Texas offers the following social worker license types. Click on each link to learn more about the requirements to qualify for each license. (Also, see the Council’s Military Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses webpage.)
- Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
- Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Reinstate an expired Texas social work license
Texas offers the following specialty recognitions that may be awarded after the Texas license has been granted:
- Independent Practice Recognition
- The holder of a Texas LMSW or LBSW may be granted non-clinical independent practice recognition (IPR).
- Supervisor Status
- The holder of a Texas LCSW may be granted Supervisor status (LCSW-S) to supervise a
- LMSWs accruing hours toward LCSW,
- LMSWs accruing hours toward nonclinical independent practice recognition, or
- LBSWs accruing hours toward nonclinical independent practice recognition.
- The holder of a Texas LMSW-IPR may be granted Supervisor status (LMSW-IPR-S) to supervise an LBSW or LMSW accruing hours toward independent practice recognition.
- The holder of a Texas LBSW-IPR may be granted Supervisor status (LBSW-IPR-S) to supervise an LBSW accruing hours toward independent practice recognition.
- The holder of a Texas LCSW may be granted Supervisor status (LCSW-S) to supervise a
Note: A few Texas licensees hold LMSW-AP, which allows independent, non-clinical, Advanced Practitioner practice. Also, an LMSW-AP-S may supervise an LBSW or an LMSW accruing hours toward LBSW-IPR or LMSW-IPR. However, Texas no longer offers the Advanced Practitioner specialty recognition.
See the Consolidated Rulebook for Social Work on the Statutes and Rules webpage for information about how to qualify for specialty recognitions.
Notes on the application process
See the Council’s application process rules, found in Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code, which include:
- 882.1 Application Process
- 882.2 General Application File Requirements
- 882.5 Jurisprudence Examination Requirement
Online Application with Fee Payment and Document Upload
Visit the Council’s Online License System webpage to create an account and apply for your license online. Via this system, you may submit an online application, make electronic fee payment, and upload required documents (except documents required to come directly from the official source). Failure to pay the required application fee will result in automatic expiration of your application without review after 30 days.
Following submission and payment of your application, you will receive an email confirming your submission and payment. Once you have submitted your application you cannot make any changes to your application and must submit any additional application materials by mail or email.
TIP: When completing the online application, use an email address to which you will have ongoing access. Some students use their school address when applying for licensure; then they have trouble accessing the online application file after they graduate because they no longer have their school-assigned email address.
Do I have a license yet?
Staff reviews applications and related materials in the order received. The Council’s Current Application Processing Timelines webpage displays a chart to help you to determine where your application is in the queue. After submission of application, staff will generally send deficiency notice within a few business days. Sometimes, a person’s email program filters our staff’s email messages (from “.gov”) into the recipient’s junk or spam folders. When expecting an email from our staff, please periodically check your junk and spam folders. Please respond promptly to any deficiency notice.
You may use the Council’s Online Search/Verify a License webpage/portal to confirm license has been issued or renewal of license has been completed. This online portal reflects the public portions of the Council’s database in real-time; so, it is the most-up-to-date information. No login or password is needed; accordingly, this public information is easily accessible by the licensee, the licensee’s supervisor, the licensee’s employer or potential employer, etc.
The same staff who review applications and issue licenses also respond to phone calls and email messages. The more phone calls and emails staff receive, requesting confirmation that an item has been received or status of an application review, the longer it takes staff to process actual applications. Your patience and restraint are appreciated and speeds the application processing for everyone. If needed, the best way to contact staff via the webform on the Council’s Contact Us webpage.
