1. The Journey to Licensure for Social Workers in California
Jo Brocato, LCSW, PhD.
April 2011
Information presented is from California BBS and is in the public domain.

2. Why Get Licensed?
Licensure provides the public with a safe practitioner.
In most professions, graduation is only the first step—and then one needs to pass bar exams in law and national boards in medicine.
Most states require practicing social workers to be licensed, certified, or registered.

3. LCSW Licensing Process
1.Get your MSW from CSULB
2.Register with the BBS as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW)
3.Gain your supervised post-masters work experience
4.Complete any required additional coursework
5.Apply for LCSW Examination Eligibility
6.Pass the LCSW Standard Written Examination
7.Pass the LCSW Written Clinical Vignette Examination
8.Get your official clinical social worker license

4. ASW Registration Process
1.One page application form (available online) 2.Official school transcripts with the MSW degree posted. 3.Live Scan receipt

5. Getting that Number
The processing time for ASW applications of 4-6 weeks.
The degree must be posted on the official transcript when submitting an application for ASW registration. Or if for some reason you cannot wait…
An applicant may submit a letter to obtain a registration number
This letter must contain the following:
It must be on official University letterhead
It must be in a business sealed envelope from the University
It must be accompanied by Official transcripts.
It must say that the student has satisfactorily completed all requirements for the MSW degree at the University.
It must state the degree conferral date.
It must be signed by a dean or associate dean of the program.
The student must submit official transcript with degree conferral date posted to be considered for licensure

6. REPORTING PRIOR CONVICTION Misdemeanor or Felony
A certified copy of the conviction and disposition and any police reports.
A letter from you describing the circumstances of the conviction. Any alias
A letter from you describing rehabilitation efforts or changes you have made to prevent future problems. It is your responsibility to present sufficient evidence of rehabilitation to demonstrate your fitness for licensure. The evidence of rehabilitation may include, but is not limited to:
a. Proof of completion of probation if it was required.
b. Letters of reference from employers, instructors, professional counselors, probation or parole officers
on official letterhead

7. Additional Coursework
Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting - 7 contact hours of training or coursework.
Human Sexuality 10 contact hours of training or coursework.
Alcoholism and Chemical Substance Dependency 1 semester unit course with no less than 15 hours of classroom training.
Spousal or Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection, and Intervention Strategies -15 contact hours.
Aging and Long-term Care - 10 contact hours of coursework.
Save your Syllabus or certificate to submit.
1 hour of instruction =one hour of CE credit.
1 academic quarter unit =(10) hours of CE credit.
1 academic semester unit =(15) hours of CE credit.

8. Important Forms Clinical Social Worker Experience Verification Form
I suggest you get several of these
ASW Weekly Tracking Log
This can be helpful for both you and your supervisor, especially if you have more than one.
Responsibility Statement for Supervisors of an ACSW
completed a minimum of 15 contact hours in supervision training that includes content specified in 16 CCR Section 1870(a)(4)) obtained from a state agency or approved continuing education provider.**
MFTs, Psychologists, and Physicians certified in psychiatry must be licensed for two years prior to commencement of supervision.
Be proactive with your supervisor. Know that your supervisor meets these qualifications prior to beginning supervision. They must complete form.

9. Supervised Experience.
Supervised Experience

10. Where to Get it
Experience shall only be gained in a setting that meets both of the following:
(1) Lawfully and regularly provides clinical social work, mental health counseling, or psychotherapy.
(2) Provides oversight to ensure that the associate's work at the setting meets the experience and supervision requirements set forth in this chapter and is within the scope of practice for the profession as defined in Section

11. Important Forms Supervisory Plan
The original signed plan shall be submitted by the Associate Clinical Social Worker to the board upon application for examination eligibility.

