Pathway to Practice: �A Guide to Social Work Licensure in Washington

October 16, 2025

Danielle Flores, LICSW

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the different levels and types of social work licensure in Washington State and identify the eligibility requirements for each.
• Explain the application, supervision, and continuing education requirements necessary to obtain and maintain social work licensure in Washington State.
• Navigate the Washington State Department of Health licensure process, including timelines, fees, and common documentation pitfalls.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS 2

Disclaimers

• This is an Informational presentation, the information contained therein should not be perceived as or substitute legal advice.
• Please note that although we have worked hard to ensure that the information contained here is as up to date as possible, rules and laws change regularly.
• DOH is the authority over social work licensure in Washington; NASW is NOT a regulatory authority.

Categories of Licensure in WA State

According to RCW 18.225.10, "Associate" means a pre-licensure candidate who is working towards full licensure in their profession, has a graduate degree in a mental health field and is gaining the approved supervision, supervised experience and continuing education necessary to become a licensed independent clinical social worker or a licensed advanced social worker.

Associate licensure is the first step in becoming licensed.�

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Requirements for All �Associate Licenses

• Completion of a master’s or doctoral social work educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Completed DoH application that is signed and dated.
• Application and initial licensure fee is sent to DOH.
• Official transcripts sent directly to DOH from the School of SW where the degree was obtained.
• Completed out of state verification forms sent directly from each state (if applicable).

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Licensed associate then begins accruing the necessary hours of supervised employment, approved supervision and continuing education necessary to apply for full licensure.

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Associate licenses: valid for one year and must be renewed every year on the date of issuance; limitation on renewals is now removed.

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Advanced vs Independent Clinical Licensure

"Advanced social work means the application of social work theory and methods including emotional and biopsychosocial assessment, psychotherapy under the supervision of a licensed independent clinical social worker (psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse, or other mental health professionals as may be defined by rules adopted by the secretary), case management, consultation, advocacy, counseling, or community organization.”

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According to RCW 18.225.10

RCW 18.225.005 states that LASWs and LICSWs represent different specializations within the social work profession, with each license signifying the highest degree of licensure as it pertains to each specialty. Practitioners in each specialty exercise independent judgment and operate independently within their area of practice.

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Therefore, for purposes of job classification, LASWs and LICSWs licensed under this chapter shall both be considered the top tier of licensure for the profession.

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Pathway to Licensure

*Although this represents the typical path towards licensure, it should be noted that licensees can now take the ASWB exam at any point in their associate licensure experience but then must still fulfill the remaining hours required for full licensure.

DoH Fee Schedule

Associate License:

• Original Application and fees - $51
• Renewal - $41
• Late Renewal Penalty - $25

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Full License:

• Application and initial license - $186
• Renewal - $86
• Late Renewal Penalty - $50

Common Application Documentation Pitfalls

Transcripts/Education Credentials

• Not using a CSWE-accredited program when required.
• Transcripts not official or not sent directly from the educational institution to DOH. If the school sends them through the applicant, instead of directly, DOH may reject or delay the submission.  

Supervised Postgraduate Experience

• Having supervisors sign off on hours without clearly documenting what counts as “supervised”, how many direct client contact hours vs. indirect, and that supervision meets Washington’s rules.
• Supervisor qualifications: the supervisor’s license or credentials may not meet what WA DOH requires (must be approved/licensed for a certain time, etc.). If not, those hours might not be accepted. Missing the correct verification form from supervisors. Supervisors must complete specific forms attesting to their role, qualification, and the hours supervised.  

Attestation / Legal Signatures

• Make sure the name/address/legal identity matches public records and what appears on official documents (driver’s license, birth certificate). Discrepancies here can lead to identity verification issues.  

Incomplete or Missing Documentation

• Sometimes applicants think they “kind of have” enough documentation but miss minor but required items (e.g. supervisor’s qualifications, exact dates of supervision, direct contact hours count, etc.). DOH may put the application “on hold” or “pending” to await missing pieces.  
• Delays often happen because documentation isn’t sent directly from source (transcript, credential verification, supervisor forms, exam score verifications). If DOH requires items to come directly from e.g. NASW, testing company, university, etc., anything else may be rejected.

Supervised Experience Hours Requirements

LASW:

3,000* Hours (800 in direct client contact)

DOH has previously advised that, for purposes of documenting direct client contact in advanced social work, “client” can be at the micro, mezzo or macro levels.

Clinical Supervision: 90 Hours

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LICSW:

3,000* Hours (1,000 in direct client services and under the supervision of an LICSW)

Clinical Supervision: 100 Hours (70/30)

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Exam Requirement for LASW*:

Passing score on the Association of Social Work Board’s Advanced Generalist Level Examination.

