Social work licensure in New York

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the New York State Board for Social Work, Office of the Professions.

License levels

LMSWLicensed Master Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Masters exam.
The board’s wording: licensure “requires successful completion of the ‘Masters’ (formerly Intermediate) examination administered by the ASWB”, or a comparable exam it approves.
LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.
At least 36 months of supervised experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning, including at least 100 hours of in-person individual or group clinical supervision.

Common questions about New York

Which ASWB exam do I need for New York?: 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 New York issue?: LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).
Is this information current?: These requirements were last checked against New York State Board for Social Work, Office of the Professions 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 New York calls its license levels, the exam behind them is one of five.

License levels

LMSWLicensed Master Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

The board’s wording: licensure “requires successful completion of the ‘Masters’ (formerly Intermediate) examination administered by the ASWB”, or a comparable exam it approves.

LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

At least 36 months of supervised experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning, including at least 100 hours of in-person individual or group clinical supervision.

Common questions about New York

Which ASWB exam do I need for New York?

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 New York issue?

LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).

Is this information current?

These requirements were last checked against New York State Board for Social Work, Office of the Professions on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.