Massachusetts Application Overview

Education

Examination

Professional References

Supervision

Documented Experience

LICSW

MSW, DSW or PhD in Social Work from a CSWE accredited school of social work

Clinical

Two professional references from appropriately licensed individuals (see instructions p. 2)

One supervisory reference from LICSW

Hold a current LCSW (or equivalent in another jurisdiction); two years (3,500 hours) post-LCSW documented clinical experience with 50 face- to-face supervision hours per year (100 hours total) under a LICSW

LCSW

MSW, DSW or PhD in Social Work from a CSWE accredited school of social work

Masters

Two professional references *

One advanced field placement supervisory reference *

None required

LSW

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE accredited school of social work

Bachelors

Two professional references *

One field placement supervisory reference *

None required

Bachelor’s degree in any field

Bachelors

Two professional references *

One supervisory reference *

Two years (3,500 hours) post degree supervised experience from a BSW or MSW

Two and a half years (75 sem/100 qtr hours) of college

Bachelors

Two professional references *

One supervisory reference *

Five years (8,750 hours) of supervised experience from a BSW or MSW

Two years (60 sem/80 qtr hours) of college

Bachelors

Two professional references *

One supervisory reference *

Six years (10,500 hours) of supervised experience from a BSW or MSW

One year (30 sem/40 qtr hours) of college

Bachelors

Two professional references *

One supervisory reference *

Eight years (14,000 hours) of supervised experience from a BSW or MSW

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelors

Two professional references *

One supervisory reference *

Ten years (17,500 hours) of supervised experience from a BSW or MSW

LSWA

Associate degree (or 60 sem/80 qtr hours) in human service field

Associate

Three references*

N/A

None required

Bachelor’s degree (or 120 sem/160 qtr hours) in any field

Associate

Three references*

N/A

None required

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate

Three references*

N/A

Four years documented experience

New Application

Applying for a license that you have not previously held in Massachusetts or in another state or province.

Reciprocity

Applying for a license in Massachusetts based on an equivalent social work license in another state or province.

Relicensure, less than 2 years

Re-applying for a Massachusetts social work license that has lapsed more than one year, but less than 2 years ago.

Relicensure, more than 2 years

Re-applying for a Massachusetts social work license that has lapsed more than 2 years ago

Update

Updating an existing application for licensure in Massachusetts if that application has expired

CORI / CORI form / Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form

A document provided by the applicant granting Massachusetts the authority to perform background checks.

SORBs / SORB form / Sexual Offender Registry Board form

an additional check authorized by the applicant to be performed by Massachusetts.

Wall Certificate

A printed copy of their license to display on a wall.

Voucher

A voucher is a promise of payment from Mass DCF for one of the following:

• Application Fee & Examination Fee

• Application Fee but NO Examination Fee

• NO Application Fee but Examination Fee

• No Application Fee and NO Examination Fee

Regardless of the voucher granted, the cost of the license and wall certificate (if applicable) are never included covered by a voucher

DCF

Massachusetts Department of Children & Families - when applicants work for the DCF, they MAY be eligible for vouchers to offset the application and or exam cost

Applicant / Candidate

The individual applying for the license. Technically they are always an applicant when dealing with their application, and always a candidate when dealing with their exam.