Licensure and Career Guidance

Job Search Resources

Bookmark the Classroom 2 Career Hub Career Services and explore their resources as they develop and become available: https://www.msudenver.edu/career/

The Classroom to Career (C2) Hub is available to support your job search needs. We are working to incorporate new job postings into the Career Link database.

Career Lab is open for virtual drop-in sessions! To schedule a virtual appointment email [email protected] or call 303-615-1133.

Professional Development Resources for Students

Graduate School Entrance Exam & Professional Licensure Program – designed to assist MSU Denver students looking to further their education and career preparation by covering the cost of graduate school entrance exams and certification or licensure exams/courses (including the ASWB exam).

Online Professional Development Program – developed to support students looking to participate in professional development opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering financial support for students participating in online professional development events.

Social Work Licensure Requirements by State

The MSW Program prepares you for professional licensure in Colorado. If you will be seeking licensure outside of Colorado, please use the following resource as a starting point to ensure the MSW Program at MSU Denver will meet the specific requirements of that state. Detailed information about licensing exams can be found on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) website.

This resource was last updated May 2021. If a link is broken or no longer leads to the correct site, please notify us at [email protected] 

State	Requirements
Alabama	LGSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Alaska	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript, pass master’s level ASWB examination and 3 professional references
Arizona	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Arkansas	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
California	ASW – CSWE accredited program transcript, “California Law and Professional Ethics” 18-hour course and pass the California Law and Ethics exam
Colorado	LSW – CSWE MSW transcript, Colorado Mental Health Profession’s Jurisprudence Examination and complete the Healthcare Professions Profiling Program
Connecticut	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
District of Columbia	LGSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Delaware	LCSW only – CSWE accredited program transcript,  pass master’s level ASWB examination, and 3200 post education supervised clinical hours
Florida	LCSW only – CSWE accredited program transcript,  pass master’s level ASWB examination, and 24 months post education supervised clinical (1500) hours
Georgia	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Hawaii	LSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass ASWB examination
Idaho	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript, pass ASWB examination and 3 professional references
Illinois	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Indiana	LSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass ASWB examination
Iowa	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Kansas	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript, pass master’s level ASWB examination and 3 professional references
Kentucky	CSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass ASWB examination
Louisiana	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Maine	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Maryland	LGSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Massachusetts	LSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass ASWB examination
Michigan	MSWL Limited – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Minnesota	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Mississippi	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Missouri	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript, pass master’s level ASWB examination and 3 professional references
Montana	LCSW only – CSWE accredited program transcript,  pass master’s level ASWB examination, and 3000 post education supervised clinical hours
Nebraska	CSW – CSWE accredited program transcript
Nevada	LSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass ASWB examination
New Hampshire	LICSW only – CSWE accredited program transcript,  pass master’s level ASWB examination, and 3000 post education supervised clinical hours
New Jersey	LSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass ASWB examination
New Mexico	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
New York	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
North Carolina	CMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
North Dakota	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Ohio	LSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass ASWB examination
Oklahoma	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Oregon	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Pennsylvania	LSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Rhode Island	LCSW only – CSWE accredited program transcript,  pass master’s level ASWB examination, and 3000 post education supervised clinical hours
South Carolina	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
South Dakota	CSW – CSWE accredited program transcript, pass master’s level ASWB examination and 3 professional references
Tennessee	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Texas	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Utah	CSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Vermont	LMSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Virginia	LSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Washington	LASW – CSWE accredited program transcript,  pass master’s level ASWB examination, 4 hours of HIV/AIDS training, and 3200 post education supervised clinical hours
West Virginia	LGSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Wisconsin	APSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination
Wyoming	CSW – CSWE accredited program transcript and pass master’s level ASWB examination

LSW and LCSW Licensure in Colorado

*Please Note: ASWB will be implementing testing changes for MSW students in mid-2021. We will update this page as more information becomes available.

For questions or more information, visit DORA (Department of Regulatory Agencies) and ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards).

The Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licenses are available to graduates of approved MSW programs. Students may not apply for licensure prior to graduation. The LSW license can be the first step in obtaining the LCSW license. Please see below for important licensing updates based on the passage of the 2020 Mental Health Practice Act Sunset bill (HB20-1206).

MSU Denver’s MSW Program is an approved program by DORA and all graduates are eligible to apply for licensure.

Licensure Process

1. Applicant takes the Jurisprudence Exam
2. Applicant completes and submits LSW application with DORA
3. Applicant takes the ASWB Exam
4. Applicant received verification from DORA – applicant is now licensed as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
5. Applicant begins to accrue required experience and supervision hours
6. Applicant completes and submits LCSW application
7. Applicant receives verification from DORA – applicant is now licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

The NASW-CO (National Association of Social Workers, Colorado Chapter) website offers more information on this process, including detailed steps to licensure. They also provide Jurisprudence Exam Help resources. Other general information can be found on the MSW Guide website.

