Social work licensure in Colorado

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA).

Colorado requires pre-approval

The ASWB Examination Guidebook names Colorado as a jurisdiction where you must be approved through ASWB Licensing Services before you can register for the exam. You cannot simply book a seat at a test center and sit it — the approval comes first, and it takes time you should plan for.

License levels

• SWPProvisional Social Worker

  The board lists this level but does not state its ASWB exam on the pages we checked — confirm with them directly.

• SWCClinical Social Work Candidate

  The board lists this level but does not state its ASWB exam on the pages we checked — confirm with them directly.

  The registration held while accruing post-degree supervised experience toward the LCSW.

• LSWLicensed Social Worker

  The board lists this level but does not state its ASWB exam on the pages we checked — confirm with them directly.

• LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

  The board lists this level but does not state its ASWB exam on the pages we checked — confirm with them directly.

Worth knowing about Colorado

Colorado has a sequencing trap that costs people months, and it is the single most useful thing to know before you start. Post-degree work experience and supervision hours only count toward licensure if you are already registered as a candidate — SWC or LSW — at the time you accrue them. Register first, then start the clock; hours worked before registration do not count retrospectively. Colorado is also one of the four jurisdictions the ASWB Examination Guidebook names as requiring pre-approval through ASWB Licensing Services before you can register for the exam, so build both steps into the timeline.

Common questions about Colorado

Which ASWB exam do I need for Colorado?

Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) lists its license levels without naming which ASWB exam each requires, on the pages we were able to read. Confirm the exam category with the board directly before registering.

What social work licenses does Colorado issue?

SWP (Provisional Social Worker); SWC (Clinical Social Work Candidate); LSW (Licensed Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).

Does Colorado require exam pre-approval?

Yes. The ASWB Examination Guidebook names Colorado as a jurisdiction where you must be approved through ASWB Licensing Services before you can register for the exam. The approval comes first and takes time to plan for.

Is this information current?

These requirements were last checked against Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.