Apply for LSW

Learn more about changes to Social Work Practice Act effective August 1, 2020

License Requirements

Licensed Social Worker (LSW) is the bachelor's license type. Apply by examination if you do not have a current social work license in another state or jurisdiction, or apply by endorsement if you have a current social work license in another state or jurisdiction. The Board recommends that current social work students apply for a license six months before graduation for the best application process.

License requirements for LSW by examination under Minnesota Statutes section 148E.055 are as follows:

Academic Degree: Baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work
Examination: Passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelors exam
Criminal Background Check: All applicants for initial licensure must complete a criminal background check (CBC) under Minnesota Statutes section 214.075, unless you hold a current permanent or temporary social work license in Minnesota
Ethical Standards: Must not have engaged in conduct in violation of the Board's ethical standards of practice

License requirements for LSW by endorsement under Minnesota Statutes section 148E.055 are as follows:

Active Social Work License: Hold an active license or credential as a baccalaureate-level social worker in another jurisdiction
Academic Degree: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Criminal Background Check: All applicants for initial licensure must complete a criminal background check (CBC) under Minnesota Statutes section 214.075, unless you hold a current permanent or temporary social work license in Minnesota
Ethical Standards: Must not have engaged in conduct in violation of the Board's ethical standards of practice

Processing Time, Deadlines, and Important Information

Plan ahead!

Getting your permanent license involves multiple steps and generally takes at least three months—in many cases it takes longer
Applications are reviewed in order of date received and initial application review typically takes between 30 and 60 days from the date an application is received by the Board
The Board recommends that current social work students apply for a license about six months before graduation for the best application process
Review application requirements and submit required documentation to avoid delays in processing your application
Find out when a license is required
If you are eligible, a temporary license allows you to begin authorized social work practice for a time-limited period and can typically be issued more quickly than a permanent license

One-year application deadline:

Applications remain open for one year from the date your application and fee are received by the Board
If you do not complete all application requirements by the one-year deadline, your application will close and you will need to reapply, pay another fee, and may need to complete another CBC

Check your application status online:

Log in to check your application status
Review your online application checklist regularly and look at the comments added by Board staff on each item for details

Update your email + mailing address:

The Board will contact you about your application via mail
If your address changes, log in to update your mailing address

Apply by Examination

Apply by examination if you do not have a current social work license in another state or jurisdiction. Current social work students may apply for a license six months before graduation to take the ASWB exam.

Application Action Steps:

1. Submit application and fee
- Apply online: Apply and pay using the Board's online services
- Apply by mail: Download the Application for Licensure form and submit via mail with check or money order
- *The Board recommends that current social work students apply for a license about six months before graduation for the best application process. Students cannot take the exam more than six months before completing social work degree requirements.
2. Complete fingerprint-based criminal background check

Unless you hold a current permanent or temporary Minnesota social work license, you must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check (CBC):
- The CBC fee is bundled with the application fee when you apply online or by mail
- Once the Board has received your application and fee, the CBC Program Office will email instructions and forms to you:
  - Provide a current email address on your application to avoid delays
  - Wait to receive the email from the CBC Program Office to schedule fingerprinting--this email includes important information and forms required for fingerprinting
  - Submit fingerprints to the CBC Program Office, not the Board of Social Work
  - Review the Criminal Background Check page for additional information
3. Submit required supporting documentation

Your application cannot be processed without the required supporting documents. Supporting documentation may be submitted separately from the Application for Licensure and application fee but should be submitted as soon as possible after an application is submitted. Carefully review the requirements below to avoid delays to your application:
- Official Transcript*:
  - You must submit an official transcript to the Board including your degree, major, and date degree conferred
  - Contact the registrar's office at your school to request an official transcript sent directly from your school to the Board office:
    - By mail to 335 Randolph Ave Suite 245 Saint Paul MN 55102
    - By email (secure, certified PDF from your school) to social.work@state.mn.us
- *Current social work students: Wait to submit your official transcript until after graduation; contact your school to confirm your degree conferred date will be included on transcript
  - Students may apply for a license six months before graduation to take the ASWB exam
  - If you apply for a license when you are currently enrolled in a social work degree program, the Board can grant exam approval without your official transcript on file
  - Submit your official transcript after you graduate when your degree, major, and date degree conferred are listed on your official transcript--contact your school after you graduate to confirm this information is included before requesting your official transcript
- *You are not required to resubmit your official transcript if submitted to the Board with previous application
- Optional—ASWB Exam Accommodations:
  - Board and ASWB testing sites will make reasonable accommodations for applicants who:
    - Have a disability qualifying under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
    - Speak English as a second language
  - If applicable, download exam accommodations form(s) and submit directly to ASWB
4. Register for and take ASWB exam

