Every social worker has their own unique goals for their career, gravitating to the roles and responsibilities that suit their interests and skill sets. Within the vast field of social work, there are many types of work one can pursue, with options to suit professionals with all different sorts of callings.
For those who are drawn to working directly with individuals to help them address emotional and psychological issues, becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is the path for you.
LCSWs are the only social workers authorized to perform direct counseling services for clients, from one-on-one sessions to group therapy for people who share a common struggle. Working in organizations ranging from local and state services to schools, medical centers, and VA centers, they can use their training and expertise to help people from all walks of life.
Becoming an LCSW involves many of the same steps as becoming a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), though more training is required upon the completion of your MSW program. This is because the role of an LCSW requires skills that may not be fully developed within an MSW program, and an extent of preparedness that additional training time will ensure you have. This is why knowing each step of the LCSW licensing process will be valuable for you to know at the outset of your academic journey, allowing you to plan carefully and take on your training with the energy and focus it requires.
To learn even more about the career of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with information about Texas salary averages, organizations that employ LCSWs, job titles for LCSWs, and more, take a look at our guide here.
Steps to Becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The following steps are required for anyone wishing to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Texas. Again, please note that requirements for LCSWs differ from other social work licenses. If you are interested in becoming a Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW), you can visit our step-by-step guide here.
1. Obtain your Master of Social Work degree
The first step in becoming a clinical social worker is the same as for any other type of social worker: getting your MSW degree. While many social work students enter their graduate programs knowing they plan on becoming LCSWs, you have some time to acclimate to the overall social work profession before choosing this path. That said, there are many MSW programs in Texas with Clinical Social Work concentrations, so if you know off the bat that providing counseling and therapy is something you’d like to do as a social worker, these programs will provide a particularly strong foundation from which to do so.
During your MSW program, you will be expected to complete field work hours in a social work program in accompaniment with your coursework. Those who are planning to become LCSWs can get their first exposure to clinical social work through these experiences. Though you will not be authorized to perform direct counseling yourself, this will be an opportunity for you to get a sense of the day-to-day responsibilities of an LCSW to understand the demands and rewards of the job. (These field work hours are not to be confused with your post-graduate supervised field work hours – for more on that, see Step 2.)
The Value of a Clinical Social Work Concentration
As mentioned above, in Texas, there are numerous MSW programs that specialize in clinical social work, several of which offer concentrations in the subject. These schools are excellent choices for people who know they wish to focus their careers on providing therapy to those in need.
A clinical social work concentration won’t allow you to bypass any future steps of the licensing process, but it will start your training as early as possible, allowing you to thrive in the settings where your internships take place.
The more experience you get observing clinical practice, the better equipped you will be to handle the high demands of the job. After all, all sorts of scenarios can arise when working in a direct counseling role, which means LCSWs frequently have to think on their feet. Having a vast body of knowledge and experience you can draw from will help ensure that you can navigate stressful situations with grace and care, providing the best support possible to your clients.
Because of this, it’s recommended for students who know they wish to become LCSWs to seek out programs that are specifically known for their clinical training. Your practice and your patients will benefit as a result.
2. Complete your LCSW field work hours
Upon graduating from your MSW program, you are now eligible to begin your supervised clinical field work hours.
As dictated by the Texas Administrative Code, social workers in the state are expected to complete 3,000 hours of supervised field work in order to be eligible for the ASWB Clinical Social Work Exam.
This amounts to approximately two years of supervised field work. One’s supervised field work experience is intended to build skill and expertise, preparing future social workers for the responsibilities of the profession and showing them the ins and outs of life in a social work organization.
Though it may seem daunting to add so much additional work to your plate before receiving your license, practicing LCSWs are grateful for their supervised field work requirement, as it will leave you resilient and highly prepared for the high-stakes responsibilities of your work. Building up eyewitness experience is crucial to succeeding as a clinical social worker, as you will encounter the wide variety of situations that may come up in your practice, leaving you well-equipped to handle any circumstance that arises on the job.
Beyond observing LCSWs at work, your field work hours are likely to include performing other roles at social work organizations, allowing you to understand how these services operate as a whole and putting you in a position to help others before you even receive your license. Within your 3,000 hours of field work, 100 of these must be directly supervised by an approved supervisor who will officially account for you to confirm that you have completed your requirements.
