At a Glance
Nebraska uses a dual-credential system, unlike most states. To use the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) title, you must hold both a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) and a Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW). All credentials are issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS-NE) and require a CSWE-accredited degree, 3,000 supervised hours (except the CSW), and a national exam.
If you’ve done any research into social work licensure in Nebraska, you’ve probably noticed it doesn’t look like other states. There’s no standalone LCSW license here. Instead, Nebraska runs a parallel credentialing system where mental health practice and social work certification operate on separate tracks, tracks you’ll likely need to pursue simultaneously if your goal is independent clinical practice. In most states, the Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential is a standalone license. In Nebraska, it’s a title that requires holding two separate credentials. That’s confusing at first glance, but the path is well-defined once you understand how the credentials connect.
This guide breaks down every credential issued by the Nebraska DHHS-NE, the step-by-step requirements for each, and what the credential system means for your career, including the April 2024 Social Worker Licensure Compact, which now gives Nebraska practitioners a path to interstate practice.
Nebraska Social Work Credentials at a Glance
The Nebraska DHHS-NE issues six credentials relevant to social work practice. The first two are certifications (CSW and CMSW), the next two are licenses (LMHP and LIMHP), and the final two are titles only, not separate licenses. Here’s how they compare:
| Credential |
Type |
Minimum Degree |
Supervised Hours |
Exam |
| Certified Social Worker (CSW) |
Certification |
BSW or MSW (CSWE-accredited) |
None |
None |
| Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) |
Certification |
MSW or DSW (CSWE-accredited) |
3,000 hours under CMSW |
ASWB Advanced Generalist or Masters |
| Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) |
License |
Master’s with mental health focus (300-hr practicum) |
3,000 hours (1,500 face-to-face) |
ASWB Clinical or NBCC NCE/NCMHCE |
| Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) |
License |
Master’s (CSWE, CACREP, or COAMFTE) |
3,000 hours (1,500 with major mental illness clients) |
ASWB Clinical, AMFTRB, or NBCC NCE/NCMHCE |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) |
Title only |
Requires LMHP + CMSW |
Per each credential |
Per each credential |
| Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) |
Title only |
Requires LIMHP + CMSW |
Per each credential |
Per each credential |
A few things worth noting before you dive into the individual requirements. According to the Nebraska DHHS-NE, anyone in Nebraska can provide social work activities and services without a credential. Certification and licensure are required only if you want to identify yourself as a social worker or provide mental health services. The LCSW and LICSW are titles, not licenses, which means holding them doesn’t add scope of practice beyond what each underlying credential already allows.
Shared Application Requirements
Every credential application submitted to the Nebraska DHHS-NE requires the same core documentation regardless of which credential you’re pursuing:
- Proof of US citizenship or lawful presence in the United States
- Disclosure of any criminal convictions, including misdemeanors and felonies
- Application fee (varies by credential, see individual sections below)
Education: bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work must come from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Doctoral degrees in social work must be from a program recognized by the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education (GADE). If you’re fulfilling an education requirement with a non-social-work master’s or doctoral degree, it must be accredited by CACREP or COAMFTE. Have your school send official transcripts directly to the DHHS-NE.
Supervised experience: With the exception of the CSW, all credentials require 3,000 hours of supervised experience completed as a provisional credential holder. Once you fulfill the requirement, your supervisor submits a verification form, and the DHHS-NE clears you to take the required national exam. Passing the exam converts your provisional credential to a full credential.
Certified Social Worker (CSW)
The CSW is Nebraska’s entry-level social work credential. It lets you practice professional social work under supervision but doesn’t authorize private, independent, or autonomous practice, and it doesn’t cover mental health services.
Step 1: Complete the Education Requirement
Earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. A BSW fulfills the requirement, as does an MSW if you already hold one.
Step 2: Submit Your Application
Submit a CSW application to the DHHS-NE along with the applicable certification fee (see the DHHS-NE fee schedule for current amounts). Once the DHHS-NE approves your application, it issues your CSW credential. There is no exam requirement for the CSW.
Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW)
The CMSW authorizes the professional application of social work knowledge across all areas of practice. It also permits private and independent social work practice. To pursue the LCSW or LICSW title, you’ll need the CMSW as one of the two underlying credentials.
Step 1: Complete the Education Requirement
Earn a master’s or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. GADE-recognized doctoral programs also qualify.
