Social work licensure in Nevada

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers.

License levels

LSWLicensed Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.
A CSWE-accredited BSW and the Bachelor’s exam. One of Nevada’s two entry-level licenses.
LMSWLicensed Master Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Masters exam.
A CSWE-accredited MSW and the Master’s exam. A student in their last semester may apply before graduating on written verification of the graduation date.
LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.
An advanced-practice license: you must already hold the Nevada LMSW, so the board’s table lists “Master’s Exam AND Clinical Exam”, plus a 3,000-hour post-graduate internship over a minimum of 24 months with a board-approved site, supervisor and supervision plan.
LISWLicensed Independent Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam.
The other advanced-practice license, and the reason Nevada is an Advanced Generalist state: “Master’s Exam AND Advanced Generalist Exam”, on the same 3,000-hour, 24-month internship footing as the LCSW.

Worth knowing about Nevada

Nevada is one of the few states that makes you pass two ASWB exams rather than one. Because both advanced licenses are built on top of the LMSW, the board’s own table reads “Master’s Exam AND Clinical Exam” for the LCSW and “Master’s Exam AND Advanced Generalist Exam” for the LISW — so the Master’s pass is not something the later exam replaces. Budget for both sittings, and note that the 3,000 internship hours have a floor in time as well as hours: a minimum of 24 months, whatever pace you work at.

Common questions about Nevada

Which ASWB exam do I need for Nevada?: LSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LMSW requires the ASWB Masters exam; LCSW requires the ASWB Clinical exam; LISW requires the ASWB Advanced Generalist 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 Nevada issue?: LSW (Licensed Social Worker); LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker); LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker).
How many supervised hours does Nevada require?: LCSW: 3,000 hours; LISW: 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 Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers 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 Nevada calls its license levels, the exam behind them is one of five.

License levels

LSWLicensed Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.

A CSWE-accredited BSW and the Bachelor’s exam. One of Nevada’s two entry-level licenses.

LMSWLicensed Master Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

A CSWE-accredited MSW and the Master’s exam. A student in their last semester may apply before graduating on written verification of the graduation date.

LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

An advanced-practice license: you must already hold the Nevada LMSW, so the board’s table lists “Master’s Exam AND Clinical Exam”, plus a 3,000-hour post-graduate internship over a minimum of 24 months with a board-approved site, supervisor and supervision plan.

LISWLicensed Independent Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam.

The other advanced-practice license, and the reason Nevada is an Advanced Generalist state: “Master’s Exam AND Advanced Generalist Exam”, on the same 3,000-hour, 24-month internship footing as the LCSW.

Worth knowing about Nevada

Common questions about Nevada

Which ASWB exam do I need for Nevada?

LSW requires the ASWB Bachelors exam; LMSW requires the ASWB Masters exam; LCSW requires the ASWB Clinical exam; LISW requires the ASWB Advanced Generalist 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 Nevada issue?

LSW (Licensed Social Worker); LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker); LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker).

How many supervised hours does Nevada require?

LCSW: 3,000 hours; LISW: 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 Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.