Tennessee Social Work License

Earn Your Tennessee Social Work License

With over 10,000 employed social workers in the state, Tennessee is a great place to launch your career in the mental health industry and helping those in need. But as in every state, one must adhere to a specific set of guidelines to earn a Tennessee social work license. Here we break these steps down, but we also recommend contacting the Tennessee Department of Health: Board of Social Work as they grant licensure for the state.

Tennessee state map

STEP 2 - Obtain Your Tennessee LMSW License using TDC’s Study System

  • Once you graduate from your MSW program, you are eligible to take the ASWB Master’s Level Exam. Contact the ASWB to pay the $230 registration fee and get approval to register, and then contact Pearson VUE to select your test center and date.
  • Then it’s time to study! Click on the link to learn about TDC’s LMSW Exam Prep: ASWB Masters Level. We’ve helped 95% of our clients pass this exam, and you’re next!
  • Once you pass, you will then complete the Tennessee LMSW state application. This submission includes:
    • $160 application fee
    • A passport photo
    • Criminal Background Check authorization
    • Official school transcript sent directly to the Tennessee Social Work Board
    • Declaration of citizenship
    • Complete practitioner profile form (in application)
  • Then when your application has been processed and approved, congratulations! You are a Tennessee LMSW!

STEP 3 - Earn Qualifying Hours Towards Your Tennessee Social Work License

  • In Tennessee, candidates must earn 3,000 hours of social work experience.
    • 100 of those hours must be directly supervised, and 60 of those 100 must be face-to-face supervision
    • This experience must be earned between two (2) and six (6) years from receiving the LMSW license
    • If you are going for your Tennessee LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), that experience must be clinical. If you’re going for the LAPSW (Licensed Advanced Practitioner Social Worker), then the experience would be non-clinical, but know the information on this page is for the Clinical.

STEP 4 - Apply for your Tennessee LCSW License and Study with Confidence!

  • When your experience has been completed, it’s time to take the Clinical Level Exam. Just like when you took the Masters, connect with the ASWB and Pearson VUE to get your registration, location and exam date secured. The registration fee this time around will be $260.
  • Then return to TDC and use our LCSW Exam Prep: ASWB Clinical Level program. Based on the neuroscience of learning, we use a proven method that shifts the focus away from memorization, and more towards how to think about what each question is asking. With a 95% pass rate for our clients, this program is designed to give you the best chance to pass this exam on the first attempt.
  • And finally, when you’ve passed the Clinical exam, fill out the Tennessee LCSW state application and submit it to the Board. You will need to include:
    • $235 application fee
    • A passport photo
    • Criminal Background Check authorization
    • Official school transcript sent directly to the Tennessee Social Work Board
    • Declaration of citizenship
    • Complete practitioner profile form (in application)
    • Copy of your LMSW renewal card
    • One professional reference from a current or former social work employer
    • Supervision log and verification of supervision (in application)
    • Verification that supervisor had completed a six (6) hour CEU on clinical supervision

Once your application has been accepted you will receive your Tennessee social work license for the LCSW. Congratulations! You did it!