Step 3: Complete 3,000 Hours of Supervised Experience
Complete 3,000 hours of social work experience under the supervision of a CMSW. You have five years to complete this requirement. After five years, the provisional status expires. You may apply once more if you need additional time. When you finish, your supervisor submits a Supervised Experience Verification Form to the DHHS-NE.
Step 4: Receive Exam Clearance and Pass the ASWB
Submit an examination application to the DHHS-NE for clearance to take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Advanced Generalist or Master’s exam. Once the DHHS-NE approves your application, it notifies the ASWB. Register with the ASWB, pass the exam, and the DHHS-NE will issue your full CMSW credential.
Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)
The LMHP authorizes the assessment and treatment of individuals, families, couples, and groups using psychotherapy and counseling for cognitive, social, mental, and emotional disorders. LMHPs cannot independently diagnose major mental illnesses. That requires the LIMHP. Many practitioners pursue the LMHP and CMSW simultaneously, since both require 3,000 supervised hours, and a single application can cover both.
Step 1: Complete the Education Requirement
Earn a master’s or doctoral degree with content focused primarily on therapeutic mental health. The program must include a practicum with at least 300 hours of direct client contact under supervision. An MSW from a CSWE-accredited program qualifies, as do degrees accredited by CACREP or COAMFTE. If your degree is from a CACREP-accredited counseling program, review the Nebraska counseling licensure requirements as well, since the LMHP and LIMHP paths overlap significantly with the counseling track.
Step 3: Complete 3,000 Hours of Supervised Experience
Complete 3,000 hours of mental health practice experience, including at least 1,500 hours of face-to-face client contact, under the supervision of an LMHP, LIMHP, psychologist, or physician. You have five years to complete this, with one additional application period available if needed. Your supervisor will submit a Supervised Experience Verification Form when you finish.
Step 4: Apply Simultaneously for CMSW (Optional but Recommended)
If you hold or are pursuing the CMSW credential, you can apply for both the LMHP and CMSW at the same time using this combined application. This is the most efficient path for practitioners aiming for the LCSW title.
Step 5: Receive Exam Clearance and Pass Your Exam
Submit an examination application to the DHHS-NE. If your degree is a CSWE-accredited MSW, you’ll take the ASWB Clinical exam. If your degree is accredited by CACREP or COAMFTE, you’ll take the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) NCE or NCMHCE. Once you pass, the DHHS-NE issues your full LMHP license.
Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP)
The LIMHP is Nebraska’s highest clinical credential. It authorizes the independent diagnosis and treatment of major mental illnesses and disorders using psychotherapy, without consultation from a physician or psychologist. To use the LICSW title, you need the LIMHP plus the CMSW.
Step 1: Complete the Education Requirement
Earn a master’s degree from a program accredited by CSWE, CACREP, or COAMFTE. Two alternative pathways exist: you may substitute 10 years of supervised experience plus a qualifying master’s degree in place of the standard education requirement, or you may submit course equivalency forms if you believe your education is comparable to an accredited master’s program. The DHHS-NE will evaluate them.
Step 2: Complete 3,000 Hours of Supervised Experience
Complete at least 3,000 hours of mental health practice under the supervision of an LIMHP, physician, or psychologist. At least 1,500 of those hours must involve clients diagnosed with major mental illnesses. You complete this as a PLMHP or LMHP. Hours used to qualify for other credentials cannot be counted again here. Your supervisor submits an Affidavit of Supervised Experience when you finish.
Step 3: Submit Your LIMHP Application
Submit an application for LIMHP licensure to the DHHS-NE along with the applicable fee (see the DHHS-NE fee schedule for current amounts). If you also meet the CMSW requirements, you can apply for both simultaneously using the same application.
Step 4: Pass the Required Exam
The exam depends on your degree type. If your degree is in social work (CSWE-accredited), take the ASWB Clinical exam. If your degree is in marriage and family therapy, take the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) exam. If your degree is counseling-related, take the NBCC NCE or NCMHCE. If you’ve already passed a qualifying exam, have the sponsoring agency forward your scores directly to the DHHS-NE. Once education, experience, and exam requirements are verified, the DHHS-NE issues your LIMHP license.
How Long Does It Take?
