Apply for a License

Please review the below information before beginning the application process.

• Licensure Process Handbook - Information on the licensure process for each of the Board's regulated professions.
• Online Application Handbook - Guidance on completing the online application.
• Regulations Governing the Practice of Social Work
• FAQ's

What is the difference between each online application?

• The Registration of Supervision by Initial Application (Supervisee in Social Work) application is used for those who  propose to obtain supervised post-master’s degree experience hours towards clinical licensure; who are applying for supervision approval for the first time, or applying for new approval after the four years of supervision previously approved has expired. You do not need to register your supervision approved and obtained in another jurisdiction.
• The Registration of Supervision by Add/Change (Supervisee in Social Work) application is used for those who propose to obtain supervised post-master’s degree experience hours towards clinical licensure; who are requesting approval for an additional supervisor or change of a supervisor to a supervisor not currently approved by the board. You do not need to register your supervision approved and obtained in another jurisdiction.

  Effective as of September 27, 2023, supervisees in social work no longer need to notify the Board and register if they wish to add an additional supervisor or change to a supervisor that is currently approved by the Board. To verify if a supervisor is currently approved by the board, view the APPROVED SUPERVISOR REGISTRY located on the Board’s website at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/social/asr/.

• The Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) by Examination application is used for those who hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work that want to obtain the lower-level casework management and supportive services license and are required to pass the Bachelor’s level ASWB examination for licensure. This license is not a pre-requisite for clinical licensure.
• The Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) by Endorsement application is used for those that hold an active substantially equivalent social work case management and supportive services license in another jurisdiction and have passed the Bachelor’s level ASWB examination or can provide evidence that the ASWB Bachelor’s exam was not required for licensure by the other jurisdiction at the time the applicant was initially licensed.
• The Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW) by Examination application is used for those who hold a Master’s degree in Social Work that want to obtain the lower-level casework management and supportive services license and are required to pass the Master’s level ASWB examination for licensure. This license is not a pre-requisite for clinical licensure.
• The Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW) by Endorsement application is used for those that hold an active substantially equivalent social work case management and supportive services license in another jurisdiction and have passed the Master’s level ASWB examination or can provide evidence that the ASWB Master’s exam was not required for licensure by the other jurisdiction at the time the applicant was initially licensed.
• The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (“LCSW”) by Examination application is used for those that have completed their supervised experience and are required to pass the clinical level ASWB examination for licensure.
• The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (“LCSW”) by Endorsement application is used for those that hold an active substantially equivalent clinical social work services license in another jurisdiction. This application also applies to individuals who have not passed the ASWB clinical exam but have an active license in another jurisdiction or can provide evidence that the ASWB Clinical exam was not required for licensure by the other jurisdiction at the time the applicant was initially licensed.