Georgia Social Work License Requirements: LMSW and LCSW Guide
Georgia offers two social work licenses: the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Both require a CSWE-accredited MSW degree and passing an ASWB exam. The LCSW additionally requires 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience over at least 36 months. Georgia does not offer a bachelor’s-level license.
If you’re planning a social work career in Georgia, your path runs through one of two licenses: the LMSW or the LCSW. The difference between them isn’t just a matter of letters. It determines what you’re allowed to do independently, whether you can diagnose mental health conditions, and how much earning potential you have. Understanding both before you choose a graduate program is worth the time.
Georgia’s licensing board is the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists. They set the requirements, administer renewals, and are the authoritative source if anything here has changed since your last check. If you’re also weighing the counseling path, see our guide to counseling licensure in Georgia.
LMSW vs. LCSW: A Quick Comparison
Before getting into each license in detail, here’s how they stack up side by side.
| Requirement | LMSW | LCSW |
|---|---|---|
| Education | CSWE-accredited MSW or DSW | CSWE-accredited MSW or DSW |
| Post-Graduate Experience | None required before the exam | 3,000 hours over 36–108 months |
| Supervised Hours | Not required for licensure | 120 hours of direct supervision |
| Exam | ASWB Master’s exam | ASWB Clinical exam |
| Independent Practice | Yes (non-clinical); clinical requires LCSW supervision | Yes, including clinical and psychotherapy |
| License Renewal | Every 2 years, 35 CE hours | Every 2 years, 35 CE hours |
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
The LMSW is the entry-level master’s license in Georgia. You can sit for the exam shortly after graduation and start building your career before taking on the additional supervised hours required for clinical licensure.
LMSW Requirements
To earn your LMSW in Georgia, you must complete a Master of Social Work or Doctorate of Social Work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Once your degree is conferred, you can apply to take the ASWB Master’s level exam. Georgia allows new graduates to begin practicing under supervision while completing their licensure steps. Confirm current board rules for the specific timeline that applies to your situation.
Your application to the board must include academic transcripts, two professional reference letters, a background check, and the application fee. Once approved, you schedule your exam through Pearson VUE.
What an LMSW Can Do
With an LMSW, you can provide evaluation, prevention, and intervention services in a range of settings. You can work independently in non-clinical practice. If your work involves counseling or psychotherapeutic techniques, you’re required to practice under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker until you qualify for LCSW licensure. That distinction matters when evaluating job descriptions and practice settings early in your career.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
The LCSW is the advanced clinical license in Georgia. It opens the door to independent practice, psychotherapy, diagnosing and treating mental health and behavioral disorders, and, for many practitioners, private practice. Most people pursuing an MSW in Georgia aim to become LCSWs.
LCSW Requirements
Earning your LCSW requires the same MSW or DSW degree as the LMSW, plus a significant post-graduate supervised experience requirement. You’ll need to accumulate 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work experience (including direct client contact and related clinical activities as defined by the board) under the supervision of a qualified LCSW. This experience must span at least 36 months and no more than 108 months.
A significant portion of those hours must be completed under structured supervision as specified by board rules. During that supervised period, you’re required to log 120 hours of supervision. No more than 50% of those supervision hours can be group supervision, and at least 50% must be provided by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who qualifies as a supervisor under board rules.
Once your experience hours are complete, you’ll sit for the ASWB Clinical exam and submit your application with supporting documentation, including a post-graduate directed experience verification form and two professional reference letters.
Dual-Degree Applicants
Suppose you hold both an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program and a doctoral degree in a related field (Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, Social Work, Medicine, Applied Psychology, Pastoral Counseling, or Family and Child Development) whose program included a supervised clinical internship; that internship may count as equivalent to one year of experience. Applicants with this credential combination who have two years of post-master’s supervised experience (2,000 hours over 24–72 months and 80 hours of supervision) may also qualify under an alternate pathway. Confirm the specifics directly with the board before relying on this provision.