Nebraska’s dual-credential structure affects how you calculate your timeline. Most practitioners pursuing the LCSW or LICSW title will run the CMSW and LMHP or LIMHP tracks concurrently, using a supervisor who holds both credentials. Here’s the minimum timeline starting from a high school diploma:
| Credential |
Minimum Years |
| Certified Social Worker (CSW) |
4 years |
| Provisional CMSW or PLMHP |
6 years |
| Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) |
7.5 years |
| Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) |
7.5 years |
| Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) |
7.5 years |
| LCSW title (LMHP + CMSW) |
7.5–9 years |
| LICSW title (LIMHP + CMSW) |
7.5–9 years |
These estimates assume four years for a BSW, two more for an MSW, and approximately 1.5 years to accumulate 3,000 supervised hours working full-time. Practitioners who find a supervisor holding both the CMSW and LIMHP can complete hours toward both credentials simultaneously, which keeps the dual-credential timeline closer to 7.5 years than 9.
Renewing Your Credentials
All Nebraska social work credentials expire on September 1st of even-numbered years. If you hold both a license and a certification, renew the license first. You can’t renew a certificate until the underlying license is renewed. To be eligible for renewal, you must complete 32 hours of continuing education during the renewal period, including at least four hours in ethics. LIMHPs have an additional requirement: at least six of their CE hours must specifically address the diagnosis and treatment of major mental disorders. Check the Nebraska DHHS-NE licensure page for current renewal procedures and fee amounts, as these are updated periodically.
Renewal fees for each credential are listed in the Title 172, Chapter 2 fee schedule on the DHHS-NE website. Fees are updated periodically, so check the current schedule before submitting your renewal application.
The Social Worker Licensure Compact
In April 2024, Governor Pillen signed LB 932, which enacted the Social Worker Licensure Compact into Nebraska law. The Compact is designed to make it easier for licensed social workers to practice across state lines without going through full re-licensure in each state.
The Compact Commission first convened in September 2024 and is responsible for creating the rules, bylaws, and infrastructure for issuing multistate licenses. According to the Nebraska DHHS-NE, the implementation process is expected to take 12 to 24 months from that point. If you’re planning to practice in multiple states, monitor the Social Work Compact website and the Nebraska DHHS-NE licensure page for updates on participating states and multistate license availability. Nebraska also enacted the Interstate Counseling Compact (LB 752) in April 2022, which provides a separate pathway for eligible LIMHPs who also hold a professional counselor certificate.
Reciprocity
The Nebraska DHHS-NE grants credentials based on reciprocity when your out-of-state requirements were substantially similar to Nebraska’s. To qualify, you must have been actively practicing in your field for at least one year up to the present, or have held a credential for at least five years at some point. Out-of-state supervised experience is accepted as long as it meets Nebraska’s standards. Nebraska’s dual-credential structure is unusual. If you’re moving from another state, compare your existing credentials against Nebraska’s system using our social work license requirements by state guide to understand what may transfer and what you’ll still need.
You may be required to pass a Nebraska jurisprudence exam. You’ll also need to submit a copy of your state’s licensing laws and regulations, have the ASWB forward your exam scores, and have your out-of-state credentialing agency verify your credential directly to the DHHS-NE. For LMHP or LIMHP applications, use the reciprocity application specific to those licenses.
Social Work Degrees in Nebraska
Nebraska has more educational pathways into social work credentialing than most states. Degrees in counseling and marriage and family therapy can qualify you for the LMHP and LIMHP, not just social work degrees. That’s useful if you’ve already earned a degree in a related field. If you’re starting fresh, though, the most direct route is a CSWE-accredited program.
There are six CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Nebraska, including at least one offered online. Each includes a field education experience of at least 400 hours. Nebraska has two CSWE-accredited MSW programs: the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Grace Abbott School of Social Work (accredited through 2029) and Nebraska Wesleyan University (also CSWE-accredited). UNO’s advanced generalist program is available in-person and online. Nebraska Wesleyan offers a hybrid evening format with a trauma-conscious curriculum. Both require substantial field education hours and prepare graduates for CMSW and LMHP/LIMHP credentialing. The CSWE doesn’t accredit doctoral programs. Doctoral-level degrees must be recognized by GADE.
Social Work Salaries in Nebraska
Nebraska social work salaries vary considerably by specialization and role. Healthcare social workers, who often work within hospital systems where billing structures support higher pay, tend to earn the most of the direct-practice specializations in the state. According to May 2023 BLS state data, here’s how Nebraska compares across the main social work categories:
| Occupation |
Median Annual Wage (Nebraska) |
| Social and Community Service Managers |
$70,310 |
| Healthcare Social Workers |
$57,840 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers |
$47,620 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers |
$44,470 |
Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $61,330 for all social workers in May 2024, with overall employment projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. That growth is driven in part by increased demand for mental health and substance abuse services.
