NOTE: Please see the Licensure Process Handbooks page for more information on the licensure process for each of the Board's regulated professions.
Our mailing address is: 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, Virginia 23233
A name and/or address change may be submitted in writing using the Name/Address Change Form. Address changes may also be made online through the Online Licensing website.
All name changes must be accompanied by a marriage license, divorce decree, or court order.
Duplicate licenses may be ordered online through the Online Licensing website. The cost is $15.00
You can obtain a verification for free by using the online License Lookup service. Alternatively, you can submit a Request for Verification of Virginia License form along with a $25.00 check or money order made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Please visit the License Verifications page for more information.
Supervisees must register for, and receive Board-approval of, supervision before supervised experience can begin.
No, you must receive written Board approval prior to counting hours towards licensure.
Yes, the Board maintains the Approved Supervisor Registry which contains a list of the names and contact information of persons currently approved by the Board to supervise candidates for licensure as a clinical social worker.
The applicant must submit to the Board a notarized affidavit from the present chief executive officer of the agency, corporation or partnership in which the applicant was supervised. The affidavit must specify dates of employment, job responsibilities, supervisor’s name and last known address, and the total number of hours spent by the applicant with the supervisor in face-to-face supervision. Or, if the applicant is licensed in another state, obtain a copy of the application from their state board and submit the verification of supervision forms from that state board.
Yes, as long as the supervisor and supervised experience meets the requirements of the Board’s regulations. The Board is unable to make a determination as to whether supervised experience obtained outside of Virginia will count until you submit a complete application for licensure by examination for consideration.
Yes, you must stay under Board-approved supervision until you have passed your examination, unless you are exempt from the requirements of licensure as outlined in Virginia Code § 54.1-3701. If you change your supervisor and your supervisor is NOT listed on the Approved Supervisor Registry, you must submit an Application for a Supervisor Add/Change and receive board approval to continue providing clinical social work services in that setting. You must continue to meet with your supervisor weekly in accordance with Regulation 18VAC140-20-50.
If your new supervisor is listed on the Approved Supervisor Registry, you do not need to complete the application for Add/Change or notify the Board of your change in Supervision. You must ensure you establish a Supervisory Contract that outlines the expectations and responsibilities of the supervisor and supervisee and keep that contract in your records.
Yes, you are required to be a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) unless you are exempt from the requirements of licensure as outlined in Virginia Code § 54.1-3701.
Virginia does not issue temporary licenses.
Virginia does not have reciprocity with any jurisdiction. Virginia offers application by endorsement for applicants holding an active, unrestricted, comparable social work license that is equivalent to the level in which they are applying in Virginia. Please review the requirements for licensure by endorsement which can be found in the regulations.
Written or electronic clinical records must be maintained for each client to include identifying information and assessment that substantiates diagnosis and treatment plans. Each record must include a diagnosis and treatment plan, progress notes for each case activity, information received from all collaborative contacts and the treatment implications of that information, and the termination process and summary.
Client records must be maintained for a minimum of 6 years or as otherwise required by law from the date of termination of the therapeutic relationship with the following exceptions:
a. At a minimum, records of a minor child must be maintained for 6 years after attaining the age of majority or 10 years following termination, whichever comes later.
b. Records that are required by contractual obligation or federal law to be maintained for a longer period of time.
c. Records that have been transferred to another mental health professional or have been given to the client or his legally authorized representative.
Exam candidates must pass the exam within 2 years of the date of the initial board approval to register for the exam. If the candidate has not passed the exam by the end of the initial 2-year period, the applicant must reapply for examination according to the requirements of the regulations in effect at that time in order to be approved for another 2 years to pass the exam.
If the applicant has not passed the exam within the second 2-year period, the applicant must register for supervision and complete 1 additional year as a supervisee before they can apply for another 2-year period to re-take the exam.
You may contact ASWB to request an official score report which will be sent directly to the Board.
To become a licensed social worker in Virginia, the applicant must pass the corresponding level ASWB exam:
No, Virginia requires that all licensure requirements be completed before approval is granted to sit for the exam.
The applicant is notified that day at the testing site.
