Social Work

LCSW License Requirements

Advisory Notice
As a result of the State's ongoing fiscal crisis, we are experiencing considerable delays in the processing of applications. We are processing applications as they are received and appreciate your patience during the next few months.  We apologize for the delays and any inconvenience.

You can help the process by reviewing the requirements for licensure and ensuring that you have submitted the required application and fee and that your school has submitted verification of an MSW degree on Form 2. You should also follow-up with your employer or supervisor to ensure that verification of at least three years of full-time, post-MSW experience in diagnosis and psychotherapy has been sent to the Department, if you are seeking licensure in clinical social work.

Entry to Clinical Examination
Effective November 17, 2007, the Department will approve an applicant to take the ASWB Clinical examination when all requirements, including experience have been approved. Individuals who applied after November 17, 2007 cannot take the examination until the State Board has approved the experience for licensure.

As of January 5, 2009, the State Board office is evaluating the experience of individuals who applied before 11/17/2007 and may have passed the Clinical exam. Those files sent to the Board office on October 17, 2008 are being reviewed now.

Individuals who applied for licensure prior to November 17, 2007 were authorized to take the examination before meeting the experience requirement. If you applied prior to November 17, 2007, once you have passed the ASWB Clinical examination your file will be sent to the Board office to evaluate the experience.

As of January 5, 2009, the State Board office is evaluating the experience of individuals who applied after 11/17/2007 and whose file was sent to the Board office on November 20, 2008. When the experience is approved, these individuals will receive a notification letter with instructions on how to register for the ASWB examination.

An applicant must meet all requirements in law and regulation and may only practice the profession under a limited permit or, until January 1, 2010, in an exempt setting as defined in statute. If you are an LMSW you must maintain registration in that profession until you are licensed as an LCSW.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this difficult time.

General 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;
• 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 examination requirements; and
• complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a New York State approved provider.

You must file an Application for Licensure (Form 1) and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material.

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. Copies of the relevant sections of NYS Education Law and the Commissioner's Regulations are available upon request by e-mailing opforms@mail.nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 320.

You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.

Fees

The fee for licensure and first registration is $294.

The fee for a limited permit is $70.

Fees are subject to change. The fee due is the one in law when your application is received (unless fees are increased retroactively). You will be billed for the difference if fees have been increased.

• Do not send cash.
• Make your personal check or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
• Mail your application and fee to:

  New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions
  PO Box 22063
  Albany, NY 12201

Partial Refunds

Individuals who withdraw their licensure application may be entitled to a partial refund.

• For the procedure to withdraw your application, contact the Social Work Unit by e-mailing opunit5@mail.nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 592 or by faxing 518-402-2323.
• The State Education Department is not responsible for any fees paid to an outside testing or credentials verification agency.

If you withdraw your application, obtain a refund, and then decide to seek New York State licensure at a later date, you will be considered a new applicant, and you will be required to pay the licensure fee and meet the licensure requirements in place at the time you reapply.

Education Requirement

To meet the professional education requirement for licensure as an LCSW, you must present satisfactory evidence of having received a masters degree in social work, or its equivalent, through completion of a satisfactory graduate program in social work which includes two years of full-time study (at least 60 semester hours, or the equivalent). No more than half of the total hours for the program may be advanced standing credit granted for social work study at the baccalaureate level. The graduate program must include curricular content in the following areas:

• social work values and ethics;
• diversity, social justice, and at-risk populations;
• human behavior in the social environment;
• social welfare policy and service delivery systems;
• foundation and advanced social work practice;
• social work practice evaluation and research;
• a field practicum of at least 900 clock hours in social work integrated with the prescribed curricular content; and
• clinical coursework of at least 12 semester hours that prepares the individual to practice as an LCSW. The courses must include content that emphasizes the person-in-environment perspective and knowledge and skills in the following areas:
  
  
  • diagnosis and assessment in clinical social work practice;
  • clinical social work treatment; and
  • clinical social work practice with general and special populations.

The clinical coursework must be offered by an acceptable two-year graduate social work program, such as one registered by the Department as licensure qualifying for the LCSW. Coursework may be completed either as part of the M.S.W. degree program or after completion of the program to remedy deficiencies in clinical content. Continuing education is not acceptable for the graduate social work education.

In addition to the professional education requirement, every applicant for LCSW licensure or a limited permit must complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse in accordance with Section 6507(3)(a) of the Education Law. You must submit a certificate of completion from an approved provider or file a certification of exemption before a New York State license or permit can be issued. See additional information regarding this training and a list of approved providers. You may be eligible for exemption from the training if you can document, to the satisfaction of the Department, that your practice does not involve professional contact with persons under the age of 18 and that you do not have contact with persons 18 or older with a handicapping condition who reside in a residential care school or facility. You may request an exemption by submitting Form 1CE.

