Texas Social Work License Requirements and Schools: Learn How to Become a Social Worker in TX
Written by Rebecca Munday
Last Updated: June 2023
If you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work, you can become a licensed social worker in Texas. Texas offers social workers three levels of licensure: a licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW), licensed master social worker (LMSW), and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Learn more about which license is right for you, how to apply for your Texas social work license, and what you need to do to renew your license.
Texas Social Work Licensure Requirements
The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) sets the standards for social work licensure and practice. It offers three levels of social work licensure: LBSW, LMSW, and LCSW.
If you have an LBSW or an LMSW, you can practice generalist social work at the macro and mezzo levels. You need an LCSW to practice clinical social work at the micro level,which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. The BHEC requires you to pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam and complete your degree before you apply for your license.
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
The LBSW license is for graduates of a bachelor of social work (BSW) program, who do not yet have a master’s degree. An LBSW allows you to practice generalist social work at the macro level. Duties could include case management, program development, policy analysis, and advocacy.
Texas licensure requirements for LBSW include:
- A BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
- A copy of your official transcripts sent directly to the BHEC
- A passing score on the ASWB bachelor’s exam
- A completion certificate for the jurisprudence exam
- An electronic copy of your fingerprints for the criminal background check
- A self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank sent unopened to the BHEC
The following list of requirements are for social workers for whom the LMSW is their first social work license. If you have an LBSW, or the equivalent, or you need to transfer your LMSW from another state, your process will look different. If you need to upgrade your LBSW, you must fill out an application, pay a fee, and retake your jurisprudence exam if it has been more than six months since you last took it.
Texas licensure requirements for initial LMSW licensure include:
- An MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
- A copy of your official transcripts sent directly from your MSW program
- A passing score on the ASWB master’s exam
- A completion certificate for the jurisprudence exam
- An electronic copy of fingerprints for the criminal background check
- A self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank sent unopened to the BHEC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
You need an LCSW if you want to practice clinical social work independently in Texas. To upgrade your LMSW to an LCSW in Texas, you must complete most of the same requirements as for the LMSW. Additionally, you need to pass the ASWB clinical exam and complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience and 100 hours of supervision.
Texas licensure requirements for LCSW include:
- An MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
- A copy of your official transcripts sent directly to the BHEC from your MSW program
- A passing score on the ASWB clinical exam
- A completion certificate from the jurisprudence exam
- An electronic copy of your fingerprints for the background check
- Two years, or 3,000 hours, of supervised clinical experience
- One hundred hours of supervision
Featured Online Social Work Programs
How Long Does it Take to Become a Licensed Social Worker in Texas?
It takes 4-9 years to get your social work license in Texas, depending on what bachelor’s degree and license you have. A four-year BSW and a passing score on the ASWB bachelor’s exam qualifies you for an LBSW.
MSW graduates come from a variety of backgrounds, including political science, psychology, biology, and sociology. However, if you get your BSW, you may qualify for an advanced standing MSW track. This means you only have to complete about half the credits of a standard MSW program.
If you want to practice clinical social work, you need an LCSW, which requires 3,000 hours, or two years, of supervised clinical experience and 100 hours of supervision.
Out of State Licensing Reciprocity in Texas
Texas offers licensing reciprocity to social workers who have an LBSW, an LMSW, or the equivalent in another state. You must provide:
- A completed application and application fee
- A copy of your scores for the corresponding ASWB exam sent directly from ASWB
- Your official transcripts sent directly to the BHEC
- Your electronic fingerprints for a background check
- Verification of your current social work license
- A completion certificate for the Texas jurisprudence exam
- A self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank sent unopened to the BHEC
If you’re an LCSW in another state and you have held an LCSW more than one year, follow the same steps as LBSWs and LMSWs to transfer your license. If you have held your LCSW for less than one year, you need to submit verification of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience and 100 hours of supervision.
Texas Social Work Licensure Renewal
Texas social workers must renew their license online every two years. You can renew your license as early as 60 days before expiration. If you do not renew your license before it expires, you must pay late fees.
To renew your license, complete an online application, pay a renewal fee, and complete 30 hours of continuing education. It costs $141 to renew your LBSW or LMSW. For advanced generalists and clinical social workers, the renewal fee is $163. Your continuing education hours must include one course on human tracking, at least three hours in culture competency, at least six hours in supervision, and at least six hours in professional values and ethics.
