How to get a social work license in Delaware

Delaware licenses three tiers of social workers: Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW), Licensed Master's Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Since June 2024, people newly hired as social workers by state, private or nonprofit agencies must hold a license. Everything below comes from the board's own pages and rules, checked October 18, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm on the linked pages before you pay.

Check with your board. Social Work Ticket is a study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) or any state social work board; ASWB is their mark, used here only to name the exam. Laws on confidentiality, reporting and licensing differ by state; follow your state's law, your agency and your supervisor.

Delaware at a glance

LicenseASWB examWhat it takes
LBSW (Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker)BachelorsA CSWE-accredited BSW and the ASWB exam. Practices under supervision.
LMSW (Licensed Master's Social Worker)MastersA CSWE-accredited MSW and the ASWB exam. Clinical services only under supervision.
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)ClinicalAn MSW or DSW, 3,200 supervised post-degree hours over 2 to 5 years, 100 hours of direct supervision.

Delaware's exam page lists the three ASWB levels it approves: Bachelors, Masters and Clinical; the board approves you before you register with ASWB.

Delaware, step by step

Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation)

  1. Apply in DELPROS: the board must approve you before you register for an ASWB exam. Students may test up to 45 days before graduation, and your approval is good for two years; you may retake every 90 days.
  2. LBSW and LMSW (24 Del. C. 3907): a CSWE-accredited BSW or MSW, the background check and abuse-registry reports, and a passing ASWB score at your level. An LBSW with a license by exam can upgrade to the LMSW.
  3. LCSW hours (Rule 3.1): at least 3,200 hours of post-degree supervised clinical social work over no less than 2 and no more than 5 years. 1,600 of them must be under direct supervision by an approved supervisor, with 100 hours of direct supervision (at least 75 one-to-one, no more than 25 in a group).
  4. Supervisors: since September 26, 2024, a master's social worker may no longer supervise LCSW hours; your supervisor must be an LCSW (or a psychologist or psychiatrist if no LCSW was available, with board approval).
  5. LCSW exam: the ASWB Clinical exam (Rule 2.2).
  6. Fees: application $205 for the LBSW, LMSW or LCSW; renewal is billed when you renew.

Sources: Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners, Bachelors or Masters Social Worker, Fee schedule, 24 Del. C. Chapter 39, 24 DE Admin. Code 3900. Checked October 18, 2026.

Practice for the Bachelors exam, freeThe Bachelors level: generalist practice, benefits programs and task-centered work, on the 2026 Bachelors outline. Practice for the Masters exam, freeVignette questions on the 2026 Masters outline, every answer sourced. Practice for the Clinical exam, freeDSM-5-TR diagnosis, psychotherapy models, clinical ethics and supervision, on the 2026 Clinical outline.

The national steps, briefly

The steps that hold nearly everywhere: a CSWE-accredited degree, your board's approval (or ASWB's, in a few states), the ASWB exam at the level your license needs, then the license. Every ASWB level has 122 questions (110 scored) in 4 hours; Bachelors and Masters cost $230, Advanced Generalist and Clinical $260, and you wait at least 90 days to retake (ASWB Examination Guidebook, August 2026). A passing score counts in every state for the same exam level. The full walk-through: How to get your social work license.

Official pages