Social Work Licensure

Accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), the Carthage College Social Work program awards a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work that meets the initial BSW licensure requirements for all states where BSW licensure is required. Individual states may have additional requirements for BSW-level licensing, which may include an exam and/or post-BSW professional experience. Other states may require a Master of Social Work or higher degree.

In Wisconsin, the bachelor-level certification is the Certified Social Worker (CSW), which requires a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program, successful completion of the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code Examination, and successful completion of the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) bachelor-level national exam.

More details about the licensing and certification requirements of all 50 states, along with exam pass rates, can be found on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) website.

ALABAMA — Yes

ALASKA — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

ARIZONA — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

ARKANSAS — Yes

CALIFORNIA — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

COLORADO — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

CONNECTICUT — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

DELAWARE — Yes

FLORIDA — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

GEORGIA — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

HAWAII — Yes

IDAHO — Yes

ILLINOIS — Yes

INDIANA — Yes

IOWA — Yes

KANSAS — Yes

KENTUCKY — Yes

LOUISIANA — Yes

MAINE — Yes

MARYLAND — Yes, but with additional requirements

MASSACHUSETTS — Yes, but with additional requirements

MICHIGAN — Yes, but with additional requirements

MINNESOTA — Yes

MISSISSIPPI — Yes, but with additional requirements

MISSOURI — Yes, but with additional requirements

MONTANA — Yes, but with additional requirements

NEBRASKA — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

NEVADA — Yes, but with additional requirements

NEW HAMPSHIRE — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

NEW JERSEY — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

NEW MEXICO — Yes, but with additional requirements

NEW YORK — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

NORTH CAROLINA — Yes, but with additional requirements

NORTH DAKOTA — Yes, but with additional requirements

OHIO — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

OKLAHOMA — Yes, but with additional requirements

OREGON — Yes, but with additional requirements

PENNSYLVANIA — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

RHODE ISLAND — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

SOUTH CAROLINA — Yes, but with additional requirements

SOUTH DAKOTA — Yes, but with additional requirements

TENNESSEE — Yes, but with additional requirements

TEXAS — Yes, but with additional requirements

UTAH — Yes, but with additional requirements

VERMONT — Yes, but with additional requirements

VIRGINIA — Yes, but with additional requirements

WASHINGTON — Yes, but with additional requirements

WEST VIRGINIA — Yes, but with additional requirements

WISCONSIN — Yes, but with additional requirements

WYOMING — Yes, but with additional requirements

PUERTO RICO — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

GUAM — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

AMERICAN SAMOA — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

US VIRGIN ISLANDS — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS — No
Master of Social Work or higher degree required