Social work licensure in Rhode Island

Requirements last verified October 22, 2026 against the Rhode Island Department of Health.

License levels

• LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

  No exam until after August 15, 2030, under Rhode Island law.

  Despite the name this is the master’s-level license. The regulation names “the intermediate level of the examination administered by the ASWB”, but the statute (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-39.1-8, amended effective June 26, 2025) requires an examination only after August 15, 2030, and the Department of Health says the exam is not currently required.

• LICSWLicensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

  “The clinical level of the examination administered by the ASWB”, plus 3,000 hours of post-master’s clinical practice inside a window of 24 to 72 months immediately before you apply, 1,500 of them delivering clinical services directly to clients. Supervision runs at two hours every two weeks and at least one hour per 20 hours of direct client contact, three-quarters of it one-to-one.

Worth knowing about Rhode Island

Rhode Island is a state where LCSW is not the top license. The LCSW here is the master’s-level clinical license, and it has needed no exam since June 30, 2022: a 2022 law suspended the requirement until August 15, 2025, and a 2025 amendment moved that date to August 15, 2030. The regulation still shows the 2025 date, so go by the statute and the Department’s own notice. Independent practice needs the LICSW, which still takes the Clinical exam. Its hours window cuts both ways: the 3,000 hours must sit inside the 24 to 72 months immediately before your application, so hours earned long ago can age out.

Common questions about Rhode Island

Which ASWB exam do I need for Rhode Island?

LCSW: no exam until after August 15, 2030, under Rhode Island law; 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 Rhode Island issue?

LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker); LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker).

How many supervised hours does Rhode Island require?

LICSW: 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 Rhode Island Department of Health on 2026-10-22. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.