The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential represents the highest level of non-physician clinical practice in Florida’s behavioral health sector. These professionals are authorized to provide independent psychotherapy, diagnosis, and treatment for individuals, families, and groups across the state. The licensure pathway is governed by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. This designation validates an applicant’s academic foundation and supervised clinical competency.
Educational Prerequisite: The Master of Social Work Degree
The path to clinical social work begins with the completion of a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE accreditation ensures the curriculum meets national standards for social work education.
Applicants must demonstrate their coursework included specific clinical content at the graduate level. This requires a minimum of 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours dedicated to the theory of human behavior and clinical practice methods. Additionally, applicants must complete at least one course focused on psychopathology to ensure a foundational understanding of mental health disorders.
Registering as a Clinical Social Worker Intern
After graduating from a CSWE-accredited MSW program, candidates must register with the Florida Board to begin accruing post-graduate experience. This involves applying for the Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (RCSWI) status, which grants provisional authority to practice clinical social work under supervision. Without this official registration, clinical hours cannot legally count toward final licensure.
The application requires a fee, official transcripts, and proof of a formal supervision arrangement. A Qualified Supervisor, who must be a Florida-licensed LCSW, must submit a letter agreeing to provide the required supervision. The RCSWI number is not issued until this supervision agreement is documented and approved by the Board. This registration is valid for up to five years, establishing the maximum time frame to complete supervised experience and pass the licensing examination.
Completing the Required Supervised Clinical Experience
The supervised clinical practice phase ensures the intern develops independent competency. Applicants must complete a minimum of two years of post-master’s experience under the supervision of a qualified LCSW. This experience must be accrued over no less than 100 weeks.
The clinical work requires a minimum of 1,500 hours dedicated to face-to-face psychotherapy with clients, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Concurrently, the intern must receive a minimum of 100 hours of formal supervision from their qualified LCSW supervisor over the same 100-week period.
Supervision sessions must occur at a frequency of at least one hour for every 15 hours of psychotherapy provided, with a minimum requirement of one hour every two weeks. If supervision is conducted in a group setting, each hour of group supervision must alternate with an hour of individual supervision. Individual supervision involves one supervisor overseeing no more than two interns, while group supervision involves a maximum of six interns. The supervisor maintains detailed logs and must sign the Verification of Clinical Experience Form for submission to the Board.
Passing the ASWB Clinical Examination
After completing all supervised clinical experience hours, the next step is passing the required national examination. Florida mandates the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Level Exam, which assesses the candidate’s knowledge and skills for independent clinical practice. Candidates must first apply for and receive approval from the Florida Board to sit for the examination.
The Board grants authorization after the applicant has completed all graduate-level coursework and 18 months of documented post-master’s clinical experience. Once approved, candidates register with the ASWB and pay the fee to schedule the computer-based exam. The ASWB scores the examination and reports the passing score directly to the Florida Board, which is a prerequisite for final license issuance.
Submitting the Final LCSW Application
After successfully passing the ASWB Clinical Examination and completing all supervised hours, the applicant submits the final application for the LCSW license. This submission requires the final Verification of Clinical Experience Form signed by the supervisor and documentation of the passing exam score. The application also requires evidence of having completed specific prerequisite courses, including an 8-hour course on Florida laws and rules, a 3-hour course on HIV/AIDS, and a 2-hour course on domestic violence.
A mandatory component of final processing is the criminal background check, which requires electronic fingerprinting. Applicants must use an approved Livescan Service Provider and ensure results are sent directly to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement using the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) number. Once documentation is verified and the background check is cleared, the Board issues the official LCSW license number, allowing the applicant to practice independently.
Maintaining Your Florida LCSW License
The issuance of the LCSW license is followed by ongoing requirements. Florida licenses operate on a biennial renewal cycle, meaning the license must be renewed every two years. To qualify for renewal, a licensee must complete a total of 30 hours of approved Continuing Education (CE) credits within each two-year cycle.
These CE hours must include specific mandatory courses:
- 2 hours in the prevention of medical errors.
- 3 hours in either ethics and boundaries or telehealth, alternating each renewal period.
- 3 hours in Florida laws and rules and 2 hours in domestic violence, required every third biennium (six years).
- A 3-hour HIV/AIDS course, required for new licensees before their first renewal.