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Compliance and Ethics

Social Work Licensure Programs

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If you are in a program that you believe leads to licensure but you do not see it listed, please fill out the  Potential Professional Licensure/Certification Program Reporting Form by clicking on button below:

STUDENT ROLE IN PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE

Students should read all the information regarding the program in which they are interested/are about to enroll to determine if the program leads to licensure in the location that the student is located at the time the student enrolls (i.e., during the first initial semester at the time at which they pay for courses) to verify that the program leads to licensure.  If you have questions regarding licensure, contact the program coordinator listed on the program page and contact the state licensing board, using the licensing information contained on the program licensure page.  Keep in mind licensure approval depends on the rules and regulations in effect at the time of your licensure application.  Said rules and regulations are overseen by the professional licensing board who oversees the profession. 

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- /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 51¶ºÄÌ 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.

DISCLOSURE 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- 


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
  • Completion of supervised clinical practice hours (to the level required)
  • Application to the state licensing board-State licensing boards may have distinct requirements regarding education, experience and examination, including relative to the level of licensure.


USM PROGRAMS

USM offers the following two Social Work programs:

Bachelors and Masters

The University of 51¶ºÄÌ Mississippi School of Social Work curriculum is designed to help prepare students to sit for the professional licensure exam for Mississippi. 

Social Work MSW

Program Website-/graduate-programs/social-work.php 
Program Coordinator- Michelle Brazeal michelle.brazealFREEMississippi 601/266-5805

DISCLOSURES

State/Protectorate Determination Determination Based on Reciprocity/State or Protectorate Requirements Board Contact Info
Alabama Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners
PO Box 301620
Montgomery, AL 36130-1620 Ph: 334-242-5860

Alaska Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners
PO Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
Ph: 907-465-2550
SocialWorkExaminers@Alaska.Gov 

Arizona Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners
1740 West Adams Street, #3600
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Ph: 602-542-1882


information@azbbhe.us

Arkansas Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board
PO Box 251965
Little Rock, AR 72225
Ph: 501-372-5071

 

California Yes

State Licensing Requirements

California Board of Behavioral Sciences

1625 N Market Blvd., Suite S-200
Sacramento, CA 95834
Ph: 916-574-7830


Colorado Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Application/Renewal/Customer

Questions:
Ph: 303-894-7800
dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us


Program/Discipline Information:
Ph: 303-894-7800
dora_mentalhealthboard@state.co.us

Connecticut Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Connecticut State Department of Public Health
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section
410 Capital Ave., MS #12 APP
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Ph: 860-509-7603


oplc.dph@ct.gov

Delaware Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners
Cannon Building,
Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Dover, DE 19904
Ph: 302-744-4500


customerservice.dpr@delaware.gov

District of Columbia Yes

State Licensing Requirements

District of Columbia Social Work Licensing
2201 Shannon Place SE
Washington, DC 20020
Ph: 877-672-2174

Florida Yes

State Licensing Requirements

 

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
Department of Health
Mental Health Professions
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3258
Ph: 850-488-0595

Georgia Yes

State Licensing Requirements

 

Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-3858
Ph: 404-424-9966

Hawaii Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Hawaii Professional & Vocational Licensing Division
DCCA-PVL
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
Ph: 808-586-2694
accountancy@dcca.hawaii.gov

Idaho Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners
DOPL
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0063
Ph: 208-334-3233
swo@dopl.idaho.gov

Illinois Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661
Ph: 888-473-4858

Indiana Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
402 W Washington St w072 Indianapolis, IN 46204
Ph: 317-232-2960
pla8@pla.IN.gov

Iowa Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Iowa Board of Social Work
Dept. of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing
6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50321
Ph: 515-281-0254
plpublic@idph.iowa.gov

Kansas Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board
Eisenhower State Office Building
700 S.W. Harrison St, Ste 420
Topeka, KS 66603-3817
Ph: 785-296-3240
bsrb@ks.gov

Kentucky Yes

State Licensing Requirements

 

Kentucky Board of Social Work
125 Holmes Street, Suite 310
Frankfort, KY 40601
Ph: 502-564-2350

Louisiana Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners
18550 Highland Road, Suite B
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Ph: 225-756-3470
socialwork@labswe.org

Maine Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure
Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035
Ph: 207-624-8634
Socwkr.board@maine.gov

Maryland Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners
4201 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
Ph: 410-764-4788
mdh.socialwork@maryland.gov

Massachusetts Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
Ph: 617-624-6161
swboard@mass.gov

Michigan Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Ottawa Building
611 W. Ottawa
PO Box 30004
Lansing, MI 48909
Ph: 517-241-0199
BPLHelp@Michigan.gov

Minnesota Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Minnesota Board of Social Work
335 Randolph Ave, Suite 245
Saint Paul, MN 55102-5502
Ph: 612-617-2100
social.work@state.mn.us

Mississippi Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists

PO Box 4508
Jackson, MS 39296
Ph: 601-987-6806
info@swmft.ms.gov

Missouri Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Missouri Division of Professional Registration
Committee for Social Workers
3650 Missouri Boulevard
PO Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335
Ph: 573-751-0885
lcsw@pr.mo.gov  
lmsw@pr.mo.gov  
lbsw@pr.mo.gov

Montana Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Montana Board of Behavioral Health
PO Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
Ph: 406-444-6880
DLIBSHELP@MT.GOV

Nebraska Yes State Licensing Requirements

Nebraska Mental Health and Social Work Practice
DHHS Licensure Unit
Attn: Mental Health
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Ph: 402-471-2117
DHHS.Licensure2117@nebraska.gov