12. Questions to Ask What type of license do you possess?
Is your license current and valid?
When were you licensed?
Have you completed the mandatory supervision course?
Have you practiced psychotherapy or provided direct supervision to associates for at least two years within the last five years?
Have you ever provided supervision to an ACSW before, and if so, how many?
What is your practice background (private practice, agency, school, etc.)?
Do you practice from a particular theoretical orientation, and if so, will other theoretical orientations be discussed?
Do you have any specialty areas of practice

13. Be Proactive
Use the “Online License Verification verify your supervisor’s status.
Stay current with your registration.
The annual renewal fee for associate clinical social worker registration is seventy-five dollars ($75.00).
Stay on Top of Your Required Supervised Experience
1,700 hours of experience under an LCSW.
Use Clinical Supervision to Prepare for the Licensing Examinations
See the BBS LCSW Examination Study Guide
Stay Updated
Sign up for the BBS’ free subscriber list to be notified of Law changes.

14. LCSW Required Experience
EXPERIENCE TYPE
MINIMUMS & MAXIMUMS
NOTES
Clinical psychosocial diagnosis
Assessment
Treatment
Psychotherapy
Counseling
Minimum 2,000 hours REQUIRED
Minimum 750 hours face-to-face individual or group therapy.
1 hr. of direct supervisor contact* per wk. 10 hours of therapy 2hrs of group for every 10 hrs.
Client-centered advocacy
Consultation
Evaluation
Research
Maximum 1,200 hours allowed
Supervision, Individual
Minimum 52 weeks REQUIRED,
13 of which must be supervised by a LCSW
1hour of direct supervision* min. 104 wks. No more than 5 hrs. wk.
Supervision, Group
(not more than eight (8) in the group)
No minimum or maximum
Total Weeks of Experience REQUIRED
Minimum 104 weeks
All hours of experience for licensure must be gained post-degree.
Total Hours REQUIRED
Minimum 3,200 hours**
Maximum of 40 hours experience may be credited for any week.
One hour of direct supervisor contact means one hour of individual supervision or two hours of group supervision
A minimum of 1,700 hours must be gained under the supervision of a LCSW

15. LCSW Examination Eligibility Application
ALL ITEMS ARE MANDATORY
APPLICATION (available online)
W-2's for each year you are claiming experience
If you volunteered, attach a copy of the letter from your employer verify status.
One Photograph
Personal Data Card(available online)
Examination Security Notice
Fee:
$ check for written exam.
After you pass send $ fee for the written clinical vignette examination.
Successfully passed both examinations and then send Request for Initial License with a fee
Verification of Required Training
Experience Verification Forms (within the six years)
Responsibility Statements(from each initial supervisor)
Supervisory Plan (from each initial supervisor)

16. BBS Resources BBS Home page Forms and Publications (download)
Forms and Publications (download)
LCSW Licensure Walk-Through (steps to obtain licensure) –
Experience Calculators –
Online License/Registration Verification
BBS Subscriber List

17. Current Pass Rates 7/1/11 - 12/31/11
LCSW Standard Written Exam
CSULB 46%
CA 51%
LCSW Clinical Vignette Exam
CSULB 76%
CA 78%

18. Great News

19. January 1, 2013
Licensure candidates required to complete a California law and ethics examination during the registration period and a clinical examination once all supervised hours are completed. This legislation, Senate Bill 704 (Negrete McLeod), was introduced in 2011 and signed by Governor Brown on September 30, 2011.
The restructure of the examination process goes into effect January 1,
The audit resulted in the recommendation to use a national examination for licensure as a California LCSW.

20. §4992.05. REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS
(a) Effective January 1, 2013, an applicant for licensure as a clinical social worker shall pass the following two examinations as prescribed by the board:
(1) A California law and ethics examination.
(2) A clinical examination.
(b) Upon registration with the board, an associate social worker registrant shall, within the first year of registration, take an examination on California law and ethics.
(c) A registrant may take the clinical examination only upon meeting all of the following requirements:
(1) Completion of all education requirements.
(2) Passage of the California law and ethics examination.
(3) Completion of all required supervised work experience.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2013.