Social Work Resources in Nebraska
Nebraska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers: The local chapter of the largest social work organization in the country. It provides legislative updates, continuing education opportunities, and networking events. Within NASW, Nebraska is part of its Heartland regional group alongside six other Midwestern states.
School Social Work Association of Nebraska: Focused on enhancing the educational experience of K-12 students and their families by advancing the school social work profession. Members benefit from biannual conferences and professional development opportunities.
Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations: Advocates for substance abuse resources and behavioral health services across the state. Its most notable contribution is a database of mental health service providers, built to connect practitioners and clients throughout Nebraska.
Career Opportunities in Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: The DHHS-NE isn’t only the credentialing body for social workers. It’s also one of the state’s largest employers of them. Its structure includes a Division of Behavioral Health, a Division of Children and Family Services, and a Division of Developmental Disabilities, each offering meaningful direct-practice and supervisory roles.
Nebraska Division of Behavioral Health: This division coordinates addiction treatment services, youth-focused prevention programs, domestic violence resources, and manages three public psychiatric hospitals. It’s one of the primary government employers of LMHP and LIMHP credential holders in the state.
Omaha Public Schools: Nebraska’s largest district, serving more than 53,000 students across dozens of elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and seven high schools. School social workers fill a critical role in student support, attendance, and family engagement across this urban district.
Lincoln Public Schools: With over 42,000 students and more than 60 schools and programs, this is the state’s second-largest district. School social workers here are central to the district’s goal of a 90 percent on-time graduation rate.
Nebraska Health Network: Founded in 2010 when the state’s two leading health systems merged, this accountable care organization now includes more than 2,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, along with a growing need for healthcare social workers embedded in clinical teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate LCSW license in Nebraska?
No. In Nebraska, LCSW is a title, not a license. To use it, you need to hold both the Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) and Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) credentials. The LICSW title similarly requires both the LIMHP and CMSW. Neither title adds scope of practice beyond what each underlying credential already authorizes.
Can I pursue my CMSW and LMHP at the same time?
Yes, and for most practitioners, this is the recommended approach. The Nebraska DHHS-NE has a combined application that covers both credentials simultaneously. The key is finding a supervisor who holds both the CMSW and LMHP or LIMHP, so your hours count toward both tracks at once. This approach keeps your timeline to approximately 7.5 years rather than 9.
What exam do I need for the CMSW?
The CMSW requires either the ASWB Advanced Generalist or Master’s exam, both administered by the Association of Social Work Boards. Your exam clearance comes from the DHHS-NE after you submit your supervised hours and pass the examination application review.
How many continuing education hours does Nebraska require for renewal?
Nebraska requires 32 hours of continuing education per biannual renewal period. All licensees and certificate holders must complete at least four hours in ethics. LIMHPs must also complete at least six hours specifically covering the diagnosis and treatment of major mental disorders. All credentials expire on September 1st of even-numbered years. If you hold both a license and a certification, renew the license first.
Does Nebraska participate in the Social Worker Licensure Compact?
Yes. Nebraska enacted the Social Worker Licensure Compact (LB 932) in April 2024. The Compact Commission convened for the first time in September 2024 and is developing the multistate license infrastructure, a process the Nebraska DHHS-NE estimates will take 12 to 24 months. Check the Social Work Compact website and the Nebraska DHHS-NE licensure page for current information on participating states and eligibility requirements as implementation progresses.
Key Takeaways
- Nebraska uses a dual-credential system. The LCSW and LICSW are titles, not licenses, and each requires holding two separate credentials simultaneously.
- All credentials except the CSW require 3,000 hours of supervised experience completed as a provisional credential holder before you can sit for a national exam.
- Pursuing the CMSW and LMHP concurrently with a dual-credentialed supervisor is the most efficient path to the LCSW title, reducing your timeline from 9 years to approximately 7.5.
- The Social Worker Licensure Compact (LB 932), enacted in April 2024, gives Nebraska practitioners a new pathway to interstate practice. The Compact Commission began implementation in September 2024, with multistate licenses expected within 12 to 24 months.
- Nebraska has six CSWE-accredited BSW programs and two CSWE-accredited MSW programs (University of Nebraska Omaha and Nebraska Wesleyan University), giving graduates multiple paths to DHHS-NE credentials.
Ready to find an accredited social work program in Nebraska? Browse degree options that meet DHHS-NE education requirements and put you on track for licensure.
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Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data for social workers in Nebraska and 2024 national data for social workers represent state and national figures, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2025.
