How to get a social work license in West Virginia

West Virginia licenses social workers at four levels: Level A Social Worker (LSW), Level B Graduate Social Worker (LGSW), Level C Certified Social Worker (LCSW) and Level D Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Note that West Virginia's LCSW is the advanced non-clinical license; its clinical license is the LICSW. 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.

West Virginia at a glance

LicenseASWB examWhat it takes
LSW (Level A, Social Worker)BachelorsA CSWE-accredited BSW. Regular license $90.
LGSW (Level B, Graduate Social Worker)MastersA CSWE-accredited MSW. Regular license $90.
LCSW (Level C, Certified Social Worker)Advanced GeneralistAn MSW and two years of post-master's social work practice.
LICSW (Level D, Independent Clinical Social Worker)ClinicalTwo years of full-time employment and 3,000 hours of supervised practice, at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision.

West Virginia, step by step

West Virginia Board of Social Work

  1. LSW and LGSW: a CSWE-accredited BSW with the ASWB Bachelors exam, or an MSW with the ASWB Masters exam (the board's page still calls it the Intermediate exam). If you have not passed yet, a temporary permit is possible; once you pass, email the board and it invoices the $90 regular license fee.
  2. LCSW (Certified Social Worker): an MSW, two years of post-master's social work practice and the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam.
  3. LICSW experience: at least two years of full-time employment and 3,000 hours of practice (full or part time) under clinical supervision, with at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. When you finish, submit the Application for Independent Clinical Social Work License for test authorization.
  4. LICSW exam: the ASWB Clinical exam.

Sources: WV Board of Social Work: Level A LSW, Level B LGSW, Level C LCSW, Level D LICSW. 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