NY
New York Social Work Licensing
New York State Board for Social Work (Office of the Professions)
Step 1 — Choose your license type
Step 2 — What would you like to do?
INeedASocialWorker.com provides licensing information and links to official state agencies. Applications, renewals, payments, and final license decisions are completed through the applicable licensing board.
License Levels
- LBSW / LSW (Bachelor's)
- LMSW (Master's)
- LCSW (Clinical)
Continuing Education
36 hours every 3 years for LMSW/LCSW registration (verify with NYSED Office of the Professions).
Ethics Requirements
A set number of ethics continuing-education hours is typically required within each renewal cycle (often 2–6 hours). Verify the current ethics requirement with the board.
Clinical Supervision
Clinical licensure (LCSW or state equivalent) generally requires a period of supervised post-master's clinical experience — commonly around two years and 3,000+ hours, including regular face-to-face clinical supervision by a board-approved licensed clinical supervisor. Exact hours, timeframes, and supervisor qualifications vary by state — verify with the board.
ASWB Exam Information
Social work licensure requires passing the appropriate ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) examination for your level — Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical. Register and schedule at aswb.org, then apply to the state board for authorization to test. ASWB license verification
Reciprocity & Endorsement
Most states do not offer fully automatic reciprocity but review applications by endorsement/comity for social workers currently licensed in good standing elsewhere; ASWB examination scores transfer between states. Contact the board to confirm eligibility and any additional coursework or jurisprudence requirements.
Never miss your New York renewal
Get reminders 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your license expires.
Related Resources in New York
Licensing requirements change frequently and vary by license level. The information here is general guidance only — always confirm current requirements directly with the official state licensing board before applying, renewing, or relying on any detail.