Missouri State LCSW Requirements
If you are seeking a career in the field of social work, Florida State University's online MSW degree can help you achieve it. With a dynamic curriculum and a supportive, expert faculty, Florida State University’s MSW program prepares students to become leaders in the social work field. Part of that preparation is equipping students with the skills necessary to achieve the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential. As each state holds LCSW applicants to slightly different expectations, this article reviews LCSW licensure requirement for the state of Missouri.
LMSW Designation
Before you can apply for the LCSW credential, you must first achieve the status of Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). This preliminary designation mandates that you complete your MSW program with a post-secondary institution such as Florida State University that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
The good news is that you don’t have to wait to graduate to apply: Missouri allows LMSW hopefuls to submit their application materials up to two months prior to graduation. This can streamline your progress through licensure because you need the Board’s approval before you can register for the mandatory Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level exam. Designed by the ASWB and administered by Pearson Professional Centers across the globe, this exam assesses your knowledge of best social work practices across a range of 170 multiple-choice questions and costs $230. With your submission of a passing score on the exam, your status of LMSW should be secure.
Supervised Clinical Experience Hours
With the LMSW credential accomplished, those who wish to proceed to their LCSW designation are required by the state of Missouri to log three thousand clinical experience hours under the guidance of a qualified LCSW supervisor within two to four years' time. This supervisor must have acquired at least five years of professional clinical practice experience and completed at least 16 hours of training provided by a university, by the National Association of Social Workers, or by the ASWB. LCSW candidates can select a supervisor from a pre-approved list developed by the Missouri State Committee for Social Workers once they have submitted their completed Registration of Supervision application and the associated $25 fee.
ASWB Exam Success
With these hours achieved, LCSW candidates the need to submit a clinical social worker application, which includes submitting transcripts to verify MSW program completion. Again, you will need to wait for the Board’s approval before registering for the final major hurdle: successful completion of the ASWB Clinical exam. Similar to the Master’s level test, the ASWB Clinical exam covers a wide range of social work concepts across 170 questions. To pass, you must answer roughly 100 answers correctly. If you fail, you can retake the exam twice more within the same calendar year, however each exam costs $260.
The state of Missouri offers LCSW hopefuls a clear path to licensure, and Florida State University’s online MSW degree can help you get on course for that journey. With classes that instill the principles to help you pass the ASWB exam as well as case studies and practical experiences that will come in handy during your supervised clinical experience hours, Florida State University’s online MSW program offers the social workers of tomorrow the essential educational tools they need today.
Sources:
"About the Exams." Association of Social Work Boards.
"Committee for Social Workers." Missouri Division of Professional Registration.
"Missouri Social Work Licensing Requirements." Social Work Guide.