Social work licensure in Virginia

Requirements last verified August 16, 2026 against the Virginia Board of Social Work, Department of Health Professions.

License levels

• LBSWLicensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Bachelors exam.

  A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. The Board’s wording: applicants “can apply to take the Bachelors Exam after they have graduated with a BSW degree.”

• LMSWLicensed Master Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Masters exam.

  An MSW from a CSWE-accredited program. Applicants “can apply to take the Masters Exam after they have graduated with a MSW degree.”

• LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker

  Requires the ASWB Clinical exam.

  An MSW with a clinical course of study, plus a Board-approved post-master’s supervised experience of 3,000 hours of clinical social work services.

Worth knowing about Virginia

The order differs by level in Virginia, and only the clinical one is back-to-front. The Board states that LCSW applicants “are required to take and pass the Clinical Exam after they have completed their supervision experience” — so the 3,000 hours come first. LBSW and LMSW applicants can apply to sit as soon as they have graduated. There is also a 90-day wait between attempts at any level, which is worth building into a retake plan.

Common questions about Virginia

Which ASWB exam do I need for Virginia?

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 Virginia issue?

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

How many supervised hours does Virginia 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.

Is this information current?

These requirements were last checked against Virginia Board of Social Work, Department of Health 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.