How to Become a Licensed Social Worker in Minnesota

Minnesota operates a four-tier licensing system that spans bachelor's-level practice through fully independent clinical social work. The Minnesota Board of Social Work issues four distinct credentials: LSW (Licensed Social Worker), LGSW (Licensed Graduate Social Worker), LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker), and LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker). Each tier requires a corresponding CSWE-accredited degree, passage of the appropriate ASWB exam, and, for the upper two levels, 4,000 supervised post-graduate hours.

The structure is intentionally progressive. A BSW opens the door to supervised practice; an MSW moves you into graduate-level roles; clinical licenses unlock independent diagnosis, assessment, and private practice. Most social workers entering the field today plan to reach LICSW status, but the interim credentials serve critical roles during the supervised-practice phase and in nonclinical settings.

Reciprocity is evolving. Minnesota is a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact, which will soon allow social workers licensed in other compact states to work in Minnesota without a separate state application. Until full implementation, out-of-state applicants still navigate the traditional endorsement process.

Minnesota Social Work License Levels at a Glance

Minnesota issues four distinct social work licenses, each tied to a specific level of education and a defined scope of practice. The Minnesota Board of Social Work regulates all four, and the credential you pursue depends on whether you hold a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, or are working toward independent clinical practice. Understanding the levels of social work licensure across the country can help you see how Minnesota's four-tier structure compares to other states.

The Four Minnesota Social Work Credentials

• LSW (Licensed Social Worker): The entry-level credential, typically for graduates of a CSWE-accredited bachelor's program in social work. LSWs perform non-clinical social work in settings like county human services, schools, and community agencies.
• LGSW (Licensed Graduate Social Worker): Designed for graduates of a CSWE-accredited master's program who are practicing under supervision but are not yet independently licensed for clinical work.
• LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker): A master's-level license for social workers practicing independently in non-clinical roles such as policy, administration, community organizing, or generalist macro practice.
• LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker): Minnesota's top-tier clinical credential, required to diagnose and treat mental health conditions independently, including in private practice.

Where to Confirm the Details

Because requirements (degree type, ASWB exam, supervised hours, and scope) differ at each level and can change, verify the current rules directly with the source rather than relying on summaries alone:

• Minnesota Board of Social Work: the authoritative source for application requirements, exam approvals, and supervised hour counts for each license.
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): publishes which exam (Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical) corresponds to each license tier.
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): lets you confirm that a BSW or MSW program is accredited, which is a prerequisite for every Minnesota license level.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: useful for understanding the typical scope of practice and job outlook tied to each license level.
• NASW-Minnesota Chapter: a practical resource for navigating supervised hour expectations and finding qualified supervisors in different practice settings.

The sections that follow break down education, exams, supervised practice, and application steps for each level in detail.

Education Requirements for Each License Level

Social work education has become increasingly specialized, but the core entry path in Minnesota remains a CSWE-accredited degree. Each license level defines the minimum degree you must hold, and the state does not accept alternative pathways that lack proper accreditation.

Bachelor's-Level Licensure: The Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

To qualify for the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credential, you need a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This entry-level license allows you to perform generalist social work practice under supervision. The BSW curriculum typically covers human behavior, social welfare policy, and introductory practice skills, and includes a field placement. If you hold a bachelor's degree in a different field, you cannot apply for the LSW without first completing a CSWE-accredited BSW program.

Master's-Level Licensure: LGSW, LISW, and LICSW

Minnesota offers three distinct licenses at the graduate level, but they all share the same educational requirement: a master's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. The most common route is a Master of Social Work (MSW), though a doctorate such as a DSW or PhD in social work also satisfies this requirement. The differences between the Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW), Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) lie in post-graduate supervised experience and the specific ASWB exam you must pass, not in the degree itself. The LGSW is the initial graduate license, available immediately after earning your MSW and passing the required exam. The LISW and LICSW both require at least two years of supervised practice after obtaining your MSW, with additional clinical supervision hours for the LICSW. If you are pursuing a license that allows independent or clinical practice, your MSW concentration and field placement should align with your career goals; many programs offer clinical tracks that prepare you for the LICSW pathway.

The Role of CSWE Accreditation

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the national accrediting body for social work programs in the United States. Accreditation ensures that a program meets rigorous standards for curriculum, faculty qualifications, and field education. The Minnesota Board of Social Work only recognizes degrees from CSWE-accredited institutions. That means if you earned a social work degree from a program that was not accredited by CSWE at the time of your graduation, you are not eligible for licensure in Minnesota, even if the program was regionally accredited. Before enrolling in any social work degree program, verify its CSWE accreditation status on the CSWE website. If you are considering an online program, confirm that it holds CSWE accreditation as well; many online MSW programs now meet these standards. For a broader comparison of how Minnesota's licensing levels fit into the national framework, review our guide to the levels of social work licensure.

