Licensing Questions SW
Some years ago, the Texas Legislature repealed statutory authority for the Alternate Method of Examining Competency (AMEC) program, which did allow those seeking LBSW or LMSW licensure, who failed the ASWB exam within a few points, to participate in year-long supervised program as an alternative to passing the ASWB national exam. Since the repeal of the statutory authority, staff may no longer offer or administer the AMEC program. At this time, the only path to Texas licensure is to pass the appropriate ASWB exam.
Please know: the exam is designed for consistent results, unless the examinee takes steps to increase knowledge between attempts. Test-takers are encouraged to complete one or more courses in their weakest area(s) as well as an exam preparatory course before an attempt or between subsequent attempts.
• Also, ASWSB recognizes the mental and emotional toll of repeated attempts and has contracted with Fifth Theory, an independent firm with expertise in helping test-takers reduce anxiety and develop test mastery mindset. This FREE program is offered to those who have been unsuccessful in passing the exam. See https://www.aswb.org/mindset-resources-to-be-offered-to-all-aswb-test-takers/ for more information.
• In addition, ASWB-Examination-Guidebook.pdf includes a template for creating an individualized study plan, lists of general references and references specific to each content area, and other helpful information. NOTE: The Guidebook states you must have board-approval to sit for the exam. That is NOT true for Texas. Texas partners with ASWB such that ASWB staff do all pre-exam approval processing. If you need help, please contact ASWB staff who are familiar with Texas-specific process at texas@aswb.org.
• If you are still in school (or perhaps studying with a group of alumni and faculty member), ASWB has Resources for Educators at https://www.aswb.ohttps://www.aswb.org/exam/getting-ready-for-the-exam/exam-materials-for-faculty/rg/exam/getting-ready-for-the-exam/exam-materials-for-faculty/. Resources for Educators may also be used by a Supervisor to assist supervisees preparing for ASWB exam.
• ASWB recently announced a new resource: ASWB Nonstandard Testing Arrangements Handbook helps you understand the options available to test-takers who may need accommodation because of documented disability, health condition, or English as a second language. If you need help, please contact ASWB staff who are familiar with Texas-specific process at texas@aswb.org.
To be eligible to become a Texas Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW), the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in social work that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE has a directory of accredited programs on its website. The applicant must also pass the ASWB Bachelor Exam. Texas allows a student in a qualifying program to sit for the ASWB Bachelor Exam while still in school. See the SW Board’s ASWB Licensure Examinations webpage. If you need help with pre-exam eligibility or the Texas-specific exam registration process, please contact ASWB staff at texas@aswb.org. After passing the ASWB Bachelor Exam, see Checklist for Required Documents on the SW Board’s Forms and Publications webpage and How To Apply Online for Social Work License on the Council’s How To User Guides webpage. See more details on the SW Board’s Applying for a License webpage.
To be eligible to become a Texas Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), the applicant must have a master’s degree in social work that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE, CSWE has a directory of accredited programs on its website) or a doctoral degree in social work from an accredited university. The applicant must also pass the ASWB Master Exam. Texas allows a student in a qualifying program to sit for the ASWB Master Exam while still in school. See the SW Board’s ASWB Licensure Examinations webpage. If you need help with pre-exam eligibility or the Texas-specific exam registration process, please contact ASWB staff at texas@aswb.org. Texas does not accept ASWB Advanced Generalist or ASWB Clinical exams in lieu of ASWB Master Exam. After passing the ASWB Master Exam, see Checklist for Required Documents on the SW Board’s Forms and Publications webpage and How To Apply Online for Social Work License on the Council’s How To User Guides webpage. See more details on the SW Board’s Applying for a License webpage.
- In State: To be eligible for the Clinical Social Worker license (LCSW) you must hold a license as a Texas Master Social Worker (LMSW) and complete supervised social work practice under an LCSW Supervisor (LCSW-S). All in-state candidates must complete at least 3,000 hours of supervised practice with at least 100 hours of supervisory sessions over no less than 24 full months. A Texas LMSW contacts a Texas LCSW-S to set up a supervisory relationship; See the Find a Supervisor webpage. The LCSW-S develops a clinical supervision plan (see Clinical Supervision Plan for LCSW on the SW Board’s Forms and Publications webpage) and initiates supervised practice. Once the above-listed minimum requirements are met, the LCSW-S completes the Supervised Clinical Experience Verification Form for LCSW on the SW Board’s Forms and Publications webpage and provides it to the LMSW. The LMSW applies to take ASWB’s Clinical Exam; follow the instructions on the SW Board’s ASWB Licensure Examinations webpage. If you need help with pre-exam eligibility or the Texas-specific exam registration process, please contact ASWB staff at texas@aswb.org. After passing the ASWB Clinical Exam, see How To Apply Online for Upgrade to LCSW on the Council’s How To User Guides webpage.
