Alabama
Your Step-by-Step Path to Licensure and Beyond
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
How to become a social worker
Step 2: Become an Alabama Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
- Apply for your LGSW license
- Fill out universal state application
- Submit to the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners
- Online fee $78.50, or print and mail in fee $75
- Select “Graduate Social Work” on the top of the application
- Receive a “license eligible” status from the BSWE to take ASWB Masters Level exam
- Exam must be taken within one year of receiving your BSWE “license eligible” status
- Contact ASWB and register for the exam, $25 application fee, and $230 for the exam registration.
- Contact Pearson VUE to find a testing location and exam date
- Study with TDC’s LMSW Exam Prep: ASWB Masters Level Exam
Step 3: Accumulate Work Experience Toward Your Alabama Social Work License (LCSW)
- First, find your supervisor, fill out the “contract for supervision form” together, and submit it to the BWSE
- Gain 4 hours a month for 24 months (96 hours total) of LCSW-supervised clinical work experience
- Once complete, fill out the universal state application, only this time select “Certified Social Worker”
Step 4: Register for the ASWB Clinical Exam and Pass with Flying Colors!
- Register with the ASWB for the Clinical exam, pay $25 application fee, $260 exam fee, schedule exam appointment with Pearson VUE
- Finally, sign up for TDC’s LCSW Exam Prep: ASWB Clinical Level Exam prep program
Continuing Education Requirements
Pre-licensure - All Social work licensees in AL have certain requirements.
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 30 hours
- Must include:
- 3 hours of Ethics (every cycle)
- (for LICSW) 6 hours clinical content: including 3 hours DSM-5-TR review
- (for LMSW) 3 hours of clinical content
- 1 hour Child Abuse & Neglect (highly encouraged)
Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)
How to become a Marriage & Family Therapist
Step 1: Earn Your Graduate Degree
- Master’s in MFT or related field from COAMFTE approved program
- 12 month clinical internship
- 100 hours clinical supervision
- 50 of these hours must be raw data supervision
- 500 hours of direct client contact
- 250 of these hours must involve couples or families
Step 2: Completion of two years of post-degree work experience as an MFT
- Full-time, at least 30 hours per week, or the equivalent of part-time work
- Completion of a minimum of 1000 post-degree direct client hours
- Must be supervised under a board-approved supervisor
- Completion of 200 hours of direct supervision, 100 of which must be individual
Step 3: Study for Exam with TDC
- Apply to take the AMFTRB National MFT Exam
- Exam fee $365
- Sign up for TDC’s NMFT exam prep course and pass with confidence!
Step 4: Apply for LMFT Licensure
- Submit hours and exam results
- Submit official transcripts
- Application fee $150
Continuing Education Requirements
CE Requirements for Alabama MFTS
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 40 hours
- Must include:
- 10 hours clinical MFT workshops
- 6 hours diagnosis and treatment
- 6 hours ethics
- 20 hours distance learning allowed
TDS is an approved provider by ASWB ACE.
