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.