Social Work Licensure in Georgia

Find Education Requirements in Georgia for one of the following:

• LMSW
• LCSW

As the last of the 13 colonies recognized in 1732, Georgia has a rich and longstanding history in the US. With beautiful coast lines both along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, Georgia has tremendous natural beauty to offer its inhabitants. Whether you are living in Atlanta another city or municipality, Georgia is an excellent state to begin your career as a Licensed Social Worker.

Do you know your education options? Begin or continue a degree – AS, BS, MSW, MS, PhD, Cert. Online and campus locations. Know your degree choices!

It is important to check in with each state’s Social Work board to get accurate and up to date information on the states licensing process. Here is the website for the State of Georgia:

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

• If you wish to hold the title of Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Georgia, you must first get a Master or Doctorate of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited university or college. You may practice social work under direction and supervision while preparing to take the master’s social work licensing examination for up to one year after earning your degree before taking a Clinical Level Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam to earn your LCSW.
• If you wish to have an independent practice in non-clinical Social Work with a LMSW you may do so without further requirement. You may engage in counseling or psychotherapeutic techniques but only under the supervision of a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). You may also only practice until such time as you have met the requirements to apply for your licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) examination (see below).
  • Learn about Georgia Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

• If you wish to hold the title of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Learn about the LCSW) in Georgia, you must first get a Master or Doctorate of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited university or college.
• Before applying for your Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) you must also provide verification of a minimum of 3,000 hours of face-to face psychotherapy work experience in the practice of clinical social work supervised by aLicensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) within a minimum of 36 months of practice and a maximum of 108 months. Of the 3,000 required hours the first 2,000 hours must be under supervision and direction in clinical social work practice. During this period of 2,000 hours 120 hours of supervision must be direct face-to-face supervision, no more than 50% can be group supervision and at least 50% much be provided by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who meets requirements to be a qualified supervisor per the Board.
• If you hold dual degrees of Master in Social Work and a Doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy , Professional Counseling, Social Work, Medicine, Applied Psychology, Pastoral Counseling, Family or Child development and whose program required supervised clinical internship may use this education experience as equivalent to one year of experience.
• If you hold a Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited Council on Social Work Education program and also hold Doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy , Professional Counseling, Social Work, Medicine, Applied Psychology, Pastoral Counseling, Family or Child development are also required to provide proof of two years of full time supervised post Master’s degree experience. These 2000 hours of experience must have been under direction and within the practice of Clinical Social work within a time frame of not less than 24 months and not more than 72 months. You will also need to submit proof of 80 hours of supervision provided by a qualified supervisor, 50% can be group supervision and at least 50% much be provided by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who meets requirements to be a qualified supervisor per the Board.
• Once you have applied for your license, you will need to receive a passing score on the Clinical Level Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam. If you follow the above steps you will be eligible to hold the title of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Georgia.

You can find all the relevant information on Social Work licensing on the Georgia website here.