Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Description:

Social work is a profession that helps individuals, families, and groups change behaviors, emotions, attitudes, relationships, and social conditions to restore and enhance their capacity to meet their personal and social needs.

Social workers are trained to provide a variety of services, ranging from psychotherapy to the administration of health and welfare programs. They work with human development and behavior, including the social, economic, and cultural systems in which people function.

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker may provide all social work services, including clinical services such as the diagnosis of mental, emotional, behavioral, developmental, and addictive disorders, the development of treatment plans, and the provision of psychotherapy.

Licensure Requirements:

The practice of licensed clinical social work and the use of the title "Licensed Clinical Social Worker" and the designation of "LCSW" or derivatives thereof in New York State requires licensure as a licensed clinical social worker, unless otherwise exempt under the law.

To be licensed as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in New York State you must:

• be of good moral character;
• be at least 21 years of age;
• have an education that includes a masters degree in social work (M.S.W.) with at least 12 semester hours of clinical coursework acceptable to the Department;
• have at least 3 years of post M.S.W. supervised experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning acceptable to the Department;
• meet clinical examination requirements; and
• complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a New York State approved provider.

Note: In most cases you must be licensed and currently registered to practice as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in New York to complete the supervised experience for licensure as an LCSW. Effective September 1, 2004, the practice of licensed clinical social work is restricted to those licensed or authorized under New York law.

The specific requirements for licensure are contained in Title 8, Article 154, Section 7704 of New York State Education Law and Part 74 and Section 52.30 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. The Law and Regulations are available on our Web site at www.op.nysed.gov/prof/sw/.

Fees

The fee for licensure and first registration is $294.
The fee for a limited permit is $70

Licenses Issued and Active:

In 2018, there were 1,271 licenses issued for this occupation.
In 2019, there were 1,406 licenses issued for this occupation.

As of July 1, 2020, there were 25,851 registered licenses for this occupation.

Licensing Authority:

New York State Education Department
Office of the Professions
State Board for Social Work
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
Phone: (518) 474-3817 Press 1 then Ext. 450
Fax: (518) 486-2981
Email: swbd@nysed.gov

Standard Occupational Classification:

21-1023 - Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
To learn more about this occupation search the Occupational Information Network (O*Net).

Additional Information:

Association of Social Worker Boards
17126 Mountain Run Vista Ct.
Culpeper, VA 22701
Candidate Service Phone: (888 579-3926
E-mail: info@aswb.org

Disclaimer:

Fees stated and other information contained in this report are subject to change. Please contact the licensing authority listed above for the most current information.

This page was last updated on 12/21/20.