Massachusetts Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) License Requirements
Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.
Provides mental health counseling. Requires MSW degree and clinical hours.
What the Massachusetts data shows for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)s
Massachusetts's path to licensed clinical social worker (lcsw) licensure runs through 3,635 hours of approved instruction, 2 years of supervised work experience, and a passing score on ASWB Clinical Exam, plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Massachusetts folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Master of Social Work (MSW)".
Budget $186 to get started, plus $154 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.
On reciprocity, licensed clinical social worker (lcsw)s should know: Social Work Licensure Compact: adoption underway.
Licensing Ease Score
A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.
Licensing Requirements in Massachusetts
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Frequently Asked Questions
What license do I need for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Massachusetts? ▼
How do I get certified as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Massachusetts? ▼
Can I transfer my Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license to Massachusetts from another state? ▼
Does Massachusetts require a background check for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensing? ▼
What are the continuing education requirements for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Massachusetts? ▼
Related Guides
What to do with this licensed clinical social worker (lcsw) license
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Massachusetts, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a licensed clinical social worker (lcsw)-wide, 50-state comparison.
- See how Massachusetts's licensed clinical social worker (lcsw) requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in every state
- Confirm whether your out-of-state licensed clinical social worker (lcsw) license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
- See how Massachusetts's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Massachusetts overview
Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Massachusetts licensing board before making career decisions.
Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.