Licensure Requirements for a Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA)

An applicant may be granted a license as a Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA) if he or she submits to the Board a properly-completed application for such licensure, accompanied by all of the following: (1) Satisfactory written or electronic documentation that he or she possesses one of the following levels of education and training: (a) An associate degree, or at least 60 credit hours of college education, in the fields of social work, psychology, counseling or other similar human services field, from an accredited college or university; or (b) A baccalaureate degree in any field from an accredited college or university; or (c) A minimum of 1000 hours of education in social work theory and methods in courses or programs approved by the Board; (2) Satisfactory written or electronic documentation that he or she has attained the Associate level passing score on the Basic licensure examination administered by the Association of State Social Work Boards, or its successor agency, or an equivalent examination as determined by the Board, not more than two years prior to the date of his or her application; (3) A minimum of three professional references, on forms furnished for that purpose by the Board or its agent, from persons familiar with the applicant’s professional experience in the field of social work, attesting that the applicant is of good moral character and has demonstrated that he or she will conduct his or her activities as a social worker in accordance with generally accepted standards of professional social work practice. At least one such reference shall be from a person who is licensed by the Board as a Licensed Certified Social Worker or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, or a person who is eligible for such licensure pursuant to 258 CMR 9.03, 258 CMR 9.04 or 258 CMR 9.07; and (4) Payment of the licensure fees prescribed by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance pursuant to M.G.L. c. 7, § 3B.