ASWB Exam Requirements by License Type

Every Minnesota social work license requires passing a specific Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam before you can submit your license application. The exam you take depends on the license level you are pursuing, and passing scores are sent directly from ASWB to the Minnesota Board of Social Work.

Which ASWB Exam Matches Your License?

Minnesota maps each license level to a corresponding ASWB examination:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW): ASWB Bachelors exam
• Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW): ASWB Masters exam
• Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW): ASWB Advanced Generalist or Clinical exam
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW): ASWB Clinical exam

Be sure you register for the correct exam category. Sitting for the wrong exam will not satisfy Minnesota's requirements, and you would need to re-register and re-test.

How to Register for the ASWB Exam

The registration process involves a few coordinated steps between you, the Minnesota Board of Social Work, and ASWB:

• Create an account on the ASWB website and submit your exam application, including payment of the exam fee to ASWB.
• Obtain approval from the Minnesota Board of Social Work to sit for the exam. The board must confirm your eligibility before ASWB will issue your authorization to test.
• Once authorized, schedule your exam appointment at a Pearson VUE testing center. Minnesota has multiple Pearson VUE locations, and you may also test at any center nationwide.

Allow time for the board to review your eligibility. Processing timelines vary, so plan ahead, especially if you are targeting a specific test date.

Exam Format and Scoring

All ASWB exams follow the same general structure. You will answer 170 multiple-choice questions within a four-hour testing window. Of those 170 questions, 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest items (you will not know which are which). Scores are reported on a scale of 70 to 106, and ASWB sets the minimum passing score for each exam category. The passing threshold is not a simple percentage but reflects a criterion-referenced standard.

Results are typically available within a few business days and are transmitted directly from ASWB to the Minnesota Board of Social Work. You do not need to submit your score report manually. If you do not pass, ASWB outlines the waiting period and process for retaking the exam on its website.

Timing Matters

Minnesota requires that you pass the appropriate ASWB exam before you apply for your license. You cannot submit a license application while your exam results are still pending. Because exam categories differ across states, social work license requirements in Indiana offer a useful comparison for candidates curious how neighboring states structure their own exam eligibility rules. Confirm current exam fees and scheduling availability through the ASWB website and verify any board-specific instructions on the Minnesota Board of Social Work's official site.

Related Articles

Supervised Practice and Clinical Hours for Minnesota Licensure

4,000 hours of supervised post-graduate practice stand between an MSW and either the LISW or LICSW credential in Minnesota. The Minnesota Board of Social Work sets the structure under Minnesota Statutes ch. 148E and Minnesota Rules ch. 8740, and the details differ depending on whether you are pursuing the non-clinical or clinical track.

LISW Supervised Practice Requirements

The Licensed Independent Social Worker credential requires 4,000 hours of supervised social work practice paired with at least 100 hours of supervision.¹ The supervision ratio is 4 hours per 160 hours of practice. Within that 100 hours, a minimum of 50 must be individual supervision and at least 25 must occur in person. Group supervision is allowed but capped at six supervisees per group.

Supervisors must hold an LICSW, though up to 25% of supervision hours may be provided by another qualified mental health professional. Supervisees document the arrangement through the Board's Non-Clinical Supervision Plan and, at the end of the experience, the Non-Clinical Supervision Verification form.

LICSW Supervised Practice Requirements

The LICSW pathway is more demanding because it authorizes independent diagnosis and psychotherapy. Candidates must complete:

• 4,000 hours of post-graduate clinical practice²
• 1,800 hours of direct client contact within those practice hours³
• 200 hours of clinical supervision, with at least 100 hours of individual supervision³
• A supervision ratio of 4 to 8 hours per 160 hours of practice⁴
• 360 hours of clinical coursework (typically completed during the MSW or through approved post-graduate training)²

Up to 50 supervision hours may be conducted by secure video.⁴ All clinical supervision must be provided by an LICSW. Documentation is filed using the Clinical Supervision Plan at the start of the experience, the Clinical Supervision Verification at completion, and the full LICSW application packet at the end.

Provisional Licensure While You Accrue Hours

Minnesota does not issue a separate "provisional" credential the way some states do. Instead, the LGSW functions as the working license while you accumulate supervised hours toward the LISW or LICSW. As an LGSW, you can practice generalist social work under supervision and bill in most settings, which keeps you employed and earning while you build the experience required for an upgrade.