No, following your exam, ASWB will forward your official score report to the Virginia Board of Social Work within approximately 7-10 days. The Board will then process your application for licensure within 7-10 days after receiving your official score report.
No, follow the instructions in the ASBW Candidate Handbook to sit for the exam again.
If you pass the examination, you will receive an email from the Board of Social Work notifying you of your approval for licensure within 7-10 days after receiving your official score report from ASWB. You will receive the hard copy license within 30 days of the license being issued..
No. You must wait until you are issued a license from the board office. Passing the exam does not mean you are licensed.
It is unlawful for any person not licensed under chapter 54.1-3709 to use the title "Social Worker" in writing or in advertising in connection with a practice unless he simultaneously uses clarifying initials that signify receiving a baccalaureate or master's degree in social work from an accredited social work school or program approved by the Council on Social Work Education or a doctorate in social work.
The unlawful designation as social worker became effective on July 1, 2013.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 54.1-3709:
If a complaint or report of a possible violation of section 54.1-3709 is made against any person who is licensed, certified, registered, or permitted, or who holds a multistate licensure privilege issued by any of the health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions, that complaint will be referred to the applicable board within the Department for disciplinary action. A violation of this section will be a Class 1 misdemeanor.
This information is available on the Virginia Board of Social Work website under “Laws and Regulations.” Please click on Laws Governing Social Work and refer to the appropriate section. (54.1-3709)
Board staff is only authorized to approve applications that clearly meet the requirements in the regulations governing practice. If staff is unable to make a determination regarding your degree, coursework, experience, criminal history, etc., you will receive a letter detailing the specific reasons that your application was not approved and your right to appeal the decision to an informal conference before a committee of the board.
No. Your application is valid for one year from the date it was originally received by the board. Therefore, you have one year to provide additional information indicating that you have met the requirements or appeal the matter to an informal conference. Some deficiencies can be resolved within a year (e.g., missing coursework) by providing additional information or completing the missing requirements. If you plan to complete the missing requirements within a year, it is not necessary to appeal staff's decision. However, if you feel that you have met all of the requirements and you cannot otherwise satisfy the missing requirements within a year, you have the option to appeal the decision. Please keep in mind the timeframe for appeals when making your decision.
If you do not appeal the letter of ineligibility, and you do not provide additional information to satisfy the requirements, your application will expire one year from the date it was received by board staff. If your application expires, you can reapply with the board.
The timeframe to appear at an informal conference varies. In some cases, we may be required to complete an investigation, which will delay the matter further. The time to process the case for an informal conference also depends on the number of cases waiting to be heard by the committee. In general, this process can take up to one year from the time you appeal to the date of the informal conference.
If you would like the Board to consider amending one of its regulations or rules, you may file a Petition for Rule-making in accordance with Virginia Code § 2.2-4007. The Board is required to publish your petition in the Virginia Register and post it online at www.townhall.virginia.gov to begin a 21-day comment period on the request. Within 90 days after the comment period, or 14 days after its next scheduled meeting, the Board will issue a decision on whether it will grant or deny the petition. Submitting a petition for changes in regulations does not have any effect on your application.
Within 30 days from the scheduled date, a Notice of Informal Conference will be drafted and mailed to you. The Notice will include the date and time of the conference, the allegations, and a copy of your licensure application file and/or any investigative material necessary for review. A copy of the Notice will be mailed by regular mail and the Notice with the additional application and/or investigative material will be sent by certified mail, which you may have to pick up from the post office. In order to ensure that you receive the information in a timely manner, please keep the board updated with any address changes.
No. The regulations are specific regarding the required degree and coursework. Prior experience cannot be considered in lieu of education.
All notices of proceedings and subsequent orders are public information pursuant to Virginia Code § 54.1-2400.2(G).
For more information about the informal conference process, please review the FAQ's on the agency's website. While these questions specifically address disciplinary proceedings, the informal conferences for credentialing matters follow the same procedures.
Virginia Board of Social Work
Email: socialwork@dhp.virginia.gov
Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director
Teresa Reynolds, MSW, LCSW, Chairperson