Social work licensure in Georgia

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists.

License levels

• LMSWLicensed Master’s Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

  An MSW from a CSWE-accredited institution and the ASWB Masters examination.

• LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

  The rules require 3,000 post-master’s hours over “no less than 36 months or more than 108 months”, with 120 hours of supervision — no more than half of it group, and at least half provided by a licensed clinical social worker. The first 2,000 hours must be “under supervision and direction in the practice of clinical social work”.

Worth knowing about Georgia

Georgia sets both a floor and a ceiling on how long the clinical hours may take: no fewer than 36 months and no more than 108 months. Most states set only a minimum, so it is worth knowing that letting the clock run past nine years restarts the problem rather than simply delaying it.

Common questions about Georgia

Which ASWB exam do I need for Georgia?

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 Georgia issue?

LMSW (Licensed Master’s Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).

How many supervised hours does Georgia require?

LCSW: 3,000 hours. The board sets the conditions on those hours — who may supervise, over what period — so read its own rules before you begin accruing them.

Is this information current?

These requirements were last checked against Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.