you are preparing your list of MSW programs to apply to, strike out any option that does not have CSWE accreditation – your future self will thank you.
General Social Work License Requirements
If you are pursuing a license as an LMSW (Licensed Master of Social Work), you will be able to pursue your license as soon as you complete your MSW program. With this license, you will be eligible to perform all non-clinical social work duties, including case management, resource coordination, and other roles related to managing the nuts and bolts of a social work organization.
Upon completing your MSW program, your next step will be to pass your two qualifying exams: the Texas Jurisprudence Exam, which is required for all social workers at any level to complete, and the ASWB Master Exam. Exams like these are part of all state social work license requirements, but yours will be Texas-specific to ensure that you are familiar with the specific codes and procedures enforced in the state.
Your graduate program should leave you well-equipped to take on the material in your exams. However, it’s important to put real time and energy into studying, as you need to pass these tests in order to be approved for your license. Many students opt to form study groups with peers from their programs, meeting sporadically over several months to stay on top of the material that they’ll be tested on. Assuming you have retained the information from your MSW program, this amount of effort should ensure that you will pass your exam with flying colors.
For complete information about steps to becoming an LMSW, read our guide here.
Clinical Social Work License Requirements
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) are social workers who perform direct counseling and therapy for their clients. This can extend to a variety of therapeutic approaches, including group therapy formats. One cannot hold any of these roles without their clinical license.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker education requirements in Texas are the same as for LMSWs: you must complete your Master of Social Work program in order to obtain a license. However, aspiring LCSWs are not eligible to take their licensing exams immediately upon graduating from school. Rather, they must complete their mandatory supervised field work hours, an equally critical part of the clinical licensing process that for most candidates takes the same amount of time as their schooling.
The field work component of Licensed Clinical Social Worker requirements in Texas will be your pathway into the profession of your choice. This will see you working in the field, taking on any number of roles in a social work organization so that you get a vivid sense of the day-to-day duties of a social worker in your chosen area of specialty. Your supervisor will regularly submit your hours to the BHEC so that your work is accounted for, leaving you eligible to take your qualifying exams upon completion.
In Texas, LCSWs are expected to complete 3,000 hours (about two years) of supervised field work following their graduate program.
This effectively means that aspiring LCSWs should plan for four years of work before they hold their license. If this sounds daunting to you, fear not: the work you take on in field work will increasingly overlap with your ultimate duties as an LCSW, making it an enriching and fulfilling experience on its own.
Once you have completed your 3,000 hours, you will be qualified to take your two exams: the Texas Jurisprudence Exam and the ASWB Clinical Social Work exam. Again, preparing for these tests will be a critical step to secure your clinical license.
For an in-depth guide to becoming an LCSW, take a look at our step-by-step overview here.
Social Work License Renewal Requirements
Once you have obtained your social work license, you’re ready to hit the ground running on the career path of your choice. You may think your work ends there, but – like it or not – you will still have to keep licensing requirements in mind across your practice.
Texas licensed social worker requirements stipulate that practicing social workers must renew their licenses every two years.
Failing to renew your social work license will result in fees owed to the BHEC. If your license is not renewed within a year of its expiration date, it will be voided.
License renewal requirements are fairly simple: social workers must complete 30 hours of continuing education courses within the two year period that their license is active, as well as a training course on human trafficking prevention. Though these courses may sound like a great deal of additional work, they should be an engaging and interesting way to stay abreast of all developments in social work practice, as well as an opportunity to build new skills and areas of specialty. Depending on the format of your chosen continuing education courses, you may also get the chance to meet other social work professionals, expanding your social work network in ways that can build community and potentially lead to new opportunities.
For more information about continuing education in social work, take a look at our overview here.
FAQs
Do I need a social work license to practice in Texas?
Yes. License requirements for social workers in Texas are strict, meaning those who wish to become social workers in the state should heed their guidelines carefully.
What degree level do I need to qualify for a social work license?
For a license that grants you the full responsibilities of a social worker, a Master of Social Work degree will be necessary. Though there is such a thing as an LBSW, which is designed specifically for those who hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree, this will not be sufficient for a full-fledged social worker position.
Do all social work licenses require supervised field work hours?
No. An LMSW license does not require additional field work hours beyond the ones you will have completed in your MSW program. An LCSW license, however, will require 3,000 hours of supervised field work, as will an LMSW-Advanced Practice license.
Are exams required in order to obtain a social work license?
Yes. In Texas, licensed social workers must pass the Texas Jurisprudence Exam as well as the ASWB exam at whatever level of license you are seeking. This is the final step of the licensing process for social workers.
I am already a social worker in another state. Do I have to redo the licensing process from scratch if I wish to move to Texas?
No. Texas allows social workers from other states to transfer their licenses through license reciprocity. Though this process has a few steps, it is nowhere near as intensive as the requirements to receive a license for the first time. Visit our guide to license reciprocity for complete information about how this works.