Social work licensure in Massachusetts

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers.

License levels

• LSWALicensed Social Work Associate

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

• 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 Certified Social Worker

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

• LICSWLicensed Independent 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 Massachusetts

Read the abbreviations carefully here, because one of them means something different from everywhere else. In Massachusetts, LCSW stands for Licensed CERTIFIED Social Worker — not Licensed Clinical Social Worker, which is what those four letters mean in almost every other state. The clinical license in Massachusetts is the LICSW, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, and it is the highest of the four. Continuing-education requirements track that order: 30 credits for LICSW, 20 for LCSW, 15 for LSW and 10 for LSWA. If you are moving to or from Massachusetts, an “LCSW” on a CV means two different things either side of the state line.

Common questions about Massachusetts

Which ASWB exam do I need for Massachusetts?

Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers 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 Massachusetts issue?

LSWA (Licensed Social Work Associate); LSW (Licensed Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Certified Social Worker); LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker).

Is this information current?

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