Social work licensure in Hawaii

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Hawaii Board of Social Work Examiners, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division (DCCA).

License levels

LBSWLicensed Bachelor Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.
A CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree and “the basic level national examination given by the Association of Social Work Boards”.
LSWLicensed Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Masters exam.
An MSW or doctorate from a CSWE-accredited program and “the intermediate or higher level national examination” — so a higher-level pass also satisfies it.
LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.
The clinical level national examination, plus 3,000 hours of post-master’s clinical experience taken over no fewer than two years and no more than five. At least 2,000 of those hours must be assessment, clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy; no more than 900 may be advocacy, consultation and evaluation; and 100 hours must be direct face-to-face supervision, 60 of them one-to-one.

Worth knowing about Hawaii

Hawaii’s statute uses ASWB’s older exam names — “basic”, “intermediate”, “clinical” — which map to today’s Bachelors, Masters and Clinical. It also counts upward: the LSW requires “the intermediate or higher level” examination, so a Clinical or Advanced Generalist pass satisfies it too. Booking is a two-step here that catches people out: you register and pay through ASWB, then schedule the seat itself through PSI once your Authorization to Test arrives.

Common questions about Hawaii

Which ASWB exam do I need for Hawaii?: LBSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LSW 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 Hawaii issue?: LBSW (Licensed Bachelor Social Worker); LSW (Licensed Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).
How many supervised hours does Hawaii 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 Hawaii Board of Social Work Examiners, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division (DCCA) on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.

Which exam will you sit?

Whatever Hawaii calls its license levels, the exam behind them is one of five.

License levels

LBSWLicensed Bachelor Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.

A CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree and “the basic level national examination given by the Association of Social Work Boards”.

LSWLicensed Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

An MSW or doctorate from a CSWE-accredited program and “the intermediate or higher level national examination” — so a higher-level pass also satisfies it.

LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

The clinical level national examination, plus 3,000 hours of post-master’s clinical experience taken over no fewer than two years and no more than five. At least 2,000 of those hours must be assessment, clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy; no more than 900 may be advocacy, consultation and evaluation; and 100 hours must be direct face-to-face supervision, 60 of them one-to-one.

Worth knowing about Hawaii

Common questions about Hawaii

Which ASWB exam do I need for Hawaii?

LBSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LSW 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 Hawaii issue?

LBSW (Licensed Bachelor Social Worker); LSW (Licensed Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).

How many supervised hours does Hawaii 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 Hawaii Board of Social Work Examiners, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division (DCCA) on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.