The Upgrade Pathway

The credential ladder runs LGSW to LISW or LICSW. The LGSW is the entry-level master's license. Moving to the LISW signals independent non-clinical practice. Moving to the LICSW adds the authority to diagnose and provide psychotherapy independently, which is why it carries the heavier supervision, direct-contact, and coursework requirements.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Application Process, Fees, and Background Checks

Minnesota's licensure process has shifted to a fully electronic portal system, eliminating paper applications for all four license levels. The Minnesota Board of Social Work now requires all applicants to create an online account, submit documents digitally, and track their application status in real time. The process is structured but straightforward if you prepare your materials in advance and understand each checkpoint along the way.

Step-by-Step Application Sequence

Start by visiting the Minnesota Board of Social Work website and creating an account in the online licensing portal. Select the license level you are applying for , LSW, LGSW, LISW, or LICSW , and complete the online application form. You will be asked to provide demographic information, education history, work experience, and attestations regarding criminal history and professional conduct.

Once you submit the application, the board will send instructions to your CSWE-accredited school to verify your degree. This transcript verification step is automated for many Minnesota programs, but out-of-state or older degrees may require manual review. Simultaneously, you must request that ASWB send your official exam score directly to the Minnesota Board of Social Work. The board will not process your application until both documents are received.

Fingerprinting and Background Checks

Every applicant must complete a fingerprint-based background check conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the FBI.¹ After you submit your online application, you will receive an email with instructions and a fingerprinting authorization code. You can schedule an appointment at any approved fingerprinting vendor in Minnesota, many of which are located in government centers, sheriff's offices, or private identity services locations.

The background check fee is $33.25 and is paid directly to the fingerprinting vendor at the time of your appointment.¹ This fee covers both the BCA and FBI portions of the check. Processing time for fingerprints typically ranges from two to four weeks, though FBI delays can occasionally extend this window. The board cannot issue your license until the background check clears.

Application Fees by License Level

Application fees are uniform across all four Minnesota social work license levels. Whether you are applying for an LSW, LGSW, LISW, or LICSW, the initial application fee is $60.¹ This fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied or you withdraw it before completion. The application fee is separate from the ASWB exam fee, which ranges from $230 for the Bachelors, Masters, and Advanced Generalist exams to $260 for the Clinical exam.¹

Timeline from Submission to Licensure

If you submit a complete application with all supporting documents, fingerprints, and exam scores, the Minnesota Board of Social Work typically processes the application within four to six weeks. Delays most often occur when transcripts are not received promptly or when background checks encounter flagged records that require additional review. Plan for at least eight weeks from the date you sit for your exam to the date you receive your license number. Reviewing Illinois social work license processing time offers a useful comparison of how timelines can vary across neighboring states.

Reinstatement of Lapsed Licenses

If your license expires and you do not renew it within the grace period, you will need to apply for reinstatement. The board charges a reinstatement fee in addition to the standard renewal fee, and you must provide proof of continuing education for the lapsed period. Reinstatement applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the board may require additional documentation or impose conditions depending on the length and circumstances of the lapse. Do not practice social work in Minnesota while your license is expired, as doing so constitutes unlicensed practice and may result in disciplinary action.

License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

How many continuing education hours do Minnesota social workers need to renew their license, and when is renewal due?

Every licensed social worker in Minnesota renews on a two-year cycle. Your renewal deadline falls on the last day of your birth month at the end of each two-year period.¹ The Minnesota Board of Social Work requires 40 continuing education (CE) hours per renewal cycle for all license types, including the LSW, LGSW, LISW, and LICSW.²

Mandatory CE Subcategories

Not all 40 hours are freely chosen. Within that total, you must complete:

• Ethics: At least 2 hours covering professional ethics in social work practice.²
• Cultural responsiveness: At least 4 hours addressing culturally responsive practice.²

Both subcategories count toward your 40-hour total rather than sitting on top of it. If you hold an LICSW, an additional 12 hours in clinical content are required within your CE total.³ Licensed supervisors who oversee post-graduate candidates must complete at least 6 hours in supervision content.³

Independent and Online Learning Caps

The Board distinguishes between live, interactive CE and independent learning activities. Independent learning includes asynchronous online courses, research, presentations, and professional development work done outside a live setting.⁴ You may count no more than 20 hours of independent learning toward your 40-hour requirement, a 50 percent cap.² The remaining hours must come from activities that meet a higher level of engagement. When selecting a provider, look for courses that meet the Board's content-based approval standards; not every CE vendor automatically qualifies.

