How to get a social work license in Minnesota

Minnesota licenses social workers at four levels through the Board of Social Work: Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW), Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Each uses a different ASWB exam. 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.

Minnesota at a glance

LicenseASWB examWhat it takes
LSW (Licensed Social Worker)BachelorsA CSWE-accredited BSW. License fee up to $115.
LGSW (Licensed Graduate Social Worker)MastersA CSWE-accredited MSW or social work doctorate. Up to $210.
LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker)Advanced GeneralistAn MSW plus the board's supervised practice requirements. Up to $305.
LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker)Clinical4,000 to 8,000 hours of supervised clinical practice (1,800 direct), 200 hours of supervision, 360 clinical knowledge clock hours. Up to $335.

Minnesota, step by step

Minnesota Board of Social Work

  1. Exam timing: for the LSW and LGSW you may take the ASWB Bachelors or Masters exam no more than six months before you finish your degree. A pass older than eight years is not valid for a new license.
  2. Every application: a completed application, a criminal background check under Minn. Stat. 214.075, and the license fee. Minn. Stat. 148E.180 sets the maximum license fees ($115 LSW, $210 LGSW, $305 LISW, $335 LICSW); the board can set them lower.
  3. LISW: an MSW, the board's supervised practice requirements (Minn. Stat. 148E.100 to 148E.125), and the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam.
  4. LICSW coursework: 360 clock hours (one semester credit = 15 clock hours) in clinical knowledge areas: 108 in differential diagnosis and biopsychosocial assessment, 36 in clinical treatment planning, 108 in clinical intervention methods, 18 in evaluation, 72 in values and ethics, 18 in culturally specific clinical work.
  5. LICSW supervised practice (148E.106): no less than 4,000 and no more than 8,000 hours of postgraduate clinical social work practice, including at least 1,800 hours of direct clinical client contact, with 4 to 8 hours of supervision in every 160 hours of practice and 200 supervision hours in all (at least 100 one on one).
  6. LICSW exam: the ASWB Clinical exam.

Sources: Minn. Stat. 148E.055 (license requirements), 148E.106 (LICSW supervised practice), 148E.180 (fees). 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 Advanced Generalist exam, freeLeadership, personnel, program evaluation, grants and research ethics, on the 2026 Advanced Generalist outline. 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