Examination Requirements

Please note: The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) which administers the licensing examinations for licensed master social worker (LMSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) has announced an increase in examination fees, effective January 1, 2010. A candidate who registers for the ASWB Masters examination after January 1, 2010 will pay the fee of $230; a candidate who registers for the ASWB Clinical examination after January 1, 2010 will pay the fee of $260. There is more information about the examination fees on the ASWB web site: www.aswb.org. An applicant for licensure may not register for an examination until approved by the Office of the Professions.

Licensure as an LCSW requires successful completion of the "Clinical" examination administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) or an examination determined by the Department to be comparable in content.

To qualify to take the ASWB examination:

1. Submit an Application for Licensure (Form 1) and fee ($294) to the New York State Education Department.
2. Request your school to verify your education directly to the New York State Education Department on Form 2.
3. Request your supervisor to submit verification of your supervised experience in diagnosis and psychotherapy on Form 4B to the State Education Department. Applicants for licensure after November 15, 2007 must have the supervised experience approved in order to be admitted to the licensing examination.
4. The New York State Education Department must approve your education, experience and all application materials. (We will notify you and ASWB when you have satisfied the examination eligibility requirements.)
5. You must register directly with the ASWB to take the Clinical examination. Information and the Candidate Handbook for the examination are available on the Web at www.aswb.org or through ASWB (see contact information).

Reasonable Testing Accommodations

If you have a disability and may require reasonable testing accommodations for the examination, you must complete ASWB's Disability Accommodation Form and submit it with supporting documentation directly to ASWB (see contact information). If your application for a reasonable accommodation is denied, or you have any complaints about your accommodations, please contact the New York State Board for Social Work (see contact information).

Experience Requirement

To meet the experience requirement for licensure as an LCSW, you must have completed three years of full-time post-masters, or the part-time equivalent in no more than 6 calendar years, supervised experience in clinical social work. Only experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment plans, as defined in Section 7704 of the Education Law, is acceptable for LCSW licensure.

It is your responsibility to practice only under a qualified supervisor. You should review the supervisor qualifications and acceptable experience with an employer before you accept a position practicing clinical social work.

In order to be acceptable, the experience must meet the following conditions:

1. Full-time experience is defined as 20 client contact hours of psychotherapy per week for 48 weeks of employment.
2. Part-time experience is defined as no less than 10 client contact hours per week of psychotherapy.
3. Experience may be completed in a facility or non-facility setting, acceptable to the Department, or a combination of facility and non-facility experience.
4. A client contact hour is at least 45 minutes of psychotherapy with individuals, families, or groups. Sessions may be combined to determine the weekly client contact hours.
5. All experience must be supervised by an LCSW, licensed psychologist or psychiatrist who is professionally responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of each client.
6. Supervisory sessions must be in-person supervision of an individual or group for one hour per week or two hours every other week. The applicant must have at least four hours of in-person supervision each month and at least two hours of the supervision must be individual clinical supervision.
7. The purpose of supervision is to improve the applicant's skills in clinical social work and to assure on-going review of the patient/client treatment.
8. When the applicant is working less than full-time, supervision still must average one-hour per week for the entire period.

Informed Consent:

It is the responsibility of the licensed master social worker (LMSW) to inform the client that the LMSW is only authorized to practice clinical social work under supervision. The client should understand that the supervisor is responsible for the diagnosis and practice of the LMSW. The LMSW shares with a qualified supervisor information about the diagnosis and treatment of each client and the supervisor is professionally responsible for the services provided by the LMSW. The client should be provided with the supervisor's contact information so the client can share any concerns or questions about the LMSW's practice with the supervisor.

If the LMSW is employed in an agency or other setting and on-site supervision is not available, it is the responsibility of the LMSW, employer and supervisor to make arrangements for supervision. In addition to informed consent for the client, the arrangements should include access by the supervisor to client information and records to ensure appropriate supervision of the LMSW who is only authorized to practice under supervision. An LMSW who seeks third-party supervision without employer consent could face charges of unprofessional conduct under Part 29 of Regents Rules.

Requirements for Supervisors:

Prior to supervising the applicant, the supervisor must have at least three years of full-time experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment plans, or the part-time equivalent.

Supervision of applicants for the LCSW must be provided by a(n):

• LCSW licensed in New York State or the equivalent as determined by the Department; or
• Psychologist who, at the time of supervision of the applicant, was licensed as a psychologist in the state where supervision occurred, was qualified in psychotherapy as determined by the Department based upon the Department's review of the psychologist's education and training, including but not limited to education and training in psychotherapy obtained through completion of a program in psychotherapy registered pursuant to Part 52 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education or a program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association; or
• Physician who, at the time of supervision of the applicant, was a diplomate in psychiatry of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. or had the equivalent training and experience as determined by the Department.

