Social Work Licensure
Information on this page will help you obtain or renew your LMSW and LCSW license registration. Continuing education is required in New York for renewal after the first registration period.
- ASWB Candidate Handbook - Helpful handbook from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) that administers all of the social work licensing examinations across the United States and in select Canadian provinces. Updated March 2017.
- New York State Education Department - Frequently Asked Questions about obtaining licensure
- LMSW Licensure in New York - License requirements
- Association of Social Work Boards - Schedule your licensing exam after you have state approval
- Licensure Exam Preparation Course - twice a year we offer a multi-day course to assist people in preparing for the LMSW and LCSW exam.
- MSW clinical courses approved for use toward the LCSW Exam: link to the School's MSW clinical coursework that can be used to full the 12-credit minimum clinical requirement for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam.
- New York State Education Department - Frequently Asked Questions about obtaining licensure
- LCSW Licensure in New York - License requirement
- NYSED continuing education requirements for LMSWs & LCSWs - NYS Education Law section 74.10 effective 1/1/15
- Continuing Education FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions about NYSED continuing education requirements for LMSW and LCSW license renewal including a chart of the hours needed for license renewal and the process for providing training documentation.
- NYSED Continuing Education Recordkeeping: New York LMSWs and LCSWs must keep a record of completed, acceptable continuing education for six years from the date of the coursework/educational activity. You are responsible for keeping copies of your certificates and submitting them to NYSED when you receive a notice from them for a continuing education training audit. Approved training providers do not submit your training records to NYSED.
- How do I know which of your trainings include NY social work continuing education hours? Please check the CEU section of course descriptions for our live in-person training, certificate programs and online workshops (live and self-study) to ensure they offer the approved NYSED social work contact hours you need. We are an approved NYSED social work provider #SW-0001.
- How to change your mailing address or name with NYSED
- Renew license registration online with NYSED (You should receive a USPS mailed letter for renewal several months before renewal is due.)
New York School Social Worker Certification - Steps to receive your certification as a school social worker
The Office of Continuing Education is proud to offer a comprehensive LMSW and LCSW Licensing Examination Preparation Program designed to help candidates build confidence, enhance their skills, and expand their knowledge in preparation for the licensing exams.
This program consists of six hours of instruction, divided into two-hour sessions held every other Saturday over a six-week period. It is typically offered twice a year, beginning in January and June.
Our structured approach focuses on developing essential test-taking strategies, with a primary emphasis on analyzing and answering multiple-choice questions effectively. Participants will gain the tools and techniques needed to approach the exam with confidence and improve their chances of success.
Click here to learn more about our next offering and take the next step toward achieving your professional licensing goals!
- Association of Social Work Boards - Schedule your licensing exam after you have state approval
- American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work (ABE) - National standard-setting organization for the profession of clinical social work
If you are seeking licensure outside of New York State, check with your state licensure office. You can view and compare licensure requirements on the ASWB website.
In June 2010, the NYS Legislature passed a law addressing the practice of clinical social work and other scope-protected tasks in unauthorized corporate settings.
Chapters 130 and 132 of the Laws of 2010 changed the Education Law in regard to settings that are authorized (1) to provide social work, psychology, and mental health practitioner services and (2) to employ individuals licensed or authorized to practice the professions of social work, psychology, mental health practitioner, medicine and nursing, effective June 1, 2010. In order to provide these professional services, certain not-for-profit, religious and education corporations must obtain a waiver or have some other legal authority to do so.
The law authorizing waivers from the corporate practice restrictions may be found in section 6503-a of the Education Law. This section was amended to include applied behavior analysis as a professional service that may be provided by an entity holding a waiver issued by the Department, effective July 1, 2014.
New York State Education Department FAQ’s related to the subject
Waiver application available on the New York State Education Department website