A Bright Career in Social Work in Georgia

Georgia Social Work License

Social work is a specialized field that deals with social issues and social resources by providing counseling and social services to families and individuals in need. It is a demanding and rewarding career. With the sensitivity and the education and skills needed to do this job well, the path to earning a Georgia social work license is lengthy and complicated. For those individuals looking for information about obtaining social work licensure in Georgia, this guide will walk you through the various scenarios and requirements.

The path to Georgia social work licensure

There are multiple paths to earning social worker licensure in Georgia depending on your education and background. From a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to a Licensed Master Social Worker. To fully understand the different routes, let’s look at three different scenarios.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW)

If you plan to go into the field of social work, it is a wise decision to obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work. This is technically just the beginning step in your education as a social worker. You will not be able to be licensed with just a bachelor’s degree in social work. However, when you earn this degree, you do have the ability to work as a social worker under the supervision of a licensed social worker.

Additionally, since your social work studies during your bachelor’s degree program provided you with the formative knowledge of social work, you may be able to enter accelerated graduate degree programs.

I have a bachelor’s degree but not in social work

If you decided to pursue social work after earning a bachelor’s degree in another subject, you would need to earn a master’s degree in social work to be licensed. Without a degree of any kind in social work, you will be unable to work as a social worker. However, if you earn a master’s degree in social work from a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited university program, then you have the same chances of becoming a licensed social worker as your peers who have bachelor’s degrees in social work.

I am a licensed social worker but do not currently live in Georgia

Georgia does not offer reciprocity for licensed social workers in other states. To obtain a social worker license in Georgia, you will need to apply to the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage, and Family Therapists. If you have taken the Clinical Social Work exam through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), you will need to apply for a license by exam waiver and request an official score transfer from ASWB. If you are currently, or have ever been, a licensed social worker in another state, you will need to have the state officially certify your license to the Georgia state office.

Types of Georgia Social Work Licensure

In Georgia, you can obtain a Licensed Master of Social Work License (LMSW) or a Clinical Social Work License (LCSW). The main difference is that the LCSW is the most advanced license you can hold in the field of social work. While you may work in a clinical role with an LMSW, you are only able to under the supervision of someone with an LCSW. Additionally, those with an LMSW may prefer to work in non-clinical settings. Finally, to work in private practice, you must obtain an LCSW.

Clinical Social Work License (LCSW) in Georgia

The LCSW is the most advanced position for a social worker. This license allows the social worker to work in clinical settings or private practice. Licensed clinical social workers in Georgia tend to have higher salaries than those with an LMSW.

Education requirements: Candidates are required to earn a master’s degree in social work from a program that is CSWE accredited.

You are not required to earn a doctorate in social work; however, candidates who hold a doctorate in social work have less required supervised hours for licensure. This difference is because they have to earn hours during their degree program.

Requirements: According to the Georgia State Licensing Board an applicant who holds a master’s degree in social work and holds a doctoral degree in professional counseling; social work; marriage and family therapy; medicine; psychiatric nursing; applied psychology; pastoral counseling; or applied child and family development and whose degree program included a supervised clinical internship may substitute this for one year of experience.

Additionally, while candidates are not required to earn their LMSW prior to seeking Georgia licensed clinical social worker status, it is strongly encouraged.

Application process: As requirements are often updated, begin the application process by visiting the state of Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists. You can find the Application for Licensure as a Clinical Social Worker on the website.

The following checklist will give you a better understanding of the application process:

• You must send in a notarized, completed application and the required fee.
• Have your passing scores from the Association of Social Workers Board (ASWB) Clinical Social Work Examination sent to Georgia.
• Send your official college transcript directly to the Board from the registrar.
• Submit Directed Experience Form.
• Submit Supervision Verification Form.
• Obtain and submit two professional references.
• The Board meets monthly to review applications. Once all of your documents have been submitted and reviewed by the Board, you will receive written of the decision within five to ten days of the Board meeting.