A supervisor may not have a familial relationship with the applicant, as such dual relationships may constitute a charge of unprofessional conduct under the Education Law and Regents Rules.

Supervisor Approval:

A supervisor who is not an LCSW or who has not previously been approved by the State Education Department to supervise the provision of psychotherapy services by an LMSW must submit an Approval of Qualifications to Supervise Psychotherapy (Form 4Q) to allow the Department to determine whether the supervisor is qualified in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning. The Form 4Q may be submitted prior to the supervised experience but approval of the supervisor does not guarantee that the experience will be accepted.

Supervisor Responsibility:

The supervisor is legally and professionally responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of each client and must have access to all relevant information. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide appropriate supervision as an LMSW may only practice clinical social work under supervision. Any arrangements for third-party supervision must include a written agreement between the employer, third-party supervisor and the LMSW to specify the supervisor's access to clients and client records to ensure appropriate supervision of the LMSW. The client must be informed of how confidential information is handled in the case of third-party supervision and how to raise questions with the employer and/or third-party supervisor.

Definition of Terms

Licensed Clinical Social Worker: The practice of licensed clinical social work encompasses the scope of practice of licensed master social work and, in addition, includes the diagnosis of mental, emotional, behavioral, addictive and developmental disorders and disabilities and of the psychosocial aspects of illness, injury, disability and impairment undertaken within a psychosocial framework; administration and interpretation of tests and measures of psychosocial functioning; development and implementation of appropriate assessment-based treatment plans; and the provision of crisis oriented psychotherapy and brief, short-term and long-term psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic treatment to individuals, couples, families and groups, habilitation, psychoanalysis and behavior therapy; all undertaken for the purpose of preventing, assessing, treating, ameliorating and resolving psychosocial dysfunction with the goal of maintaining and enhancing the mental, emotional, behavioral and social functioning and well-being of individuals, couples, families, small groups, organizations, communities and society.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis in the context of licensed clinical social work practice is the process of distinguishing, beyond general social work assessment, between similar mental, emotional, behavioral, developmental and addictive disorders, impairments and disabilities within a psychosocial framework on the basis of their similar and unique characteristics consistent with accepted classification systems.

Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy in the context of licensed clinical social work practice is the use of verbal methods in interpersonal relationships with the intent of assisting a person or persons to modify attitudes and behavior which are intellectually, socially, or emotionally maladaptive.

Assessment-based treatment plans: Development of assessment-based treatment plans in the context of licensed clinical social work practice refers to the development of an integrated plan of prioritized interventions, that is based on the diagnosis and psychosocial assessment of the client, to address mental, emotional, behavioral, developmental and addictive disorders, impairments and disabilities, reactions to illnesses, injuries, disabilities and impairments, and social problems.

Applicants Licensed in Another State

Endorsement, often referred to as reciprocity, is not available in New York State. However, you may be eligible for licensure in New York State if you:

• meet all the general requirements for licensure;
• have passed the Clinical ASWB licensing examination or an examination that the Department determines adequately tests social work proficiency at the clinical level and adequately measures the candidate's knowledge concerning practice as an LCSW; and
• have completed three years of supervised post-M.S.W. experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning, acceptable to the Department.

Full documentation of compliance with all New York State licensure requirements, including professional education, moral character, and experience, must be submitted directly to the Department by the appropriate entity, not by the applicant.

An individual licensed in another jurisdiction may not practice in New York without being licensed. If the applicant does not meet the requirement for licensure as an LCSW, the applicant must apply for licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in order to practice under supervision in New York while meeting the requirements for licensure as an LCSW.

Limited Permits

A limited permit allows an individual who has met all requirements for licensure as an LCSW except the licensing examination to practice as an LCSW provided that the individual is under the general supervision of an LCSW. To be eligible for a limited permit, you must:

• submit an Application for Licensure (Form 1) and fee for licensure and first registration ($294);
• have your school verify completion of the M.S.W. degree (Form 2);
• have your supervisor verify at least three years of full-time experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning (Forms 4 and 4B);
• submit proof of completion of coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a New York State approved provider; and
• be at least 21 years of age and be of good moral character.

You may apply for a limited permit (Form 5) at the same time as or any time after you submit your Application for Licensure (Form 1). The fee for a limited permit is $70.

The limited permit is issued for a specific employment setting and the permit holder must be under the supervision of an LCSW. If you are a new applicant for licensure in New York State, a private practice that you own or operate would not be an acceptable setting for a limited permit holder.

Limited permits are valid for a period of one year and are not renewable.

A limited permit cannot be issued until the Department has determined that you have satisfied all requirements for licensure except the licensing examination.

Limited permits are not issued to applicants for employment in public schools. Such applicants should apply for a provisional school social worker credential through the Office of Teaching Initiatives. See more information on teaching certificates at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/index.html.