Social work licensure in Texas

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners.

Texas requires pre-approval

The ASWB Examination Guidebook names Texas as a jurisdiction where you must be approved through ASWB Licensing Services before you can register for the exam. You cannot simply book a seat at a test centre and sit it — the approval comes first, and it takes time you should plan for.

License levels

LBSWLicensed Baccalaureate Social Worker
The board lists this level but does not state its ASWB exam on the pages we checked — confirm with them directly.
LMSWLicensed Master Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Masters exam.
Requires the ASWB Masters examination and the Texas Social Work Jurisprudence exam, dated no earlier than six months before the application is received.
LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker
Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.
3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over at least 24 months, including at least 100 hours of supervisory sessions.

Worth knowing about Texas

Texas no longer offers the Advanced Practitioner specialty recognition. A few licensees still hold LMSW-AP, which permits independent non-clinical practice, but it is closed to new applicants. Texas also requires exam pre-approval through ASWB Licensing Services before you can register.

Common questions about Texas

Which ASWB exam do I need for Texas?: 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 Texas issue?: LBSW (Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker); LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker); LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).
How many supervised hours does Texas require?: 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.
Does Texas require exam pre-approval?: Yes. The ASWB Examination Guidebook names Texas as a jurisdiction where you must be approved through ASWB Licensing Services before you can register for the exam. The approval comes first and takes time to plan for.
Is this information current?: These requirements were last checked against Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners 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 Texas calls its license levels, the exam behind them is one of five.

License levels

LBSWLicensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

The board lists this level but does not state its ASWB exam on the pages we checked — confirm with them directly.

LMSWLicensed Master Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

Requires the ASWB Masters examination and the Texas Social Work Jurisprudence exam, dated no earlier than six months before the application is received.

LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over at least 24 months, including at least 100 hours of supervisory sessions.

Common questions about Texas

Which ASWB exam do I need for Texas?

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 Texas issue?

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

How many supervised hours does Texas require?

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.

Does Texas require exam pre-approval?

Yes. The ASWB Examination Guidebook names Texas as a jurisdiction where you must be approved through ASWB Licensing Services before you can register for the exam. The approval comes first and takes time to plan for.

Is this information current?

These requirements were last checked against Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners on 2026-08-16. Licensure rules change without much notice, so treat the board as the authority and this page as a starting point.