State Board of Social Work Examiners

General Information

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• Any additional documents can be uploaded to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab.
• If you need to create an online account, or you cannot remember your username/password, you can enter the online portal or change your login credentials through the "Registers a Person" tab in the top left corner, then choose "Other Registration."
• Social Work applications are processed in the order they are received.

As of February 1, 2021, in compliance with ASWB policy, clinical exam applicants are required to show proof that their clinical hours have been completed prior to an approval to sit for the clinical exam. 

Applying for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) License

An applicant for LCSW licensure as a social worker shall submit the following:

1. A completed application form:  Start Online Application


2. The application fee set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:44G-14.1; (this is assessed when you have completed the online application form).


3. An official transcript indicating that the applicant has received a master's degree in social work from an educational program accredited, or in candidacy for accreditation, by the Council on Social Work Education; or a doctorate in social work from an accredited institution of higher education; sent directly from your school to: DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.njoag.gov


4. "Documentation of Supervised Clinical Experience" forms found here that show the number of work experience hours required by N.J.A.C. 13:44G-4.1 as well as the following attachments:
   1. Copy of your supervisor's Board approved 20-hour supervision course. 
   2. The official job description for the title(s) you held during supervision. The Board considers a job description "official" if it bears agency letterhead and is issued from Human Resources as the standard agency job description for your title. Note: this can not be a letter written on your behalf by a supervisor or employer, this must be the standard job description on file when you were hired.
   3. If you have an outside LCSW supervisor not employed where you are working: a letter written by your employer on official letterhead, signed and with contact information stating you have approval to discuss your casework with your LCSW supervisor.


5. Once you have been approved for and passed the ASWB Clinical Exam: proof of successful completion of the clinical level examination administered by the Association of Social Work Boards. Once you have passed, please do one of the following:
   • If taken in New Jersey: Upload your unofficial passing score report to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab.
   • If taken in another state: request an official ASWB score transfer.
   
   

Start Application

If you are looking for information on completing a Proposed Plan of Supervision, please see the Proposed Plan tab.

If you are an LCSW in another state and wish to apply for Reciprocity:

• Complete the online application for LCSW click here: Start Application – There is no separate reciprocity application.


• Upload a copy of your resume to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab. 
• A reciprocity applicant's work experience within the past five years is reviewed in lieu of supervision hours, please make sure your CV/resume is up-to-date and detailed.
• You will not need to complete the clinical experience portion of the application as long as your resume shows sufficient clinical work (as defined by the Board's regulations) within the past five years.


• All third-party documents including official transcripts, license/certificate verifications are to be emailed by the issuing entity to: DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.njoag.gov.


• Request an official ASWB score transfer
• If you were not required to sit for the clinical exam because grandfathering provisions did not require it, please upload a letter to your online profile detailing your licensure history. 


• PLEASE NOTE: A current primary source license verification for each out-of-state license held must be sent to the board. Verifications must be sent directly from the issuing Board to our Board. By email: DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.njoag.gov, our postal address is found on our Board homepage. If your Board does not provide verifications, please upload a letter to your online profile explaining this with a link to the Board's website where this policy is outlined.