Social work licensure in Montana

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Montana Board of Behavioral Health, Department of Labor & Industry.

License levels

LBSWLicensed Baccalaureate Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.
A CSWE-accredited BSW, then 500 hours of supervised work experience over a minimum of 18 months within the last five years, and the ASWB bachelor’s exam. The supervised hours are done under a candidate license (SWLB).
LMSWLicensed Master’s Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Masters exam.
A CSWE-accredited MSW, then 1,500 hours over a minimum of 18 months within the last five years under a candidate license (SWLM), and the ASWB master’s exam.
LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.
3,000 hours of supervised work experience under a candidate license (SWLC), and the ASWB clinical exam.

Worth knowing about Montana

Montana runs a candidate license at every level, not just the clinical one — SWLB, SWLM and SWLC — and each carries supervised hours before the full license is issued. That makes it one of the few states where even a bachelor’s-level social worker has post-degree supervision to complete: 500 hours over at least 18 months. Note the five-year window on the LBSW and LMSW hours; experience older than that no longer counts, so a long gap between graduating and applying can cost you the work you have already done.

Common questions about Montana

Which ASWB exam do I need for Montana?: LBSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LMSW 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 Montana issue?: LBSW (Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker); LMSW (Licensed Master’s Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).
How many supervised hours does Montana require?: LBSW: 500 hours; LMSW: 1,500 hours; 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 Montana Board of Behavioral Health, Department of Labor & Industry 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 Montana calls its license levels, the exam behind them is one of five.

License levels

LBSWLicensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.

A CSWE-accredited BSW, then 500 hours of supervised work experience over a minimum of 18 months within the last five years, and the ASWB bachelor’s exam. The supervised hours are done under a candidate license (SWLB).

LMSWLicensed Master’s Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

A CSWE-accredited MSW, then 1,500 hours over a minimum of 18 months within the last five years under a candidate license (SWLM), and the ASWB master’s exam.

LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

3,000 hours of supervised work experience under a candidate license (SWLC), and the ASWB clinical exam.

Worth knowing about Montana

Common questions about Montana

Which ASWB exam do I need for Montana?

LBSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LMSW 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 Montana issue?

LBSW (Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker); LMSW (Licensed Master’s Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).

How many supervised hours does Montana require?

LBSW: 500 hours; LMSW: 1,500 hours; 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 Montana Board of Behavioral Health, Department of Labor & Industry on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.