District of Columbia
Your Step-by-Step Path to Licensure and Beyond
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
How to become a social worker
Step 1: Complete a CSWE-accredited Social Work program
Step 2: Obtain Your Licensed Graduate Social Work (LGSW) License
- Obtain your LGSW before accruing work hours towards your clinical license
- To do this, first fill out the state application and submit it to the Washington D.C. Board of Social Work. Includes:
- Complete 10 qualifying questions on the application
- $230 application fee
- Submit 2 passport photos with your name and social security number written on the back
- Include 3 character references (at least 2 must be professional)
- Once the application is complete and processed, next contact the ASWB to register for the Masters Level exam, $230 application fee
- Next contact Pearson VUE where you will select your testing location and exam date
- Then, study with TDC’s LMSW Exam Prep: ASWB Masters Level program
Step 3: Accrue Work Experience Toward Your LICSW
- Next accrue hours towards your Licensed Independent Clinical Social Work (LICSW) license.
- Complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate work diagnosing and treating people with mental health issues
- Complete hours in 2 to 4 years from receiving your LGSW license
- At least one 1 hour must be supervised for every 32 hours of work
- Your supervisor must be an LISW or LICSW, and if your supervisor practices at a different site from where you work, you must have a contract of supervision in place and keep documentation of supervisory session with dates, duration, and focus of supervision.
- When your hours are complete, fill out the D.C. Board of Social Work state application. Including:
- $230 application fee
- Submit 2 passport photos with your name and social security number on the back
- 3 character references (at least 2 must be professional)
- Complete the Verification of Supervision On-Site form, or the Verification of Supervision Off-Site form, depending on the location of your supervisor
Step 4: Apply for the ASWB Clinical Exam and Study with Confidence!
- Once again, contact the ASWB to register for the exam and then Pearson VUE to select your date and location
- Use TDC’s LCSW Exam Prep: ASWB Clinical Level program to pass with confidence!
Continuing Education Requirements
Pre-licensure - Social workers in DC have the same requirements as licensed workers
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years (Licenses expire on July 31 of odd years)
- Total Hours Required: 40 hours
- Must include:
- 6 hours Ethics ( in-person or Live Interactive Webinar)
- 2 hours LGBTQ training (can be homestudy)
- 4 hours Public Health Priorities
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 Degree
- Master’s in MFT or related field from COAMFTE approved school
Step 2: Accrue Supervised Experience
- A minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised practice
- 1,000 must be direct client contact
- A minimum requirement of one face-to-face meeting between supervisor and supervisee each month
- 1 hour of direct supervision for every 20 hours of direct client contact
Step 3: Study and Pass Required Exam
- Apply to take the AMFTRB National MFT Exam
- Exam fee $365
- Sign up for TDC’s NMFT exam prep course and study with confidence!
Step 4: Apply for LMFT Licensure
- Application fee: $262
- Submit hours and exam results
- Submit official transcripts
- Background check
Continuing Education Requirements
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 30 hours
- Must include:
- 6 hours of ethics
- 2 hours LGBTQ
- 10% (3 hours) of hours in the public health priorities
- 15 hours required in live, face-to-face settings
Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
