This video can answer many of your questions about LSW and LSW-A
LSW and LSW-A Information (click here to download the info sheet)
- Billing requirements from insurance providers for licensure to provide/receive care
- Professional development & career ladder
- LSW covers primarily case management and counseling
- Psychotherapy, top signature on treatment plans, differential diagnosis are NOT in the scope of practice for LSW’s
- LSW (Licensed Social Worker)
- Attend and graduate from an accredited BSW program
- UNH and Plymouth State (St. Anselm College working towards this also)
- Supervision agreement on file and approved by Board of Mental Health Practice
- Supervision Agreement in on OPLC website under “Education”
- Can be someone outside the organization (off-site supervisor)
- You will receive your LSW-C (Licensed Social Worker - Conditional) once the supervision agreement is on file
- 2 years/100 hours of supervision
- You can sit for the exam once you’ve been supervised for 18 months
- You can find the request to sit for the exam on the OPLC website under “Education”
- Application for the full license at the end of the two years
- LSWA (Licensed Social Work Associate)
- For people who have attended a program other than a BSW (AA, BA, BS) with courses in human services (psychology, addiction, etc.)
- Supervision agreement on file
- Supervision Agreement in on OPLC website under “Education”
- Can be someone outside the organization (off-site supervisor)
- If Bachelors (BA/BS degree): 2 years/100 supervision hours (from an LICSW, LCMHC, LMFT)
- If Associates (AA) degree: 3 years/150 supervision hours (from an LICSW, LCMHC, LMFT)
- You will receive your LSWA-C (Licensed Social Work Associate - Conditional) once the supervision agreement is on file
- ASWB BSW Exam (ASWB might be able to offer an associate’s exam, stay tuned)
- You can sit for the exam once you’ve been supervised for 18 months
- You can find the request to sit for the exam on the OPLC website under “Education”
- Bachelor’s degree - 4000 hours of work, no fewer than 2 years
- Associate’s degree - 6000 hours of work, no fewer than 3 years
- Sometime between when your supervision agreement is on file and when you complete the required supervision hours, you will need to complete a 30-hour training (prior to full licensure)
- What if I’ve been practicing for 10 years and have already have supervision but no supervision agreement on file? Submit a request to the Board for a waiver
- If you are in between your MSW and LICSW with a supervision agreement on file, you will have your LICSW-C (Conditional)
- Conditional licenses can only be renewed once
You can find the rules, application, and supervision agreement information on the NH Board of Mental Health Practice website.
https://www.oplc.nh.gov/board-mental-health-practice
You can find the application here
On the top of the form where it says "Profession for which application is being filed" you will put "Conditional Social Work License". Some parts of this application will not apply to you and you can leave those parts blank.