Requirements: LCSW candidates are required to hold either a master’s degree or a doctorate degree in social work. In addition, candidates must complete three years of supervised social work experience. The candidate must have a minimum of 3,000 hours of post-master’s degree social work experience that has been supervised. These hours should be acquired within 36 months–108 months. Additionally, they need 120 hours of supervised experience documented. Those candidates possessing a doctorate degree in social work need 2000 hours of post-degree supervised social work experience. These hours should be acquired within 24 –72 months.

Examination: LCSW candidates must earn a passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Candidates must pass the exam within three attempts. If the candidate does not pass after three attempts, then the candidate is not allowed to practice social work in the state of Georgia.

Licensed Master Social Work License (LMSW) in Georgia

While individuals are not required to hold an LMSW before applying for an LCSW, it is highly advised. For those hoping to work in non-clinical social work, you are only required to have an LMSW. However, if you are hoping to move into clinical social work or counseling, then you will have to complete additional requirements.

Education requirements: Candidates are required to earn a master’s degree in social work from a program that is CSWE accredited.

Application process: As requirements change, begin the application process by visiting the state of Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists. You can find the Application for Licensure as a Master Social Worker on the website. Here is a brief explanation of the process:

• Complete the application and have it notarized.
• Pass the Association of Social Workers Board (ASWB) Master Social Work Examination. Send your passing scores to the state of Georgia.
• Send your official transcript directly from the university registrar.
• Obtain and submit two professional references.

The Board meets monthly to review applications. Once all of your documents have been submitted and reviewed by the Board, you will learn the decision within 5 to 10 days of the Board meeting.

Requirements: Unlike the LCSW, candidates are not required to complete 3,000 hours of supervised social work experience. However, those who hold this license will be under supervision for the first two years of practice. They cannot continue in private practice or counseling unless they pursue an LCSW.

According to the Georgia Society for Clinical Social Work, although gaining licensure as an LMSW is not a pre-requisite for taking the LCSW exam 3 years after the master’s degree is earned, it is highly recommended that social workers interested in clinical licensure (LCSW) first take the LMSW exam after graduation. It is also more ethical to gain licensure if you are going to provide clinical social work after earning a master’s degree.

Examination: LMSW candidates must earn a passing score on the Association of Social Workers Board (ASWB). Test takers must pass the exam within three times. If they do not pass after the third attempt, they will not hold social work licensure in Georgia.

Which states share social work licensure reciprocity with Georgia?

Unfortunately, social work licensure in Georgia is not reciprocal with other states. In order to be a licensed clinical social worker in Georgia coming from another state, you must have taken and passed the ASWD examination and have your scores transferred to Georgia. If you are licensed in another state, you will have to have this state certify your license to the state of Georgia. In both cases, you will need to apply for licensure in the state of Georgia.

Georgia Board of Social Work

The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists is a group of ten professionals in these fields appointed by the governor. They oversee and regulate these fields in the state, which includes enforcing education requirements and licensing. For example, licensed social workers in Georgia are required to earn a mandated number of continuing education hours within a two-year period.

The Georgia Society for Clinical Social Workers is an excellent professional organization that works to assist those pursuing social work licensure in Georgia, as well as support licensed social workers in Georgia.

Works Cited

GSCSW https://www.gscsw.org/about/

About the exams. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2018, from
https://www.aswb.org/exam/

Application for Licensure as a Clinical Social Worker [PDF]. (n.d.) https://sos.ga.gov/PLB/acrobat/Forms/41%20Application%20for%20Clinical%20Social%20Worker%20Licensure.pdf

Application for Licensure as a Master Social Worker [PDF]. (n.d.). https://sos.ga.gov/PLB/acrobat/Forms/41%20Appication%20for%20Master%20Social%20Worker%20Licensure.pdf

Clinical Social Workers [PDF]. https://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/Clinical_Social_Workers.pdf

GA Board of Prof. Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2018, from https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/43

Questions or feedback? Email editor@noodle.com