Social work licensing in Arizona is handled by the state’s Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE), which issues three types of social work licenses:
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) – This license allows you to provide generalized social work services at an entry-level, and you cannot provide clinical social work services.
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) – This license allows you to provide social work services at an advanced level, and clinical social work services under supervision.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – This license allows you to perform clinical social work without supervision, including making clinical assessments, diagnoses, and providing treatment for families, individuals, groups, and couples.
Learn more about Social Work Licensing
Steps Towards Social Work Licensure in Arizona
To be eligible for any of the social work licenses issued by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE) you must:
- Graduate from an appropriate social work education program that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); include official transcripts in a sealed envelope with your application for licensure
- Pass an examination through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
- Include a National Practitioner Data Bank self-query report with your application
- Pass a fingerprint background check through the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS); this costs $40, however you can be exempt if you already have a Fingerprint Clearance Card on file with the DPS
- Include a $250 fee with your application, and a $100 license issuance fee; after you submit an application you can check its status online
You can apply for a temporary license if you’re within 12 months of graduating from your education program and haven’t yet taken the ASWB exam. You can indicate you’d like this on your application and the fee is $50.
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
Requirements
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
- Fill out an application for licensure with the BBHE. Once the BBHE approves your application it will notify the ASWB that you’re authorized to take the ASWB exam.
- Register with the ASWB for any of its following exams: Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical. Once you’ve passed the exam the BBHE will issue your LBSW license.
Learn more about (LBSW)
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Requirements
- Earn at least a master’s degree in Social Work.
- Fill out an application for licensure with the BBHE. Once the BBHE approves your application it will notify the ASWB that you’re authorized to take the ASWB exam.
- Register with the ASWB for any of its following exams: Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical. If you’ve previously passed one of these exams you don’t need to take it again; ask the ASWB to forward qualifying exam scores to the BBHE. Once you’ve passed the exam the BBHE will issue your LMSW license.
- Once you’ve received your LMSW you can start accruing supervised experience that counts towards fulfilling the LCSW’s supervised experience requirement.
Learn more about Licensed Master Social work (LMSW)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Requirements
- Earn at least a master’s degree in Social Work.
- Fulfill the supervised experience requirement, which is at least 3,200 hours of post-graduate-degree supervised clinical social work experience in the past 24 months that includes at least 1,600 hours involving psychotherapy and direct client contact, and at least 100 hours of direct clinical supervision, of which at least 50 hours must have been under the supervision of an LCSW. The LCSW application includes sections where your supervisor can verify your clinical skill level, your supervisor’s credentials, and that you’ve completed the supervised work experience requirement. These sections must be completed by your supervisor and returned to you in a sealed envelope signed by your supervisor across the seal; include them with your LCSW license application.
- Fill out an application for licensure with the BBHE. Once the BBHE approves your application it will notify the ASWB that you’re authorized to take the ASWB exam.
- Register with the ASWB for its Clinical exam. If you’ve previously passed this you don’t need to take it again; ask the ASWB to forward your scores to the BBHE. Once you’ve passed the exam the BBHE will issue your LCSW license.
Learn more about Licensed Clinical Social work (LCSW)
Renewing Your Social Work License
All social work licenses in Arizona expire every two years. You can renew online or by mail by completing this form. Each time you renew your license you’ll need to:
- Complete the Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial that you can access by signing up on the Center for Credentialing and Education
- Complete at least 30 continuing education hours; you can keep track of these using this form
Pay a renewal fee of $325
How Long Does it Take to Become a Social Worker in Arizona?
After you graduate from high school you can potentially earn an LBSW license in Arizona after four years. That’s about the time it takes to complete a BSW program. Investing two years beyond that to earn an MSW qualifies you to apply for an LMSW license. With two additional years of experience for a total of eight years, you’re eligible to apply for an LCSW license.
Social Work Degrees in Arizona
Graduating from a social work programs that’s approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the only way to qualify for every licensure level in the state. Arizona is home to six such programs, including three that have online and distance education options.