- Out of State: Licensed Clinical Social Workers (that is, those who are licensed for independent clinical practice by another state) must have a master’s degree in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE, CSWE has a directory of accredited programs on its website) or a doctoral degree in social work from an accredited university.The applicant must also pass the ASWB Clinical Exam. Texas does not accept the ASWB Advanced Generalist Exam in lieu of the ASWB Clinical Exam. See the SW Board’s ASWB Licensure Examinations webpage. If you need help with pre-exam eligibility or the Texas-specific exam registration process, please contact ASWB staff at texas@aswb.org. After passing the ASWB Clinical Exam, see Checklist for Required Documents on the SW Board’s Forms and Publications webpage and How To Apply Online for Social Work License on the Council’s How To User Guides webpage. See more details on the SW Board’s Applying for a License webpage.
If you are taking the exam for the first time you will be able to designate the state in which you are pursuing licensure and ASWB will send the scores upon completion of the exam.
If you took the exam for another state’s licensing authority you will need to contact ASWB to have the scores transferred to Texas. For more information please visit ASWB’s webpage
All fees are found in Chapter 885 of the Texas Administrative Code. A link to the rules is available on the BHEC website. The link to Chapter 885 is found toward the middle of the page under the heading: Relevant Administrative Rules.
Electronic transcripts should be sent to transcripts@bhec.texas.gov .
Hardcopy transcripts should be mailed to:
BHEC SW Transcripts,
1801 Congress Ave.,
Ste. 7.300, Austin, Texas 78701
The jurisprudence exam is administered online by a third-party vendor. To register visit our Jurisprudence Exam webpage.
Visit https://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/pract/selfQueryBasics.jsp for instructions on how to obtain a Self-Query Report from the National Practitioner DataBank (NPDB).
• The NPDB may email to you a certified self-query report. DO NOT ALTER THIS PDF FILE. You may upload certified report when you complete your online application for license (see the Council’s How To User Guides webpage).
• OR after your online application has been submitted, you may forward the emailed, certified NPDB self-query report to NPDB@bhec.texas.gov.
• OR the NPDB will mail the self-query report to you. Mail the NPDB self-query report to the Texas SW Board so it is still in the unopened envelope sealed by NPDB. Mail to BHEC SW NPDB, 1801 Congress Ave., Ste. 7.300, Austin, Texas 78701.
BHEC has a Clinical Supervision Verification Form available on our forms webpage. This form should be filled out by and signed by the supervisor.
Upon submission of your online application, the online licensing system will send you a confirmation email. Within the confirmation email is a link to instructions for completing the fingerprint process. See the Council’s Fingerprint Information webpage for more details.
A list of active supervisors is available on the BHEC website.
There are many variables that impact application processing times. Typically, one can expect the process to take several weeks. BHEC provides a chart that shows the receipt date of the applications staff is currently processing here.
Yes. There are military waivers and advantages provided for active duty military, veterans, and military spouses. For more information review Council rule 882.60 and 882.61.
Also see Military Service Member, Veteran, or Military Spouse Supplemental Form on the SW Board’s Forms and Publications webpage. Upload this Supplemental Form along with required documents listed within the Supplemental Form when you submit your online application or use the File Upload feature at the bottom of the web-email-form on the Council’s Contact Us webpage.
Complete Part I of Verification of Licensure in Other Jurisdiction on the SW Board’s Forms and Publications webpage; then send to the non-Texas licensing agency that issued your license. The non-Texas licensing agency will complete the form and submit it to the Texas SW Board at socialwork@bhec.texas.gov. A separate form must be received for each license you currently hold or have ever held in the past.
• Some state agencies generate their own form, staff may consider the data on the state-agency-generated form – if data is not included on the state-agency-generated form, staff may ask the applicant for additional information/documentation. The state-agency may send their own generated form to socialwork@bhec.texas.gov.
• Some state agencies no longer issue any type of license verification, but rather provide an online primary source verification. If that’s the case for one or more of the licenses you hold, please note that in your online application or send in an email to socialwork@bhec.texas.gov after your application has been submitted. If another state’s online license verification does not include all the data needed, staff may ask the applicant for additional information/documentation.
