The Road to Licensure: Is it for you?

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Depending on your career interests, obtaining your licensure at the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) level can be a very wise decision. Maybe you’ve finished your bachelor’s degree and are headed to graduate school, are currently a MSW student and considering licensure as your next step, or at a crossroad in your career and word on the street is that becoming a LCSW is the way to go! Whatever your reason for consideration, knowing what’s in store for the ride is most certainly a factor in your peaking interest. To become a LCSW you must first obtain your Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited program. You are then able to apply for your LCSWA, which is the associate license that you will have for a minimum of two years before being eligible for your full licensure. During this time you must work under clinical supervision and Social Work Board regulations. The great thing about getting your LCSWA is that you can begin practicing quickly following graduation. Let’s take a closer look at a few North Carolina Board facts:

  • The LCSWA will need to accrue 3,000 hours

  • Post-master supervision period will last two to six years.

  • The LCSWA will need 100 hours of supervision by an LCSW —one hour for every 30 hours of experience. Up to 25 hours of group supervision can be credited.

  • The LCSWA will need to pass the clinical exam in the first two years in order to renew.

  • The North Carolina Board charges a $40 fee. This is in addition to the cost of the exam, which is currently $260.

  • The Board requires references. Professional reference forms are included in the application. Transcripts must be official. Current policy calls for them to be submitted with the application in sealed envelopes.

At the end of the road there are countless professional opportunities! You can work in community mental health settings, schools, prisons, primary care practices, and honestly wherever your hear desires. Social workers are literally everywhere. As we connect you will learn more about what having a LCSW means for you financially and what specific job duties entails. Sometimes you just don’t know what the “job” is until you show up for work but the good thing is I’ve been there and I have the answers to your questions. Let’s connect!

Shashanah WardLicensureComment