Texas Social Work License Requirements & Programs: Become a Social Worker in TX
By Rebecca Munday
Every state sets their own rules to become a licensed social worker. The Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners makes and enforces the rules for how to become a social worker in Texas. Find out about the three types of social work licenses in Texas and the education and experience you need for each of them.
In This Article
Education Required to Become a Social Worker in Texas
Texas offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in social work. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in social work to practice non-clinical social work. If you want to start your career in clinical social work, you’ll need a master’s degree in the field. In clinical social work, you diagnose and treat children, teens, and adults with mental, behavioral, and emotional conditions, including substance misuse.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
A BSW requires 120 credits or four years of full-time study and prepares you to become a licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW). Over 50 of these credits are social-work related. The program prepares you to practice generalist non-clinical social work or earn your MSW.
Your classes will include introductions to social work research, social welfare policy and practices, human development and behavior in the social environment, professionalism, and diversity. You will also complete at least two practicums.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
An MSW prepares you for clinical social work as a licensed master’s social worker (LMSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) after you gain the required experience. Coursework in psychotherapy and diagnosis builds clinical social work skills. You will also complete at least two field placements.
If you have a BSW, you may be eligible for advanced standing in the program and finish your MSW faster. If your graduation was more than six years ago, you may have to take extra classes to update your knowledge.
If you do not have a BSW, you’ll take 60 credit hours and complete your degree in 2-3 years. If you enter your MSW program with advanced standing, you could take between 12-30 fewer credits than those without advanced standing.
Steps for Becoming a Licensed Social Worker in Texas
You must maintain an active license to practice social work in Texas. You can get three types of licenses to practice social work in Texas, depending on your education, experience, and social work focus.
To qualify for any social work license in Texas, you must complete these requirements:
- Graduate from a CSWE-accredited program
- Take your jurisprudence exam
- Pass your licensing exam
- Apply for your license online
- Submit a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query report and your official transcripts
- Get fingerprinted electronically
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
If you want to become a licensed baccalaureate social worker, you’ll need a BSW. A BSW allows you to practice generalist non-clinical social work such as case management, counseling, and advocacy.
To become an LBSW, you’ll need to:
- Earn a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program
- Provide your completion certificate for the jurisprudence exam
- Pass the LBSW exam
- Apply for your license online
You must graduate, take your jurisprudence exam, and pass your licensing exam before you apply for your social work license.
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
If you want to become a licensed master social worker, you’ll need an MSW. To enroll in an MSW program, you need a bachelor’s degree. Your bachelor’s degree does not have to be in social work, but you’ll be required to take fewer courses if you do have an BSW, especially if you graduated recently or had a GPA of 3.0 or better.
To become an LMSW, you’ll need to:
- Earn a master’s degree or doctoral degree in social work from an CSWE-accredited program
- Get an official transcript that shows you completed a field placement in social work
- Provide your completion certificate for the jurisprudence exam
- Pass the LMSW license exam
- Apply for your license online
Independent Practice Recognition (LBSW-IPR, LMSW-IPR)
Independent practice recognition (IPR) allows LBSWs and LMSWs to practice non-clinical social work independently. They can work under contract, bill directly, or bill third parties for services.
To get independent practice recognition, you must:
- Hold an active LBSW or LMSW license in Texas
- Complete 3,000 hours of supervised full-time social work experience as a fully licensed social worker
- Complete 100 hours of supervision, which is defined as one-on-one professional development that happens during a designated supervision session
- Submit proof your completion certificate for the jurisprudence exam
IPR candidates need at least two years of supervised, full-time social work experience completed within the last five years. If you completed your supervision and experience in another state, you must show that you completed equivalent requirements. The supervision must be verified by the regulatory body in that state. If you cannot get the regulatory body in your state to verify your supervision, ask for another verification method.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
If you want to become a licensed clinical social worker, you’ll need to earn an MSW and complete all the requirements to get your LMSW license. After earning an LMSW license, you will need to complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience before becoming an LCSW.
Your clinical experience must be in the last two to four years. You can use some of your non-clinical experience to satisfy the required hours, but you must spend at least four hours per week doing clinical social work such as psychotherapy and diagnosis. You will also need to complete at least 100 hours of supervision.
Texas allows you to qualify for an LCSW license with supervision and clinical experience from another state, as long as it:
- Meets similar requirements, according to the state where you gained the experience
- Can be verified by the regulatory authority in your state or another accepted verification method
Featured Online Master’s Social Work Programs
Social Work License Reciprocity in Texas
Texas does not have formal reciprocity agreements with any other state or territory, which means a social worker license in another state does not automatically qualify you to practice social work in Texas. However, if you have a license in good standing with your state, Texas may not require you to repeat steps that you already completed in your state such as:
- Taking your licensing exam through ASWB
- Getting the required experience and supervision to become a LCSW or gain IPR
- Taking your jurisprudence exam if you took it in the last six months
Licensing Renewal and Continuing Education Information
You’ll renew your license every two years and pay $155 to renew. You can renew your license if:
- Your license will expire in 60 days or fewer.
- Your license has not been expired for more than a year.