21. §4992.09. CALIFORNIA LAW AND ETHICS EXAMINATION
(a) An applicant and registrant must pass California law and ethics exam in order to qualify for licensure. (b) Prior to his or her registration renewal. (c) If an applicant fails, they may retake the examination, & pay the fee (d) If a registrant fails within first renewal they must complete a 12-hour course in California law and ethics from a board-approved CE provider. Registrants shall only take the 12-hour California law and ethics course once during a renewal period. (e) The board shall not issue a subsequent registration number unless the registrant has passed the California law and ethics examination.

22. Fees
The fee for the clinical examination shall be one hundred dollars ($100).
The fee for the California law and ethics examination shall be one hundred dollars ($100).

23. EXAMINATION
Applicants will be sent notice of eligibility 60 days after application
Applicants must call the test administrator(PSI) and arrange a time and place to take the examination or do it online.
Candidate Service Center
Exams are given in various locations throughout California.
Written examinations contain objective multiple-choice questions.
If you fail you may retake the exam within one year without further application. Must pay the fee again.

24. ASWB Clinical Level
The ASWB Clinical Level license exam is currently used in all US states and NOW in California. The ASWB has adopted a new Content Outline for this exam. The exam will retain its structure of 170 questions to be answered in a four hour exam session. The new Content Outline is as follows.

25. ASWB Clinical Level Outline
Content Area
Percentage
Human Development, Diversity, & Behavior In The Environment
31%
Assessment, Diagnosis & Treatment Planning
26%
Psychotherapy, Clinical Interventions & Case Management
25%
Professional Values & Ethics
18%

26. Sample Question
When working with a manipulative and depressed young man you make the client aware of discrepancies between verbal and nonverbal communication, statements made in the past in contrast to statements made in the present, and discrepancies between stated intentions and the client's actual behavior. You are using the intervention technique of...
a. confrontation
b. anticipatory socialization
c. limit setting
d. setting limits and punishing undesirable behavior

27. Sample Question
You are considering a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder for your client who is troubled by excessive guilt, pervasive sadness and low self- esteem. In order to rule in or rule out your diagnostic impression you will need to find out whether or not your client...
a. has been depressed for at least two years
b. experiences a sleep disturbance
c. has ever experienced a manic, hypomanic, or mixed episode
d. considers his depression to be ego-dystonic

28. Sample Question
Your unemployed client has been terminated from his past two jobs because of a problem with assaultive behavior. Which of the following would be the most appropriate objective to record in this client's service plan?
a. stabilize employment
b. encourage client to verbalize angry feelings instead of acting on them
c. refer client to anger management group
d. client will demonstrate at least three non-assaultive coping techniques for resolving conflict during group sessions within three months

29. Free Practice Tests AATBS (requires email)
Academic Review (requires registration)
Berkeley Training Associates
Gerry Grossman
LEAP
Socialworkexam.com Daily Q
Socialworkinfo.com
Testmeagain.com

30. Online Resources Online Exam Support Group
Mnemonics
bin/return_browse.cfm?rowstart=1&numrows=10&discipline_id=32&system_id=All&bodypart_id=Al l
The Social Work Podcast By Jonathan B. Singer, Ph.D., LCSW

31. License Exam Preparation
Association For Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences
$425.00
Berkeley Training Associates
$345.00
Academic Review
$129.00

32. Debt & Loan information
Bachelor's level social workers have an average loan debt of $18,609.
Master's level social workers have an average loan debt of $26,777.
Doctoral level social workers have an average loan debt of $32,841.
In 2001 the median salary of social workers with 2-4 years experience was $35,600.
In 2008 the median salary of social workers is approximately $40,000
In 2009 California the median salary of social workers is approximately $55,370
Over 10% of social workers make less than $35,000 per year.
On July 31, Congress passed Higher Education Reauthorization and Opportunity Act, and President Bush signed it into law on August 14th. H. R includes loan forgiveness for social workers.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Pays scale, gives rate of pay according to level of experience, skill sets etc.
- pay rates for federal job hunters

34. Best Wishes