Salary Expectations for Social Workers in Texas
Social workers in Texas who work in healthcare, mental health, child and family services, schools, and substance misuse make less than the national average for social workers in those specialties.
Healthcare social workers in Texas make an average of $62,500, which is $260 per year less than the national average. Child, family, and school social workers in Texas make $49,810 per year, which is $6,870 less than the national average for those social work specialities. Learn more about how much social workers earn in Texas with the table below.
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $62,500 | $30.05 |
| Mental Health and Substance Misuse Social Workers | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $68,500 | $32.93 |
Source: BLS, 2022
Accredited MSW Programs in Texas
| University | Location | Available Concentrations | Enrollment Type | 2023 Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian University | Abilene, TX (On Campus) | Advanced Generalist | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $1,323 per credit hour, $1,242 for advanced standing |
| Angelo State University | San Angelo, TX (On Campus, Online) | Advanced Generalist; Clinical Practice | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $7,247 per semester in-state, $14,590 per semester out-of-state |
| Baylor University | Waco and Houston, TX (On Campus, Online) | Clinical Practice; Community Practice | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $825 per credit hour on campus, $1,100 per credit hour online |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | San Antonio and La Feria, TX (On Campus, Online) | Hispanic Children and Families | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $981 per credit hour on campus, $962 per credit hour online |
| Prairie View A&M University | Online | Medical Social Work; Behavioral Health | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $363 per credit hour in-state, $846 per credit hour out-of-state |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | Woodland, TX (On Campus, Online) | Advanced Generalist in Rural Context | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | 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) | Advanced Direct Practice; Administration and Leadership | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $509 per credit hour in-state, $775 out-of-state |
| Texas A&M University – Texarkana | Texarkana, TX (On Campus) | Clinical or Direct Practice | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $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) | Advanced Generalist | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $758 per credit hour in-state, $1,166 per credit hour out-of-state |
| Texas A&M University – Kingsville | Kingsville, TX (On Campus, Online) | Advanced Generalist | Full Time, Advanced Standing | $6,157 per year in-state, $14,344 per year out-of-state |
| Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, TX; (On Campus, Hybrid) | Health and Mental Health; Children and Families | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $1,985 per credit hour |
| Texas State University | San Marcos, TX (On Campus, Online) | Advanced Generalist | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $357 per credit hour in-state, $765 per credit hour out-of-state |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX (On Campus) | Advanced Generalist | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $8,653 per year in-state, $16,180 per year out-of-state |
| University of Houston | Houston, TX (On Campus, Online) | Health and Behavioral Health; Social Work with Latinos; Political Social Work; Individualized Specialization | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $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) | 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 | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $11,044 per year in-state, $21,482 per year out-of-state |
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX (On Campus) | Clinical Social Work; Administration and Policy Practice | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $1,400 per semester in-state; $2,011 per semester out-of-state |
| University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, TX (On Campus) | Social Work in the Border Region | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $335 per credit hour in-state, $860 per credit hour out-of-state |
| University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX (On Campus) | None | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $348 per credit hour in-state, $1,345 out-of-state |
| University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg and Brownsville, TX (Hybrid, Online) | Community Practice and Administration; Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families, and Groups | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | $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) | Advanced Generalist | Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing | 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 |
Professional Organizations for Social Workers in Texas
Professional social work organizations promote the occupation and its mission to ensure basic human rights. These organizations help members network and provide opportunities for continuing education and professional development resources. They may also give social workers an active voice in public policymaking. Some organizations offer liability insurance and legal advice for their members. The following section details three professional organizations for social workers in Texas.
National Association of Social Workers-Texas
The NASW Texas chapter counts nearly 6,000 members and remains committed to advancing the social work profession. The organization offers networking opportunities, helps lobby for related social policy and legislative issues, and sponsors conferences. The organization also provides continuing education opportunities, journal access, legal and ethical consultations, and discounted liability insurance.
Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care-Texas Chapter
This organization promotes leadership in healthcare and supplies a network for professional development, education, and advocacy. Its members aim to ensure that patients have access to social workers who can enhance their care and connect them to the necessary resources. They provide a statewide network and present an annual educational conference for members.
Texas Society for Clinical Social Work
This society focuses on clinician advocacy and active lobbying of the Texas legislature. Members must possess graduate-level social work training and professional experience in the field. This organization provides forums for professional growth, networking, mentoring, and continuing education, along with opportunities for clinical supervision for LMSWs looking to obtain LCSW licensure.