- You completed the required 30 hours of continuing education.
- You completed a required course in human trafficking prevention approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Your 30 hours of continuing education must include three credits on cultural competency or diversity and six credits in ethics. You may carry over up to 10 additional hours to the next renewal period.
MSW Programs Available in Texas
- Abilene Christian University — Abilene, TX (On Campus)
- Available Concentration: Advanced Generalist
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $1,323 per credit hour, $1,242 for advanced standing
- Angelo State University — San Angelo, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist, Clinical Practice
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $7,247 per semester in-state, $14,590 per semester out-of-state
- Baylor University — Waco and Houston, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Clinical Practice, Community Practice
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $825 per credit hour on campus, $1,100 per credit hour online
- Our Lady of the Lake University — San Antonio and La Fera, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentration: Hispanic Children and Families
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $981 per credit hour on campus, $962 per credit hour online
- Prairie View A&M University — Online
- Available Concentrations: Medical Social Work, Behavioral Health
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $363 per credit hour in-state, $846 per credit hour out-of-state
- Stephen F. Austin State University — Woodland, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentration: Advanced Generalist in Rural Context
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: On campus: $567 per credit hour in-state, $597 border state, $975 out-of-state; Online: $600 per credit hour in-state, $630 border state, $1,008 out-of-state
- Tarleton State University — Stephenville, Waco, and Fort Worth, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Advanced Direct Practice, Administration and Leadership
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $509 per credit hour in-state, $775 out-of-state
- Texas A&M University – Texarkana — Texarkana, TX (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Clinical or Direct Practice
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $1,173 per three credit hours in-state and border states, $1,288 contiguous states; $2,742 per three credit hours for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international students
- Texas A&M University – Commerce — Commerce, Mesquite, and McKinney, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $758 per credit hour in-state, $1,166 per credit hour out-of-state
- Texas A&M University – Kingsville — Kingsville, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $6,157 per year in-state, $14,344 per year out-of-state
- Texas Christian University — Fort Worth, TX (On Campus, Hybrid)
- Available Concentration: Health and Mental Health, Children and Families
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $1,985 per credit hour
- Texas State University — San Marcos, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $357 per credit hour in-state, $765 per credit hour out-of-state
- Texas Tech University — Lubbock, TX (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $8,653 per year in-state, $16,180 per year out-of-state
- University of Houston — Houston, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Health and Behavioral Health, Social Work with Latinos, Political Social Work, Individualized Specialization
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $376-$475 per credit hour in-state, $884-$983 per credit hour out-of-state
- University of Texas at Arlington — Arlington and Fort Worth, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Community and Administrative Practice, Direct Practice in Aging, Direct Practice in Children and Families, Direct Practice in Health, Direct Practice in Mental Health and Substance Misuse
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $11,044 per year in-state, $21,482 per year out-of-state
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, TX (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Clinical Social Work, Administration and Policy Practice
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $1,400 per semester in-state; $2,011 per semester out-of-state
- University of Texas at El Paso — El Paso, TX (On Campus)
- Available Concentration: Social Work in the Border Region
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $335 per credit hour in-state, $860 per credit hour out-of-state
- University of Texas at San Antonio — San Antonio, TX (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $348 per credit hour in-state, $1,345 out-of-state
- University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley — Edinburg and Brownsville, TX (Hybrid, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Community Practice and Administration; Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families, and Groups
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: $1,585 per three credit hour in-state; $2,809 per credit hour out-of-state
- West Texas A&M University — Canyon and Amarillo, TX (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentration: Advanced Generalist
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2023 Tuition: On-campus: $7,502 per year in-state, $15,171 per year, out-of-state; Online: $7,681 per year in-state, $15,350 per year out-of-state
Texas Social Worker Jobs and Salary Information
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 9% job growth for all social workers between 2021-2031, which is faster than average. Texas has the third highest number of child, family, school, and healthcare social workers in the U.S. The area of Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington has more than 9,000 social workers working in these areas.
Child, family, and school social workers in Texas make an average of about $5,500 less per year than child, family, and school social workers. However, healthcare social workers make about $2,500 more per year in Texas than the national average. The BLS projects 11% job growth for healthcare social workers between 2021-2031.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you call yourself a social worker without a license in Texas?
No, you can not call yourself a social worker or practice social work without a license in Texas. In Texas, the definition of a social worker is someone who is licensed to practice social work.
How do I get my social work license in Texas?
To get your social work license in Texas, you need to graduate from a CSWE-accredited program, pass your ASWB licensing exam, take your jurisprudence exam, get fingerprinted, apply online, and provide your official transcripts and National Practitioner Data Bank self-query report.
How long does it take to become a social worker in Texas?
It takes 4-11 years to become a social worker in Texas, depending on what type of social work you want to do. To become a LBSW, it will take about four years. To become a LMSW, it takes 6-7 years. To become a LCSW, it takes 8-11 years.
How do I transfer my social work license to Texas?
To transfer your license to Texas from another state, you’ll need to submit an application and additional documents to show you have a social work license. These additional documents include your license verification in that state, ASWB scores, jurisprudence completion certificate, fingerprints, and official transcripts.