For a broader overview of continuing education requirements for social workers across different contexts, that resource can help you compare what Minnesota asks versus general best practices.

Attestation, Audits, and Documentation

When you submit your renewal application, you attest that you have completed the required CE hours.² The Board conducts audits to verify compliance, and selection can happen to any licensee. If you are audited, you will need to produce documentation such as certificates of completion, course syllabi, or other records showing the content and hours earned. Keep those records for several years beyond each renewal period.

Failing an audit is treated as a compliance matter and can result in disciplinary action, so accurate recordkeeping is not optional. If your CE comes from multiple sources across two years, a simple folder organized by renewal cycle will save considerable stress.

Reciprocity, Endorsement, and the Social Work Licensure Compact

Moving to Minnesota with an active social work license means weighing two paths: go through the current endorsement process now or hold off until the Social Work Licensure Compact begins issuing multistate privileges. Both routes lead to the same Minnesota credential, but your timeline, work setting, and urgency will determine which one makes more sense.

Endorsement for Licensed Social Workers from Other States

Minnesota welcomes out-of-state social workers through its endorsement pathway. To qualify, you must hold a current license in good standing from another state and have met requirements that are substantially equivalent to Minnesota's. The Board reviews your education, exam scores, and supervised experience to ensure they align with Minnesota statutes (Ch. 148D and 148E).¹

• Jurisprudence exam: All endorsement applicants must pass a Minnesota-specific jurisprudence exam covering state laws and ethics. No additional national exam is required if you already hold a passing ASWB score at the appropriate level.
• Background check: A fingerprint-based criminal background check is mandatory as part of the application. Fees for the endorsement application and background check are set by the Board and posted on its website.
• Documentation: You will need to submit official transcripts, verification of your license from every state where you have held one, and verification of any supervised clinical experience if applying for the clinical license.

Once your application is complete and approved, you can typically begin practicing right away, as the Board does not typically issue a separate temporary license for endorsement applicants. Instead, it processes applications within a few weeks.

Minnesota and the Social Work Licensure Compact

Minnesota enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact on May 24, 2024, and is a full member state.¹ However, as of 2026, the Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses.² The implementation timeline is 12-24 months from enactment, meaning the system is expected to become operational sometime in 2026 or 2027. At that point, eligible social workers in member states will be able to apply for a multistate license that grants a privilege to practice in Minnesota without needing a separate state license.

The Compact privilege will only cover practice at the license level you hold. For example, a clinical-level multistate license will authorize clinical practice in Minnesota, subject to Minnesota's scope of practice laws. You must still pass the required ASWB exam³ and meet the home state's licensure criteria. When it launches, the Compact is expected to reduce paperwork and wait times for qualified social workers moving between the 32 member states, a number current as of May 2026.

Provisional Licensure for Clinical Candidates

If you are seeking the LICSW and need to complete your supervised clinical hours in Minnesota, the Board offers a provisional license. As of October 1, 2024, provisional license holders must receive 37.5 hours of board-approved supervision over 1-3 years.⁴ This provisional status allows you to practice under supervision while you accumulate the post-master's clinical hours required for full licensure. The provisional license is separate from compact temporary practice; currently, no temporary practice privileges are available under the Compact because it is not active.¹

For social workers relocating without a license yet, the endorsement or provisional route remains the dependable path to a Minnesota credential.

Path to Social Work Licensure in Minnesota

Minnesota's licensure ladder moves from a bachelor's-level license through graduate and clinical tiers. Each step adds education, examination, or supervised practice requirements. Most candidates reach the highest clinical license within roughly four to six years after completing their MSW.

Social Worker Salary in Minnesota

Minnesota social workers earn competitive salaries that vary by specialization and experience. The table below breaks down annual wages for the three main social work occupational categories in the state, based on the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With a national projected job growth rate of 7% for social workers between 2024 and 2034 (more than double the 3.1% average for all occupations), demand across the profession remains strong. For a deeper look at earnings by license level and career stage, visit the salary guide on mastersinsocialworkonline.org.

Social Worker Salary by Metro Area in Minnesota

Salaries for social workers in Minnesota vary by metro area and specialty. The table below breaks down median annual wages across the state's major metropolitan areas for three common social work categories, based on 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For a deeper look at compensation trends, visit the salary guide on mastersinsocialworkonline.org.

Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota Social Work Licensure

Below are answers to some of the most common questions prospective and current social workers ask about obtaining and maintaining a social work license in Minnesota. For the most current details, always verify information with the Minnesota Board of Social Work.