Social work licensure in Michigan

Requirements last verified October 22, 2026 against the Michigan Board of Social Work, Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA).

License levels

• LBSWLicensed Bachelor’s Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.

  Requires the ASWB Bachelors examination.

• LMSWLicensed Master’s Social Worker

  The Clinical exam for the clinical designation; Advanced Generalist for the macro designation.

  The exam follows the designation: the clinical designation requires the clinical examination (Mich. Admin. Code R 338.2953) and the macro designation the advanced generalist examination (R 338.2951), and Michigan does not accept the Masters exam. 4,000 hours of post-degree supervised experience over at least two years, in the area of the designation being sought — Clinical, Macro (administrative), or both. Experience gained in Michigan must be held under a Limited LMSW license.

Worth knowing about Michigan

Michigan inverts the usual order, and it changes how you plan. In most states you sit the exam and then accrue supervised hours; here you must complete the 4,000 hours before LARA will make you eligible for the exam at all. Michigan is also one of the states where the Advanced Generalist exam is a live route — the LMSW’s macro designation takes Advanced Generalist and its clinical designation takes Clinical, so the designation you want decides the exam. That is worth noting while other states are closing the Advanced Generalist path.

Common questions about Michigan

Which ASWB exam do I need for Michigan?

LBSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LMSW: the Clinical exam for the clinical designation; Advanced Generalist for the macro designation. 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 Michigan issue?

LBSW (Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker); LMSW (Licensed Master’s Social Worker).

How many supervised hours does Michigan require?

LMSW: 4,000 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 Michigan Board of Social Work, Bureau of Professional Licensing (LARA) on 2026-10-22. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.