Social Work Licensure

Obtaining a professional license in social work is an important step in your professional development. The FSU College of Social Work would like to help you in the process. Every state in the United States has social work licensing, but the requirements vary.

Click for Licensure Verification Request

"8 Steps to Social Work Licensure graphic"
Florida Licensure

If you are applying for licensure in Florida, complete the licensure verification request via the link above. You will receive a practicum letter and/or an advanced standing letter from the College of Social Work's Office of Professional Development.

Licensure Outside the State of Florida

If you reside outside of Florida, please contact your state board of licensing and determine the specific requirements and either fax, mail, or scan the verification forms to us.

Transcript Requests

Your degree must be posted by FSU before we will be able to verify your information. Transcript requests should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

 

Applying for Licensure with a Social Leadership Concentration

If you want to apply for a clinical license but your MSW degree didn’t have a clinical focus, such as our Social Leadership concentration, then we suggest you:

  1. Apply to the Board of Social Work in your state for clearance. This process will check to see if you have completed the necessary coursework. They will tell you what courses you need to take. If you have completed all of the necessary coursework, the Board may still deny you because you have not completed the clinical field placement.
  2. FSU offers clinical coursework on our campuses and online to assist you with the completion of required courses. You can apply to FSU (or any other accredited social work program) as a “Non-degree seeking (Special)” student to be eligible to register.
  3. If you need to complete a clinical internship, send us a copy of the denial letter, which will make you eligible for our SOW5537 for non-degree seeking (special) student field placement. Please contact the Director of Field Education, Ms. Katrina Boone 850-644-9743 or kboone@fsu.edu for more information on how this can be coordinated.

Licensure Resources

Here are some resources available to assist in studying for a licensure exam. The College does not endorse or show preference towards any one of these vendors.

The Therapist Development Center
The Therapist Development Center prepares therapists to PASS their exams through their Social Work Test Prep and MFT Test Prep.

The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) is the association of boards that regulate social work. ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examinations used across the country and in several Canadian provinces, and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work. Through the association, social work boards can share information and work together. ASWB is also available to help individual social workers and social work students with questions they may have about licensing and the social work examinations.

The Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences (AATBS)
AATBS provides license exam preparation and continuing education for mental health professionals. AATBS has served thousands of psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists for over 30 years. There is discount pricing for Florida State University Students and Alumni – Use the reference code FSU9.

Licensing Exam Preparation Services (LEAP)
LEAP has developed high-quality, comprehensive exam preparation materials and classes uniquely designed for social workers who wish to prepare for the bachelor's, master's, advanced generalist, or clinical levels of the ASWB Social Work Licensing Exam.

Social Work Examination Services (SWES)
Social Work Examination Services has been providing on-site review courses and home study programs specifically designed to prepare social workers for license examinations throughout the United States.

Social Work Licensure – A State-By-State Guide
A breakdown of social work licensure in each state, including license types, requirements, continuing education, and more