Louisiana
Your Step-by-Step Path to Licensure and Beyond
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
How to become a social worker
Step 1: Attain MSW from a CSWE-accredited Social Work program
Step 2: Become a Louisiana LMSW (Licensed Masters Social Work)
- Fill out the LMSW state application here Louisiana’s Social Work Board including:
- Original passport photo
- $75 application fee
- Official transcript from your CSWE-accredited college or university
- Completion of a Criminal History Determination Form and Authorization Form + $26 processing fee
- Then, contact the ASWB to register for ASWB Master’s Level exam, registration fee $230
- Next, contact Pearson VUE to set exam appointment
- Finally, study and pass with LMSW Exam Prep: ASWB Masters Level
Step 3: Gain the Required Louisiana Social Work Experience
- Accrue 5,760 hours (about 2.5 to 3 years) of full-time post-grad experience in social work
- 3,840 of those hours must be under the supervision of a board-approved clinical supervisor (LCSW - BACS*)
- * The LCSW-BACS title means the supervisor holds an LCSW license and has at least 3 years of full-time supervised experience post-LCSW. They must also have attended a Board-held orientation workshop, a workshop on theory and techniques of supervision, and hold 2 letters of professional reference.
- 96 of those hours must be face-to-face supervision
Step 4: Submit the Louisiana LCSW Application and Pass the Clinical Exam
- Fill out the LCSW application. This includes:
- Official school transcript from your MSW program
- Passport Photo
- Record of Supervision Form
- Employment Verification Form from every place of employment you worked as an LMSW
- Results of a Criminal Record Check
- $100 application fee
- Once approved, register for the ASWB Clinical exam the same way you did for the Masters, fee $260
- Use TDC’s LCSW Exam Prep: ASWB Clinical Level program to pass with confidence!
Continuing Education Requirements
Pre-licensure - Social workers in LA have similar CE requirements as Licensed Social workers.
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every single year
- CEs must be complete by June 30 of each year, but actual license renewals must be renewed by August 31 of each year
- Total Hours Required: 36 hours
- Must include:
- 3 hours Ethics (every 2 years)
- LCSWs only: 10 hours Clinical social work content including diagnosis and treatment (every year)
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- or Board-approved school
Step 2: Accrue Supervised Experience
- Completion of 3,000 hours of MFT practice
- Must include 2,000 hours of direct client contact
- Up to 500 hours of direct client contact experience earned during graduate training may be counted.
- 1,000 hours may be indirect work experience or other professional activities.
- At least 200 hours must be qualified supervision
- 100 must be individual
Step 3: 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 Full LMFT Licensure
- Submit supervised hours
- Submit AMFTRB exam results
- Submit official transcripts
- Licensure application fee $200
Continuing Education Requirements
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 40 hours
- Must include:
- 3 hours ethics specific to licensed marriage and family therapy
- 6 hours diagnosis
- 20 hours online allowed
Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