License Renewal
Both the LMSW and LCSW in Georgia expire every two years on September 30. Renewal requires 35 hours of continuing education, with a minimum of 5 hours on social work ethics. You can renew online through the Georgia Composite Board’s licensing portal.
Reciprocity and Out-of-State Licensure
Georgia does not offer reciprocity with other states. If you’re a licensed social worker relocating to Georgia from another state, you must apply for a licensure-by-exam waiver. To qualify, you need to have passed the ASWB Master’s exam (for LMSW) or the ASWB Clinical exam (for LCSW) in your previous state. Both applications require two professional reference letters and a background check. LCSW applicants must also submit a post-graduate directed experience verification form.
Social Work Salaries in Georgia
Georgia employs a substantial social work workforce across a range of specializations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for social workers in Georgia is $56,970 as of May 2024, with the top 25% earning $61,580 or more.
Job growth in Georgia is strong across social work specializations. BLS projections for 2022–2032 show healthcare social workers growing by 15%, mental health and substance abuse social workers by 16.9%, and child, family, and school social workers by 12.4%. Social and human service assistants, a related role, are projected to grow 18.2% over that same period, with an average of 1,200 new openings annually statewide. For readers drawn to the substance abuse and mental health side of this work, our guide to substance abuse counselor certification in Georgia covers that separate credentialing track.
The LCSW typically commands a higher salary than the LMSW. The additional clinical training, independent practice authority, and ability to bill insurance directly all factor into that difference. LCSWs who move into private practice or specialized clinical roles often earn well above the median figures for employed social workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an LMSW before getting an LCSW in Georgia?
No. Georgia doesn’t require you to hold an LMSW before pursuing LCSW licensure. You can begin accumulating your supervised clinical hours after graduating with your MSW, even while your LMSW application is still pending. That said, most practitioners get the LMSW first, since it lets you begin working while you build toward the clinical exam.
How long does it take to become an LCSW in Georgia?
From the start of an MSW program, count on roughly 4 to 6 years total. The MSW itself takes two years full-time. After graduation, the 3,000 supervised hours for LCSW eligibility must span at least 36 months. Add exam prep and application processing, and most people reach LCSW licensure 3 to 4 years after completing their degree.
What exam do I need to pass for each license?
The LMSW requires the ASWB Master’s level exam. The LCSW requires the ASWB Clinical level exam. Both are administered through Pearson VUE. ASWB and state board rules govern exam retake policies. Verify current attempt limits directly with the board before your first sitting.
Does Georgia offer reciprocity for social work licenses?
No. Georgia does not have reciprocity agreements with other states. Licensed social workers moving to Georgia from another state must apply for a licensure-by-exam waiver. You’ll need to show that you passed the appropriate ASWB exam in your previous state, provide two professional reference letters, and clear a background check.
What continuing education is required to renew a Georgia social work license?
Both the LMSW and LCSW require 35 hours of continuing education for each two-year renewal cycle. At least 5 of those hours must address social work ethics. Licenses expire on September 30 of the renewal year. Renewal can be completed online through the Georgia Composite Board’s portal.
Key Takeaways
- Two licenses, one degree requirement: Both the LMSW and LCSW require a CSWE-accredited MSW. Georgia does not offer a bachelor ‘s-level social work license.
- The LCSW requires 3,000 supervised hours: Spread over at least 36 months post-graduation, with 120 hours of direct supervision from a qualified LCSW.
- No reciprocity with other states: Relocating social workers must apply for a licensure-by-exam waiver, not an automatic transfer.
- Renewal is every two years: Both licenses expire September 30 on a biennial cycle, requiring 35 CE hours, including 5 in ethics.
- Strong job growth statewide: Healthcare and mental health social work are among the fastest-growing specializations in Georgia through 2032.
Ready to take the next step? Explore CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Georgia that prepare you for licensure and match your career goals.
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Social Workers, Social and Human Services Assistants, Social and Community Service Managers, and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2026.
