State Board of Social Work Examiners

General Information

• The Attestation in Lieu of Notary form can be completed and submitted for any application or form if an original notary seal cannot be provided
  

• Any additional documents can be uploaded to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab

• If you cannot remember your username/password, you can enter the online portal or change your login credentials through the Registers a Person tab
  

Certified Social Worker (CSW) Applicants: (Bachelor’s-level/BSW Required)

• For first-time applicants

• Certified Social Worker New Applicant (online application)

• All third party documents including official transcripts, license/certificate verifications are to be emailed to DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.lps.state.nj.us

• Inquiries about the application process can be sent to SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov.

• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your online application is submitted. You will be emailed instructions to complete the background check within this timeframe.

Licensed Social Worker/Master's Exam Applicants: (Master's-level/MSW Required)

Individuals applying to take the ASWB Master Exam must use the “Licensed Social Worker” application. The license and exam applications have been combined, so there is no specific “pre-approval” form anymore.

If you are a first-time ASWB Master's Exam applicant:

• If you have completed at least 40 graduate-level credits of an MSW degree or you are in the last semester of an advanced standing MSW program, you may submit a request to sit for the exam here: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and ASWB Master Exam New ApplicantLicensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and ASWB Clinical Exam New Applicant 

• An official MSW transcript must be submitted as part of an exam request, so please have your school emails us an official transcript to DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.lps.state.nj.us. Only transcripts emailed to us directly from the school will be deemed official.
  

• If your school does not email transcripts as part of their policy, have the school mail you the transcript, upload a scan of the original to the online portal yourself, and upload a letter that states the reason why an official transcript cannot be emailed directly from the school.

• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your documents are uploaded online. You will be contacted by email once your application is complete, or if additional documents are required. Approvals expire after one year from the date your approval letter is issued.

Licensed Social Worker/Master’s Exam Applicants: (Master’s-level/MSW Required)

Individuals applying to take the ASWB Master Exam must use the “Licensed Social Worker” application. The license and exam applications have been combined, so there is no specific “pre-approval” form anymore.

If you are a first-time ASWB Master’s Exam applicant:

• If you have completed at least 40 graduate-level credits of an MSW degree or you are in the last semester of an advanced standing MSW program, you may submit a request to sit for the exam here: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and ASWB Master Exam New Applicant

• An official MSW transcript must be submitted as part of an exam request, so please have your school emails us an official transcript to DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.lps.state.nj.us. Only transcripts emailed to us directly from the school will be deemed official

• If your school does not email transcripts as part of their policy, have the school mail you the transcript, upload a scan of the original to the online portal yourself, and upload a letter that states the reason why an official transcript cannot be emailed directly from the school.

• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your documents are uploaded online. You will be contacted by email once your application is complete, or if additional documents are required. Approvals expire after one year from the date your approval letter is issued. 

If you are requesting an extension to sit for the Masters exam:

• You do not need to complete the application again. You will be required to upload a letter requesting an extension. Once processed, staff will approve you to sit for the exam for another year. 
  

• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your request is uploaded online. You will be contacted by email once your request is complete, or if additional documents are required. Approvals expire after one year from the date your approval letter is issued. 

• Once you pass the ASWB Masters Exam, you will complete the PDF version of the LSW application and upload it to the online portal. 

• If you registered for the exam through us in New Jersey, you will need to upload either a copy of the unofficial Masters exam score report or the date you passed the exam; if you registered to sit for the exam through another state jurisdiction, you will need to contact ASWB directly and request an official score report. 

• You will need to request another official MSW transcript that shows the award date of your degree
  

• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your documents are uploaded online. You will be contacted by email once your application is complete, or if additional documents are required.
  

• Complete the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and ASWB Clinical Exam New Applicant application online.
  
  
• Upload “Documentation of Supervised Clinical Experience” forms from the PDF LCSW application (pages 13-14) along with:
• Proof your supervisor completed a Board-approved, 20-hour supervision course.
  
  
• An official job description for your title(s) during supervision. All job descriptions will be deemed official if they are issued from an agency’s Human Resources department as the standard job description for your title and bear agency letterhead.
  
  
• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date an application is received online. You will be notified by email if anything else is needed to complete your application with instructions for completing/updating your background check. 
  
  
• Your approval to sit for the clinical exam will be issued once you receive Board approval for your supervision hours.
  
  
• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your documents are uploaded online. You will be contacted by email once your application is complete, or if additional documents are required. Approvals expire after one year from the date your approval letter is issued. 

• Upload a letter requesting an extension to your online profile.

• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your request is uploaded online. You will be contacted by email once your request is complete, or if additional documents are required. Approvals expire after one year from the date your approval letter is issued. 

If you have previously submitted an ASWB clinical exam application, have passed the clinical exam, and wish to submit your clinical hours for the LCSW license:

• Do not complete an online LCSW-level application. You must complete the PDF LCSW application and upload it through the online portal
  
  
• In addition to the application, you must submit:
  
  
• Proof your supervisor(s) completed a Board-approved, 20-hour supervision course. 
  
  
• An official job description for your title(s) during supervision. All job descriptions will be deemed official only if they are issued from an agency’s Human Resources department as the standard job description for your title and bear agency letterhead.
  
  
• Proof that you passed the ASWB clinical exam: If you registered for the exam through us in New Jersey, you will need to upload either a copy of the unofficial Masters exam score report or the date you passed the exam; if you registered to sit for the exam through another state jurisdiction, you will need to contact ASWB directly and request an official score report.
  
  
• If you wish to submit hours completed at more than one agency during course of your supervision, a separate “Documentation of Supervised Clinical Experience” form must be submitted for each agency. This is required even if the supervisor was the same throughout. Hours combined on one form from multiple agencies will not be accepted.
  
  
• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your documents are uploaded online. You will be contacted by email once your application is complete, or if additional documents are required.

• Complete the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and ASWB Clinical Exam New Applicant.

• Upload a copy of your resume to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab.

• All third party documents including official transcripts, license/certificate verifications are to be emailed to DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.lps.state.nj.us.
  

• Contact ASWB to request an official clinical exam score report.
• If you were not required to sit for the clinical exam because grandfathering provisions did not require it, please upload a letter to your online profile that explains this.

• Processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your documents are uploaded online. You will be contacted by email once your application is complete, or if additional documents are required.
  
  

Reinstatements/ Reactivations (All License Types)

1. Fill out the Application for Reinstatement/Reactivation
2. Fill out Attestation in Lieu of Notary
3. Upload all documents to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab
4. All third party documents including official transcripts, license/certificate verifications are to be emailed to DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.lps.state.nj.us
5. Staff will email you instructions to pay application fee(s)
6. Inquiries about the application process can be sent to SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov

Application for Board Acceptance as a Continuing Education Approval Entity

1. Fill out the Application for Board Acceptance as a Continuing Education Approval Entity
2. Email completed application to DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.lps.state.nj.us
3. Staff will email you instructions to pay application fee
4. Inquiries about the application process can be sent to SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov

Name Change Request

1. Fill out a Change of Name Form.
2. Scan completed form and all supporting documents to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab
3. If requesting a duplicate license you will be emailed an invoice for $25 and instructions to pay
4. Follow up inquiries may be sent to SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov

License Verification Requests

1. Reach out to the requesting board/jurisdiction and obtain an email address to where we can send electronic verification. We can only provide electronic verification at the time.
2. Formulate your written/signed request for an out-of-state verification.
3. Your request must include:
   1. Your New Jersey license/certificate number.
   2. Your mailing address.
   3. Your e-mail address.
   4. The e-mail address where verification is to be sent.
4. If the other state requires completion of a specific form, complete the part of the form pertaining to "Applicants" before submitting it for the Board's completion.
5. Upload your request and any document that you may require us to fill out for verification to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab.
6. Once the request is processed, you will be sent an email with an invoice and instructions for payment. The fee for each request is $25.
7. Incomplete requests will delay the processing of the verification.
8. All subsequent inquiries should be sent to SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov
   

Proposed Plan of Supervised Clinical Experience

1. Fill out a Proposed Plan of Supervised Clinical Experience
2. Upload completed application and all supporting documents to the online profile of the LSW through the Upload License Documents tab
3. There is no fee for this application
4. All subsequent inquiries should be sent to SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov

Duplicate License Request

1. Fill out a Duplicate License Form
2. Upload completed form to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab
3. You will be emailed an invoice for $25 and instructions for payment
4. All subsequent inquiries should be sent to SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov

To Check the Status of Your Application

1. Log into your online profile
2. On the application type you wish to see click on View Checklist
3. Items that do not have a complete date next to them are still missing
4. You may upload missing items to your online profile through the Upload License Documents tab except for third party documents (transcripts, license verifications) which should be received directly by the Board from those entities and are to be emailed to DCA_Social_Work_No_Reply@dca.lps.state.nj.us
5. Inquiries about the status of your application can be sent to SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov