Minnesota
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 Minnesota Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
- Obtain your LGSW license to practice supervised clinical social work to earn hours towards your clinical license.
- To do this, fill out the LGSW state application, submit official MSW school transcripts, and $60 application fee
- Once accepted, register for Master’s level exam with ASWB, $230 registration fee
- Next contact Pearson VUE to set exam appointment
- Now, study and pass with TDC’s LMSW Exam Prep: ASWB Masters Level program
Step 3: Gain Clinical Social Work Experience
- Accrue your supervised social work hours
- Complete 200-hours of direct supervision at a rate of 4 hours minimum (8 hours maximum) for every 160 hours of practice
- Must be completed in no less than 4,000 hours and no more than 8,000 hours of clinical practice
- Includes 1,800 hours of direct clinical client contact
- Supervisors will need to complete a Supervision Verification Form
Step 4: Apply for the LICSW License
- Once complete, submit the Minnesota LICSW application or apply online at the MN board of social work website. Entails the following:
- A $60 application fee
- A fingerprint-based criminal background check
- Official MSW school transcript
- Supervision verification
- Current license verification
- Candidates will also need to document 360 clinical clock hours. These are broken up as follows:
- 108 clock hours in differential diagnosis and biopsychosocial assessment, including normative development and psychopathology across the life span
- 108 clock hours in clinical intervention methods informed by research and current standards of practice
- 72 clock hours in social work values and ethics, including cultural context, diversity, and social policy
- 36 clock hours in assessment-based clinical treatment planning with measurable goals
- 18 clock hours in evaluation methodologies
- 18 clock hours in cultural-specific clinical assessment and intervention
- These clinical clock hours can be obtained by:
- A graduate degree program accredited by the CSWE, the CASSW, or a similar accreditation body dedicated by the MN Board of social work
- Graduate coursework from an accredited institution of higher learning
- Up to 90 continuing education hours, not to exceed 20 hours of independent study. The CE must have a course description available for public review and include a post-test
Step 5: Pass the ASWB Clinical Exam with TDC!
- Register for the Clinical Exam with the ASWB and set your appointment with Pearson VUE
- LCSW registration fee $260
- Use TDC’s LCSW Exam Prep: ASWB Clinical Level program to pass with confidence!
Continuing Education Requirements
Pre-licensure - Social workers in MN have the same CE requirements as Licensed Social workers.
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years by last day of licensee’s birth month
- Total Hours Required: 40 hours
- Must include:
- 2 hours Ethics
- 4 hours Cultural Responsiveness
- In addition: LICSW requires 12 hours in clinical content
- Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
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 Clinical Experience
- Minimum of 4,000 hours
- 1,000 hours must be direct client contact under a Board-approved supervisor
- 500 of which must be couples, families, or similar relational groups
- 200 hours must be directly supervised
- one hour of supervision for every 5 hours of practice
- At least 100 hours must be individual supervision
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 LMFT Licensure
- Submit supervised hours
- Submit AMFTRB exam results
- Submit official transcripts
- Pay licensure application fee $75
Continuing Education Requirements
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 40 hours
- Must include:
- 3 hours ethics/professional studies
- 4 hours of Cultural Competency
- 4 hours of Supervision (for those holding the MN LMFT Board-Approved Supervisor status)
- 40 hours may be earned online
- CE studies must be approved by the board
- Supervision Requirements: 30 hours of an AAMFT-approved supervisor training course, or 30 hours of coursework in a board-approved MFT supervision education course
Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