Nevada Yes State Licensing Requirements

Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers 
4600 Kietzke Lane, #O-264
Reno, NV 89502
Ph: 775-688-2555
socwork@besw.nv.gov

New Hampshire Yes State Licensing Requirements

New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice
Office of Professional Licensure & Certification
7 Eagle Square
Concord, NH 03301
Ph: 603-271-2152
OPLCLicensing9@oplc.nh.gov

New Jersey Yes State Licensing Requirements

New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners
PO Box 45033
Newark, NJ 07101
Ph: 973-504-6495
SocialWork@dca.njoag.gov

New Mexico Yes State Licensing Requirements

New Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners
PO Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Ph: 505-476-4622
socialworkboard@rld.nm.gov

New York Yes State Licensing Requirements

New York State Office of the Professions - Social Worker
NY State Education Department
Office of the Professions
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234-1000
Ph: 518-474-3817, Press 1 then ext. 570

North Carolina Yes State Licensing Requirements

North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board
PO Box 1043
Asheboro, NC 27204
Ph: 336-625-1679

North Dakota Yes State Licensing Requirements

North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners
P.O. Box 914
Bismarck, ND 58502-0914
Ph: 701-391-7005

Ohio Yes State Licensing Requirements

Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board 
Counselor Social Worker & Marriage and Family Therapist Board
77 S High St 24th Floor, Room 2468
Columbus, OH 43215
Ph: 614-466-0912
cswmft.info@cswb.ohio.gov

Oklahoma Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers
3700 Classen Boulevard, Suite 162
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Ph: 405-521-371
info@oswb.ok.gov

Oregon Yes State Licensing Requirements

Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers
3218 Pringle Rd SE Ste. 240
Salem, OR 97302-6310
Ph: 503-378-5735
oregon.blsw@blsw.oregon.gov

Pennsylvania Yes State Licensing Requirements

Pennsylvania State Board State Board of ­­­­­­­­­Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors
PO Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Ph: 717-783-1389
ST-SOCIALWORK@PA.GOV

Rhode Island Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Social Workers
Department of Health 
3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908
Ph: 401-222-5960
doh.elicense@health.ri.gov

South Carolina Yes State Licensing Requirements

South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners
110 Centerview Dr
Columbia, SC 29210
Ph: 803-896-4664
Contact.SocialWork@llr.sc.gov

South Dakota Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

South Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners
810 N. Main St. Suite 298 
Spearfish, SD 57783
Ph: 605-642-1600


office@sdlicensing.com

Tennessee Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Tennessee Board of Social Workers
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Ph: 615-741-5735
Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov

Texas Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners
1801 Congress Ave., Ste. 7.300
Austin, Texas 78701
Ph: 512-305-7700

Utah Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Utah State Social Worker Licensing Board
Division of Professional Licensing
State of Utah Department of Commerce
PO Box 146741
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741
Ph: 801-530-6628
b8@utah.gov

Vermont Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Vermont State Board of Social Workers
89 Main Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
Ph: 802-828-1505

Virginia Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Virginia Board of Social Work
Virginia Board of Social Work
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463
Ph: 804-367-4441
socialwork@dhp.virginia.gov

Washington Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Washington State Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Advisory Committee
111 Israel Rd. S.E.
Tumwater, WA 98501
Ph: 360-236-4700
hsqa.csc@doh.wa.gov

West Virginia Yes

State Licensing Requirements

West Virginia Board of Social Work
PO Box 5459

Charleston, WV 25301
Ph: 304-400-4980
Admin@wvsocialworkboard.org

Wisconsin Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Reciprocity

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705
Ph: 608-266-2112

Wyoming Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board
2001 Capitol Ave, Room 127
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Ph: 307-777-3628
wyomhplb@wyo.gov

American Samoa No Neither met

American Samoa Health Services
Regulatory Board
Department of Health
Pago Pago, AS 96799

Phone 684.633.1222

Federated States of Micronesia No Neither met

FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs
FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs
PO Box PS 70, Palikir,
Pohnpei, FM 96941


Ph: 691-320-2619


health@fsmhealth.fm

Guam Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Guam Board of Social Work
194 Hernan Cortez Avenue
Terlaje Professional Building, Suite 213
Hagatna, Guam 96910
Ph: 671-735-7404
baltazar.hattori@dphss.guam.gov

Northern Mariana Islands Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Northern Mariana Islands Health Care Professions Licensing Board
PO Box 502078
Bldg 11925 Pohnpei Court
Capitol Hill 
Saipan, MP 96950
Ph: 670-664-4809
info@cnmilicensing.gov.mp 

Republic of Palau No Neither met

Republic of Palau Board of Health Professions
One Hospital Road
PO Box 6027
Koror, RP 96940
Ph: 680-488-2552

https://www.pbtrc.org/policies-and-regulations/republic-of-palau-policies-and-regulations/

Puerto Rico Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Puerto Rico Social Work Professionals
Department of State
Assistant Secretary of Examining Boards
Social Work Professionals Examining Board
P.O. Box 9023271
San Juan, PR 00902-3271
Ph: 787-722-2121
deptestadopr@estado.pr.gov

Republic of the Marshall Islands No Neither met

Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services
Ministry of Health & Human Services
Majuro
Marshall Islands 96960
Ph: 692-625-7710
rmimohreports@rmihealth.org

US Virgin Islands Yes

State Licensing Requirements

Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Boards and Commissions
V.I. Board of Social Workers’ Licensure
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Golden Rock Shopping Center, Suite #9
Christiansted, VI 00820-4311
Ph: 340-713-3522

 

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Professional Licensure Disclosures by College