Social work licensure in Arizona

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.

License levels

• LBSWLicensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.

  Arizona accepts a passing score on the Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist OR Clinical examination for this license — a higher-level exam satisfies it.

• LMSWLicensed Master Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

  Accepts the Masters, Advanced Generalist OR Clinical examination.

• LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

  The Clinical examination only — no substitutions at this level.

Worth knowing about Arizona

Arizona counts exams downward. A Clinical pass satisfies the LBSW and the LMSW as well as the LCSW, and an Advanced Generalist pass satisfies both of the lower two. Only the LCSW is fixed to a single exam. That matters if you expect to move up: sitting the higher exam once can cover the license you want now and the one you want later. There is also a deadline — you must pass an approved examination within 12 months of receiving written examination authorisation from the Board.

Common questions about Arizona

Which ASWB exam do I need for Arizona?

LBSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LMSW requires the ASWB Masters exam; LCSW requires the ASWB Clinical exam. Your board tells ASWB which category you are approved to take, so confirm with them before you register — registration fees are nonrefundable.

What social work licenses does Arizona issue?

LBSW (Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker); LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).

Is this information current?

These requirements were last checked against Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.