Compliance and Ethics
Social Work Licensure Programs
Page Content
Social work licensure
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DISCLOSURE
LICENSING DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
For all programs marketed or designed as leading to licensure or certification, the
following federal regulations must be complied with by institutions of higher education:
For Online Programs
34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)
All programs that lead to licensure/certification must meet the educational requirements in each state and protectorate in which any of their students are located at the time of initial enrollment or in the state in which a student attests they intend to seek employment. Students cannot be enrolled into programs if the educational requirements are not met unless they are moving to a state in which the requirements are met and execute an attestation confirming their future relocation.
For Face-to-Face Programs
Regulation- 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v)
All programs that lead to licensure/certification must disclose whether the program meets, does not meet or if a determination cannot be made as to whether the program meets the educational requirements in each state and protectorate.
Since the program is a face-to-face program, students can be admitted even if the state in which they previously resided is a state in which the program does not meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification.
Determinations
Determinations made by our subject matter experts (program coordinators) are made
based on state licensing board rules and regulations and/or reciprocity agreements.
For information on teaching reciprocity, please see the NASDTEC website- https://www.nasdtec.net/page/InterstateAgreements
SCOPE OF PROGRAM ASSESSMENT
The information provided regarding USM programs represents an assessment of whether
the educational program, if successfully completed, meets a state or protectorate’s
educational requirements for licensure/certification.
USM's analysis is limited to a determination as to whether their programs meet the
educational requirements for licensure.
Additional requirements may be required to obtain a license or state certification.
For a list of potential additional requirements, see the Professional Licensure webpage-
https://www.usm.edu/professional-licensure-certification-disclosures/index.php
ROLE OF LICENSING/CERTIFICATION BOARD
Keep in mind that final eligibility determinations as to whether a program meets the
educational requirements for licensure are made by the state/protectorate licensing/certification
boards.
TIMEFRAME OF DISCLOSURES
The disclosure data is current as of July 1 of each year (starting with 2024) unless
the institution is apprised of a change which requires an update prior to the July
1st annual update. Federal Law requires that if an institution discovers that a program
no longer leads to licensure or certification, the institution must notify the students
(both enrolled and prospective) of the change directly (individual disclosure) as
well as updating the webpage.
APPROPRIATE USE OF DISCLOSURE DATA
Review the information about the licensure program and then consider discussing the
information with the program coordinator as well as the state licensing board.
Licensure Requirements Generally
Licensing boards require more than successful degree completion to obtain a license
or certification and laws relating to licensure/certification may change at any time,
which may affect the educational requirements for licensure/certification.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
In addition to educational requirements, the licensing boards for each of the states
and the protectorates (American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Northern
Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Puerto Rico, Republic of the Marshall Islands,
and Virgin Islands) may require applicants to meet other requirements including, but
not limited to, age, citizenship, examinations, clinical hours, criminal background
checks, professional experience (which may require years of experience), residency,
and specialized courses (not offered as part of any institutional curriculum) (i.e.,
History of the State, Ethics), etc.
MISSISSIPPI LICENSURE
All programs of The University of Southern Mississippi are designed to meet the licensure
standards set by the Mississippi Department of Education and prepare students to sit
for licensure/certification exams in Mississippi.
RECOMMENDATION
If you are considering a program at USM that leads to licensure or certification and
you do not live in the State of Mississippi, it is our recommendation that you contact
the appropriate state licensing agency in their state or the state where you intend
to work
This will allow you to obtain the most up-to-date information about state licensure requirements before beginning any of our licensure/certification programs.
UPDATES
Due to the frequency at which requirements change, data on this page is only accurate
as of the date listed below. The information contained on this page was last updated
on 7/1/2024.
USM makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure/certification
are updated:annually
AND
when changes are discovered If USM discovers that a program no longer meets the licensure/certification
requirements of any state or protectorate, this page will be updated.
See the original Professional Licensure Disclosure in the catalog- https://catalog.usm.edu/content.php?catoid=35&navoid=2239
SOCIAL WORK
Obtaining a social work license requires obtaining one of the following degrees:
Bachelors in Social Work -Social Work BSW
Masters in Social Work- Social Work MSW
LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS GENERALLY
Passage of a Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam (for more information see
https://www.aswb.org/)
Completion of supervised clinical practice hours (to the level required)
Application to the state licensing boardState licensing boards may have distinct requirements
regarding education, experience and examination, including relative to the level of
licensure.
USM PROGRAMS
The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work curriculum is designed to help prepare students to sit for the professional licensure exam for Mississippi.