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW)
To qualify for the LBSW license you must earn a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. Right now there are four such programs in Arizona, including two with online learning options. BSW programs typically total at least 120 semester credits. CSWE-accredited BSW programs automatically include a field education segment totaling 400 hours.
Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW)
A CSWE-accredited MSW is the only master’s-level education that will qualify you for an LMSW license or an LCSW license. Currently there are two such programs in Arizona, including one that’s offered online. These programs take at least two years to complete and include at least 30 semester credits. As part of CSWE accreditation MSW programs include a 900-hour field education segment.
Doctoral Degree in Social Work
While the CSWE doesn’t accredit programs at the doctoral level, you can still use a doctoral degree in Social Work to fulfill the education requirements for an LMSW or LCSW. You’ll find these programs are offered as Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degrees or as PhDs. DSWs can focus more on the clinical application of social work while PhDs can focus more on research, however both types of doctoral programs qualify you for both types of licenses.
Reciprocity
The Arizona BBHE issues licenses based on reciprocity at all levels. When you apply you must complete the Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial. The BBHE needs verification of your out-of-state social work license sent by your state’s board, and verification that you’ve passed the appropriate ASWB exam sent from the ASWB. To apply follow the procedure for your desired license above. You can indicate you’d like a temporary license on your application for an extra $50 while your full license application is being processed. If you’re applying for an LCSW based on reciprocity you’ll need to demonstrate you completed supervised experience that’s comparable to Arizona’s requirements. To be eligible for licensure via reciprocity in Arizona, you must meet one of the following:
- Be a resident of Arizona and have had a social work license in another state for one year
- Not be an Arizona resident but have had a social work license in another state for three years
Social Work Salary Expectations in Arizona
The US Department of Labor tracks average yearly social work salaries in Arizona for several career trajectories. In 2020 it reported the following numbers:
- Social and Community Service Manager – $68,300
- Healthcare Social Worker – $59,600
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker – $40,450
- Child, Family, and School Social Worker – $41,420
- Social Work Teachers, Post-secondary – $74,460
- Social Worker, All Other – $60,540
Social Work Resources in Arizona
School Social Work Association of Arizona – Founded in 1991 and based on Tucson, this organization works to promote the cohesion and networking possibilities of school social workers across the state. Members enjoy opportunities for professional development, mini-grants, employment leads, and more.
Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers – This state chapter is comprised of four sub-chapter units that together strive to support and unite social workers for the betterment of communities across Arizona. As a member you’ll have access to its larger parent NASW organization that counts over 120,000 members.
Career Opportunities in Arizona
Arizona Department of Health Services – The state-level agency that provides vital health services, programs, and resources for all Arizonans, DHS has divisions devoted to specifically addressing issues including tobacco addiction, chronic diseases, promotion of nutrition and physical activity, and women’s and children’s topics.
Arizona Department of Child Safety – The state’s main resource for foster care and addressing child abuse and neglect, this department includes a Behavioral Health Services branch that provide all levels of support and counseling for young Arizonans in particularly hard situations.
Arizona Addiction Recovery Center – Based in Scottsdale, this organization offers a wide range of treatment options to address addiction and strengthen recovery. Treatments include therapeutic support, family interventions, intensive outpatient options, and sober living housing.
Phoenix Union High School District – One of the largest high school districts in the nation, this district covers 220 miles of Arizona’s most bustling and capital city. More than 28,000 students depend on almost 4,000 district employees for their education and well-being, taught at 21 high schools.
COPE Community Services – From its headquarters in Tucson, this organization specializes in providing physical and mental healthcare. These services address issues including substance abuse, mental health for individuals and families, eating disorders, PTSD, women’s issues, and issues related to LGBTQ.
Tucson Unified School District – The largest school district in Tucson when measured by its 47,000-plus enrolled students, this district is responsible for 89 schools including over 60 elementary and 15 high schools.
Banner Health Network – Currently operating 28 hospitals across six states, this healthcare system is headquartered in Phoenix. Arizona hosts 20 of its hospitals, including Banner University Medical Center Tucson that’s been open since 1971 and currently has nearly 500 beds.
