Social work licensure in Michigan

Requirements last verified August 16, 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 board lists this level but does not state its ASWB exam on the pages we checked — confirm with them directly.
Accepts EITHER the ASWB Advanced Generalist or the Clinical examination. 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 accepts either Advanced Generalist or Clinical, and which you sit should follow the designation you want, Clinical or Macro. 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. 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 2026-08-16. 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 Michigan calls its license levels, the exam behind them is one of five.

License levels

LBSWLicensed Bachelor’s Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.

Requires the ASWB Bachelors examination.

LMSWLicensed Master’s Social Worker

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

Accepts EITHER the ASWB Advanced Generalist or the Clinical examination. 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

Common questions about Michigan

Which ASWB exam do I need for Michigan?

LBSW requires the ASWB Bachelors 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 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 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.