3. Pass your exams
Once you have completed your supervised field work requirement, you’re ready to take your exams. Though there are a few additional steps in the licensing process, these are the last steps that will require major effort from you.
In Texas, all licensed social workers (of any type) are required to pass the Texas Jurisprudence Exam. This ensures that you understand the guidelines and protocols for performing social work in the state. It is an open-book test, but it is still advised to review what you learned in your MSW program to ensure that you pass.
Equally important, and potentially more difficult, is the ASWB Clinical Licensing Exam. Each level of social work license has its own exam covering the standard expectations in your area of expertise. This is the state’s way of ensuring that you have truly learned from your field work experience and can move forward with the duties of a clinical social worker.
The ASWB exam will cover the full range of what you have learned from your MSW program until now, meaning it’s imperative to study and prepare extensively. Many students decide to regularly meet in study groups in the months prior to taking the exam to be sure they have reviewed all the material in detail. Indeed, after all the work you’ve done to become an LCSW, you won’t want to be stuck at the last hurdle. Give your ASWB exam your full attention so that you can take the reins on your social work career.
4. Background check
For reasons anyone can understand, social workers are expected to complete a background check in Texas. This consists of an electronic fingerprinting process that will be straightforward for you to complete and submit to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC). Though simple and easy to finish, it’s important not to forget this step, as your license depends on it.
5. Apply for clinical licensure
Once you have completed all of the above steps, you can breathe easy – you’re a candidate for LCSW certification! The last step is simply to apply to BHEC, providing all of the following materials:
- MSW diploma and transcript
- Complete documentation of field work hours (this will have been submitted by your field work supervisor over the course of your internship)
- Proof of passed exams
- Completed background check
Assuming everything is in order, you can trust that you will receive your license soon! There is normally a lag for processing, ranging from a few weeks to a couple months, but you can rest assured that you will be able to launch your career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in no time. Congratulations!
6. Maintain licensure
With the hard work of becoming an LCSW behind you, you will likely breathe a sigh of relief. And you should: you’ve come a long way, completing your rigorous training through your dedicated efforts alone. However, conferral of your license does not mean that you can now hold that license permanently without further reporting to the BHEC.
All social workers in Texas must renew their licenses every two years to keep them active.
In order to renew your license, you will be required to complete 30 hours of continuing education in the social work field, as well as a training course on human trafficking prevention. Continuing education classes can be a way to enrich your knowledge of the social work field, whether by adding a new area of specialization to your skill set or enhancing your knowledge of recent developments in the field. They can take the form of short-term classes, weekend-long workshops and conferences, and even some online meetings (when approved by BHEC).
Though this may sound daunting, social workers are able to fit their continuing education expectations easily into their professional schedules, making maintaining licensing easy and illuminating for people who have dedicated their lives to helping others.
FAQs
How long does it take to become an LCSW?
If you are taking your MSW program on a full-time schedule and completing supervised field work hours as quickly as possible, you can receive your LCSW certification in four years.
Can I provide direct counseling or therapy to individuals and families if I’m not an LCSW?
No. Because counseling – whether to individuals, families, or groups – requires such extensive training, one is not eligible to perform such a role in a social work organization unless they have obtained their clinical social work license. This is strictly enforced by the state of Texas.
Is it possible to become an LCSW online?
Yes. Thanks to the large number of excellent MSW programs with remote education options, it’s quite possible to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker online. It is worth noting that you will still be expected to complete your field work hours in person – both during your MSW program and after – so be sure to take this into account in your planning.
Is it possible to become an LCSW after I have already been certified as an LMSW?
Yes. Working LMSWs may decide they wish to focus their careers on counseling services. These individuals will have the same LCSW field work requirements as those just graduating from an MSW program: 3,000 hours, with 100 of those hours formally overseen by a supervisor. They also must complete the ASWB Clinical Exam.
How often do I need to renew my license as an LCSW?
Every two years. LCSWs are subject to the same license renewal protocols as all other licensed social workers, which requires them to complete 30 hours of continuing education courses and a training course on human trafficking prevention. Your license will expire at the end of your birth month every other year, so it’s important to stay on top of your requirements as you maintain your professional practice.