Social Work BSW
Program Website-https://www.usm.edu/undergraduate-programs/social-work.php
Bulletin-https://catalog.usm.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=35&poid=17731
Program Coordinator- Johee Lee who can be reached at joohee.leeFREEMississippi or 601/266-4163
DISCLOSURE
| State | Determination | Determination Based on Reciprocity/State or Protectorate Requirements | Board Contact Info |
| Alabama | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Alaska | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cbp/main/Search/Professional |
| Arizona | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners |
| Arkansas | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board
|
| California | No | Neither met |
California Board of Behavioral Sciences 1625 N Market Blvd., Suite S-200 |
| Colorado | No | Neither met |
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Questions:
https://apps.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx |
| Connecticut | No | Neither met |
Connecticut State Department of Public Health |
| Delaware | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners |
| District of Columbia | Yes |
State Requirements
|
District of Columbia Social Work Licensing |
| Florida | No | Neither met |
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health
Counseling https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/contact/ https://mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/HealthCareProviders |
| Georgia | No | Neither met |
Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists |
| Hawaii | Yes |
State Requirements |
Hawaii Professional & Vocational Licensing Division |
| Idaho | Yes |
State Requirements |
Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Illinois | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/email/prfgrp06.html https://ilesonline.idfpr.illinois.gov/DFPR/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx |
| Indiana | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency |
| Iowa | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Iowa Board of Social Work https://amanda-portal.idph.state.ia.us/ibpl/portal/#/license/license-query |
| Kansas | Yes |
State Requirements |
Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board |
| Kentucky | Yes |
State Requirements |
Kentucky Board of Social Work https://bsw.ky.gov/Pages/contact.aspx https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/BSW/LicenseVerification/search |
| Louisiana | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners https://www.labswe.org/contact-us/ https://app.certemy.com/public-registry/17d42be8-6299-4d9b-897c-5cb58ed8dca0 |
| Maine | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure https://www.pfr.maine.gov/almsonline/almsquery/SearchIndividual.aspx |
| Maryland | Yes |
State Requirements |
Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners https://mdbnc.health.maryland.gov/bsweverification/default.aspx |
| Massachusetts | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers |
| Michigan | Yes |
State Requirements |
Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs https://aca-prod.accela.com/MILARA/GeneralProperty/PropertyLookUp.aspx?isLicensee=Y&TabName=APO |
| Minnesota | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Minnesota Board of Social Work |
| Mississippi | Yes |
State Requirements |
Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists PO Box 4508 https://www.swmft.webapps.ms.gov/publicview/publicindsearch.aspx |
| Missouri | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Missouri Division of Professional Registration |
| Montana | Yes |
State Requirements |
Montana Board of Behavioral Health https://ebizws.mt.gov/PUBLICPORTAL/searchform?mylist=licenses |
| Nebraska | Yes |
State Requirements |
Nebraska Mental Health and Social Work Practice |
| Nevada | Yes |
State Requirements |
Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers |
| New Hampshire | Yes |
State Requirements |
New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice |
| New Jersey | Yes |
State Requirements |
New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/Search.aspx?facility=N |
| New Mexico | Yes |
State Requirements |
New Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners https://nmrldlpi.force.com/bcd/s/public-search-license?division=BCD&language=en_US |
| New York | No | Neither met |
New York State Office of the Professions - Social Worker |
| North Carolina | Yes |
State Requirements |
North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board https://ncswboard.gov/directory/ https://ncswb.igovsolution.net/online/Lookups/Individual_Lookup.aspx |
| North Dakota | Yes |
State Requirements |
North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Ohio | Yes |
State Requirements |
Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board |
| Oklahoma | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers https://osblsw.portalus.thentiacloud.net/webs/portal/register/#/ |
| Oregon | Yes |
State Requirements |
Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers |
| Pennsylvania | Yes |
State Requirements |
Pennsylvania State Board State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family
Therapists, and Professional Counselors |
| Rhode Island | No |
Neither met
|
Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Social Workers |
| South Carolina | Yes |
State Requirements |
South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners |
| South Dakota | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
South Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners |
| Tennessee | Yes |
State Requirements
|
Tennessee Board of Social Workers |
| Texas | Yes |
State Requirements
|
Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners |
| Utah | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Utah State Social Worker Licensing Board |
| Vermont | No | Neither met |
Vermont State Board of Social Workers |
| Virginia | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Virginia Board of Social Work |
| Washington | No | Neither met |
Washington State Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social
Workers Advisory Committee |
| West Virginia | Yes |
State Requirements |
West Virginia Board of Social Work Charleston, WV 25301 https://www.wvsocialworkboard.org/Licensure/License-Verification |
| Wisconsin | Yes |
State Requirements Reciprocity |
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services https://dsps.wi.gov/pages/Professions/SocialWorker/Default.aspx |
| Wyoming | Yes |
State Requirements |
Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board |
| American Samoa | No | Neither met |
American Samoa Health Services Phone 684.633.1222 |
| Federated States of Micronesia | No | Neither met |
FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs
|
| Guam | Yes |
State Requirements |
Guam Board of Social Work |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Yes |
State Requirements |
Northern Mariana Islands Health Care Professions Licensing Board https://www.cnmilicensing.gov.mp/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SOCIAL-WORKER.pdf |
| Republic of Palau | No | Neither met |
Republic of Palau Board of Health Professions https://www.pbtrc.org/policies-and-regulations/republic-of-palau-policies-and-regulations/
|
| Puerto Rico | Yes |
State Requirements |
Puerto Rico Social Work Professionals |
| Republic of the Marshall Islands | No | Neither met |
Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Yes |
State Requirements |
Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs https://dlca.vi.gov/boardcertifications/steps/swrequirements/swlist.htm https://secure.dlca.vi.gov/license/Asps/Search/License_search.aspx |
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