If you have any questions about the licensure process in Colorado, please contact us at [email protected].

Important Licensing Updates for MSW Grads

We know there have been many questions regarding shifts and changes to licensure in Colorado. There are no changes to the LSW category and process, including the ASWB exam requirement. The drop-down box below contains an email from Heather McLaughlin, Executive Director of the NASW Colorado Chapter, sent in summer 2020 summarizing the latest information and advice. In addition to this email, Heather has provided the following statement:

“Among the changes to the Sunset of the MH Practice Act that NASWCO advocated for, we successfully added a NEW category of “Candidate” for Clinical Social Worker status. This change will allow all MSW graduates (of accredited CSWE programs) to step directly into the Candidate status and begin accruing hours toward the required Clinical Supervision as an LCSW. To become a Clinical Social Worker Candidate, a DORA application and passage of the Jurisprudence exam are required but it is not required to take an ASWB exam (which IS required to become an LSW). Clinical Social Worker Candidates are able to maintain the Candidate status for up to four years before needing to pass their ASWB Clinical Exam.” — Heather McLaughlin, Executive Director, NASWCO

School Social Work Licensure

MSU Denver’s MSW Program curriculum has been approved by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to offer curriculum towards the special services license endorsed in school social work. There are special and additional requirements that must be met during and beyond the MSW degree. Please use this resource as a guide. For questions or more information, please visit the CDE website or review their school social work guidelines here.

CDE Application and Form Verification Process

To start the application process, visit the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) at https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/checklist-initialspecialserviceprovider

Students who are applying for school social work licensure and need to obtain signatures on official forms for the licensure process should submit the Approved Program Verification form to the Graduate Advising Services Coordinator, Claire Alfus, at [email protected]

TEE (temporary educator eligibility) Authorization Application

If you have a job lined up or are presently employed in a Colorado public school district or charter school as a school social worker yet still need to meet the coursework requirements, or if you need to take and pass a Colorado State Board of Education-approved school social work exam (i.e. Clinical, Advanced Generalist, or Master’s exam only), you will need to complete and submit a TEE (temporary educator eligibility) authorization application.

Upon approval, this authorization will allow you to serve as a school social worker while you pursue the coursework or pass the content exam. Your employing school district and the college/university through which you are completing the coursework will need to sign the TEE authorization form, which you will include in the application along with copies of your bachelor’s and master’s degree transcripts. (If you need only the content exam, you may leave section B of the form blank and upload a copy of a screen shot of your exam registration verification).

https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/checklist-initialtempspecialedspecialservices

School Social Work Jobs

The Colorado School Mental Health Advisory Council has created a School Psychology and School Social Work Available Positions Matrix to help potential candidates locate available jobs in the state. The matrix includes available positions for school psychologists and school social workers in Colorado with additional details regarding the positions (location, number, contact person, application instructions, etc.). Because the matrix is voluntary, it will not encompass all the available positions in the state.

CAC/LAC Licensure Resources

For questions or more information, please visit the DORA (Department of Regulatory Agencies).

All CAC/LAC coursework at MSU Denver is currently located within the Department of Human Services and Counseling.

Colorado offers four levels of addition certification:

Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) I – this is an entry level certification. Applicants must:

• take the Colorado Mental Health Professional’s Jurisprudence Exam
• have a high school diploma or equivalent
• complete the required DBH (Division of Behavioral Health) approved training classes
• 1000 hours of work experience clinically supervised by a CAC II or LAC (can not be completed in fewer than six months)

Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) II* – allows the counselor to practice independently with appropriate supervision.  Applicants must:

• meet all the requirements of the CAC I
• pass the CAC II required training classes
• 2000 hours of work experience beyond the CAC I clinically supervised by a CAC II or LAC (can not be completed in fewer than twelve months)
• present proof of passing a national examination

Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) III* – this is the supervisory level.  CAC IIIs have the authority to practice independently and assume clinical supervision duties.  Applicants must:

• have a Bachelors degree in the behavioral health sciences
• have been awarded a CAC II certification by DORA
• pass the CAC III required training classes
• 2000 hours of work experience beyond the CAC II clinically supervised by a CAC II or LAC or qualified supervisor (can not be completed in fewer than twelve months)
• present proof of passing a national examination

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)*– this is the Masters level addictions credentialing level.  Applicants must:

• have a clinical Masters degree
• completion of all requirements for a CAC III
• proof of passing the NAADAC MAC exam

*Note: Counselors holding a clinical Masters or Doctorate degree may obtain their CAC II, CAC III, or LAC by a combination of appropriately clinically supervised work experience hours, DBH approved training classes (or the equivalent), and proof of passing a national examination.