Social work licensure in Minnesota

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the State of Minnesota Board of Social Work.

License levels

LSWLicensed Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.
A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program and the ASWB Bachelors exam.
LGSWLicensed Graduate Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Masters exam.
An MSW (or doctorate) from a CSWE-accredited program and the ASWB Masters exam.
LISWLicensed Independent Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam.
The Board’s wording: a “Passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Advanced Generalist exam”, plus 4,000 hours of NONCLINICAL supervised practice with 100 hours of supervision across them.
LICSWLicensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.
An MSW plus 360 clock hours across six clinical knowledge areas and the ASWB Clinical exam.

Worth knowing about Minnesota

Minnesota is the clearest four-exam state we have found: one license for each of the ASWB levels a US candidate can sit. LSW takes Bachelors, LGSW takes Masters, LISW takes Advanced Generalist and LICSW takes Clinical. The fork that matters is between the two independent licenses — the LISW is the nonclinical route and its 4,000 hours must be nonclinical practice, while the LICSW is the clinical route and asks instead for 360 clock hours across six clinical knowledge areas. Choosing between them decides which exam you sit, so decide the practice first.

Common questions about Minnesota

Which ASWB exam do I need for Minnesota?: LSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LGSW requires the ASWB Masters exam; LISW requires the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam; LICSW 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 Minnesota issue?: LSW (Licensed Social Worker); LGSW (Licensed Graduate Social Worker); LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker); LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker).
How many supervised hours does Minnesota require?: LISW: 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 State of Minnesota Board of Social Work 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 Minnesota calls its license levels, the exam behind them is one of five.

License levels

LSWLicensed Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.

A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program and the ASWB Bachelors exam.

LGSWLicensed Graduate Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

An MSW (or doctorate) from a CSWE-accredited program and the ASWB Masters exam.

LISWLicensed Independent Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam.

The Board’s wording: a “Passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Advanced Generalist exam”, plus 4,000 hours of NONCLINICAL supervised practice with 100 hours of supervision across them.

LICSWLicensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

An MSW plus 360 clock hours across six clinical knowledge areas and the ASWB Clinical exam.

Worth knowing about Minnesota

Common questions about Minnesota

Which ASWB exam do I need for Minnesota?

LSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LGSW requires the ASWB Masters exam; LISW requires the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam; LICSW 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 Minnesota issue?

LSW (Licensed Social Worker); LGSW (Licensed Graduate Social Worker); LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker); LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker).

How many supervised hours does Minnesota require?

LISW: 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 State of Minnesota Board of Social Work on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.