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Exam Requirement for LICSW:

Passing score on the Association of Social Work Board’s Clinical Level Examination.

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Approved Supervision

Per WAC 246-809-334, prior to the commencement of any supervision the supervisor must provide the license candidate this declaration, stating they have met the requirements of WAC 246-809-334 and they qualify as an approved supervisor,

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Supervision Declaration

An approved supervisor must attest to the following:

• A minimum of fifteen clock hours of training in clinical supervision obtained through a supervision course, continuing education credits on supervision, supervision of supervision or any combination of these.
• Twenty-five hours of experience in supervision of clinical practice
• Two years of clinical experience post license.

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Additionally, they attest that they will gain a thorough knowledge of the supervisee’s practice activities including practice setting, recordkeeping (as outlined in WAC 246-809-035), financial management, ethics of clinical practice and backup plans for coverage.

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Declaration Form is to be completed by Supervisor and provided to licensure candidate prior to the commencement of any supervision. This is a good thing to ask about when seeking employment.

Continuing Education

National Association of Social Workers [Location] Chapter

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WA law requires all licensed social workers, including associates, to receive and document CE.

Beginning October 1, 2025 per WAC 246-809-630:

(1) An associate shall complete 16 hours of continuing education as required in WAC 246-809-632.

(2) A licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical shall complete six hours of suicide assessment, treatment, and management CE as required in WAC 246-809-632.

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*Associates must have received CE hours after completing the academic requirements and prior to the department issuing their full license.

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(3) A licensed counselor shall complete 32 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years.

1. At least six of the 32 hours must be in professional ethics and law, which may include topics under RCW 18.130.180.

(b) At least two of the 32 hours must be in professional roles and boundaries. These hours must be taken separate from the requirements in (a) of this subsection.

(c) All licensed counselors shall complete a minimum of two hours in health equity continuing education training every four years. The training content must be consistent with requirements established in WAC 246-12-830.

(d) Beginning January 1, 2014, at least once every six years a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, and licensed social worker shall complete at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.

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Acceptable CE courses include distance learning, seminars, workshops and postgraduate institutes from “industry-recognized local, state, national, international organizations or institutions of higher learning” per WAC 246-809-620.

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Additional Considerations

Recent Legislative Updates

• Limits on distance supervision eliminated (HB 1007; Chapter 21, Laws of 2021)
• Limits on distance education to 26 hours per reporting period were waived during the PHE; permanent rule change pending
• Interstate Social Work Compact, SHB 1939 (Chapter 176, 2024 Laws)
• 2SHB 1724 reduced the number of experience hours needed for licensure (LICSW) from 4,000 to 3,000 and the number of supervised hours from 130 to 100. Mandated creation of a supervisor directory, maintained by DOH. Charged DOH to report on legislative suggestions to eliminate barriers to licensure (exam alternatives workgroup, supervision workgroup, listening sessions).
• E2SHB 2247Created a stipend program for supervisors to apply to for supervising associates. Eliminated the 7-year associate renewal limit. Allows associate license applicant to practice 120 days under supervision while application pending (beginning Oct. 1, 2025).

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Future Legislation

• Addressing Exams and Alternatives
• Consideration of a stand-alone social work board
• Clarification of LASW supervision

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Social Work

Compact

Currently, a licensed social worker needs to maintain a license in every state they practice in.

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The Compact creates a pathway for multi-state licensure.

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Includes provision for Compact Commission to approve pathways that do not include the ASWB exam.

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Resources

WA Department of Health Social Work Licensing:

http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/SocialWorker

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Association of Social Work Boards:

http://www.aswb.org/

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National Association of Social Workers-Washington State Chapter:

http://naswwa.socialworkers.org/

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National Association of Social Workers

http://www.socialworkers.org

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Social Work Licensure Compact:

www.swcompact.org

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NASW Code of Ethics:

https://www.socialworkers.org/about/ethics/code-of-ethics

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Acknowledgements: This presentation was adapted from “The Path to Social Work Licensure in Washington State,” January, 2019 Edition Facilitated by Jonathan R. Beard, LICSW; Progressive Strategies. Used with permission.

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Contact

Danielle Flores, MSW, LICSW (WA), LCSW (NV)

Board President, NASW – Washington Chapter

Social Work Licensure Training & Support Program Administrator, State of Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families

dfloreslicsw@gmail.com

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Jeremy Arp, MSW, ACSW

Executive Director

NASW - Washington Chapter

jarp.naswwa@socialworkers.org

https://naswwa.socialworkers.org/

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