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.