The Board will send you a letter by mail if you are approved for the ASWB exam:
- Exam approval cannot be granted until all required supporting documents have been submitted and your application has been reviewed*
  - It typically takes 30 to 60 days for the Board to review an application from the date the application is received
  - If required supporting documentation has not been submitted, your exam approval will be delayed
  - The Board can grant exam approval before you have submitted fingerprints for the CBC, but your license cannot be issued until the CBC is complete
- *Current social work students cannot take the exam more than six months before completing social work degree requirements.
- Schedule your exam with ASWB as soon as possible after receiving Board approval—contact ASWB to register and schedule an exam
- Your official exam score will be automatically forwarded to the Board by ASWB approximately two weeks after you take the exam**
- The Board will send you a letter by mail after receiving your exam results regarding next steps to complete your application
- Passing the exam is not the equivalent of being licensed
- **Applicants that 1) take the ASWB exam and do not pass; 2) speak English as a second language; and, 3) were born in a foreign country may be eligible for a provisional license
5. Pay initial license fee online

Once your application is complete and you are approved for a license, the Board will send you a letter to notify you of approval and your online profile will be updated:
- The initial license fee is based on the two-year license fee and is prorated based on the number of months in your first license renewal term or the number of months until your next renewal if you hold a current social work license in Minnesota
  - Your first license renewal will be in your birth month, two calendar years from the date your license is issued
  - If you hold a current social work license in Minnesota, you remain on your established renewal term
- Your first license renewal will be in your birth month, two calendar years from the date your license is issued
- Your license is not effective until the Board receives your initial license fee online or by mail
Apply by Endorsement

Apply by endorsement if you have a current social work license in another state or jurisdiction. Applicants currently licensed in another state may also be eligible to apply for a temporary license, which can typically be issued more quickly than a permanent license to allow you to begin authorized social work practice in Minnesota for a time-limited period. Click here for FAQs about applying by endorsement.

Application Action Steps:

1. Submit application and fee
- Apply online: Apply and pay using the Board's online services
- Apply by mail: Download the Application for Licensure form and submit via mail with check or money order
2. Complete fingerprint-based criminal background check

Unless you hold a current permanent or temporary Minnesota social work license, you must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check (CBC):
- The CBC fee is bundled with the application fee when you apply online or by mail
- Once the Board has received your application and fee, the CBC Program Office will email instructions and forms to you:
  - Provide a current email address on your application to avoid delays
  - Wait to receive the email from the CBC Program Office to schedule fingerprinting--this email includes important information and forms required for fingerprinting
  - Submit fingerprints to the CBC Program Office, not the Board of Social Work
  - Review the Criminal Background Check page for additional information
3. Submit required supporting documentation

Your application cannot be processed without the required supporting documents. Supporting documentation may be submitted separately from the Application for Licensure and application fee but should be submitted as soon as possible after an application is submitted. Carefully review the requirements below to avoid delays to your application:
- Official Transcript:
  - You must submit an official transcript to the Board including your degree, major, and date degree conferred
  - Contact the registrar's office at your school to request an official transcript sent directly from your school to the Board office:
    - By mail to 335 Randolph Ave Suite 245 Saint Paul MN 55102
    - By email (secure, certified PDF from your school) to social.work@state.mn.us
- *You are not required to resubmit your official transcript if submitted to the Board with previous application
- License Verification:
  - You must submit verification of your current social work license(s)
  - Verification must be sent from each licensing/credentialing agency directly to the Board office
  - Contact licensing/credentialing agency in each state or jurisdiction where you hold a current social work license to request license verification(s)
4. Pay initial license fee online

Once your application is complete and you are approved for a license, the Board will send you a letter to notify you of approval and your online profile will be updated:
- The initial license fee is based on the two-year license fee and is prorated based on the number of months in your first license renewal term or the number of months until your next renewal if you hold a current social work license in Minnesota
  - Your first license renewal will be in your birth month, two calendar years from the date your license is issued
  - If you hold a current social work license in Minnesota, you remain on your established renewal term
- Your first license renewal will be in your birth month, two calendar years from the date your license is issued
- Your license is not effective until the Board receives your initial license fee online or by mail
Application Fees

All fees submitted to the Board are non-refundable and must be submitted with an Application for Licensure form online or by mail. Apply and pay using the Board's online services or download the Application for Licensure form and submit via mail with check or money order.

Application Basis Application Fee CBC Fee Total Fee

Examination $60 $33.25 $93.25

Endorsement $100 $33.25 $133.25
Resources
Fact sheets:
External Links:
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) website
- ASWB Social Work License Regulation Information (ASWB resource to compare license types and requirements between different jurisdictions)
- ASWB "Steps for Taking the ASWB Exam" video
- ASWB videos explaining the Exam question process (scroll down for videos)
- ASWB Exam Candidate Handbook
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Directory of Accredited Programs

Licensee/Applicants

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Complaint FAQs and Info

Apply for LSW

License Requirements

Processing Time, Deadlines, and Important Information

Application Process

Apply by Examination

Application Action Steps:

1. Submit application and fee

2. Complete fingerprint-based criminal background check

3. Submit required supporting documentation

4. Register for and take ASWB exam

5. Pay initial license fee online

Apply by Endorsement

Application Action Steps:

1. Submit application and fee

2. Complete fingerprint-based criminal background check

3. Submit required supporting documentation

4. Pay initial license fee online

Application Fees

Resources

Application Basis	Application Fee	CBC Fee	Total Fee
Examination	$60	$33.25	$93.25
Endorsement	$100	$33.25	$133.25