South Carolina
Your Step-by-Step Path to Licensure and Beyond
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
How to become a social worker
Step 1: Receive MSW from a CSWE-accredited school
Step 2: Obtain Your Masters Social Worker (LMSW) License
- Fill out the state LMSW application
- $45 registration fee
- Official school transcript verifying your MSW sent directly to the Board’s office
- Contact the ASWB to register for the Masters Level Exam
- $230 registration fee
- Contact Pearson VUE to schedule exam appointment
- Study with TDC’s LMSW Exam Prep: ASWB Masters Level program to pass with confidence!
Step 3: Complete Your LISW-CP Application and then Accrue Social Work Hours
- BEFORE you commence your supervised social work experience:
- Complete a Supervision Contract with your supervisor
- Complete the state application for Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice
- Official MSW school transcript, including the required coursework form
- $45 application fee and a $45 supervision application fee ($90 total)
- Proof of completion of 15 credit hours or 20 CEU hours in professional ethics
- Then, once both applications have been approved, begin your social work experience
- Gain 3,000 supervised social work experience hours
- must be conducted in a recognized social, medical, or government agency
- a minimum of 100 of these hours must be in-person with your supervisor
- 50% of the supervision hours can be group supervision, with no more than six 6 supervisees at a time
- Supervisors must have a minimum of 4,500 hours of clinical/advanced practice earned over a period of no less than 3 years from when they received their LISW-CP or LISW-AP license
- Supervisors must also have received 45 contract hours or 45 CE hours in supervision
Step 4: Pass the ASWB Clinical Exam with TDC!
- Contact ASWB and Pearson VUE just like you did with the Master's exam and get registered
- registration fee $260
- Check out TDC’s LCSW Exam Prep: ASWB Clinical Level
Continuing Education Requirements
Pre-licensure - Social workers in SC have certain requirements, which is likely the case in other states as well.
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years by December 31
- Total Hours Required: 40 hours
- Must include:
- All courses must relate to the practice of Social Work
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
- (Must include a supervised clinical practicum or internship, with a minimum of 700 hours, including 280 direct client contact hours)
Step 2: Accrue Supervised Clinical Experience
- Must complete, in no less than two years, 1,500 hours of supervised experience
- 1,380 hours of client contact.
- A minimum of 120 hours must be supervised by an LMFT.
- Half of the supervision hours must be individual, the other half may be group 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 $150
Continuing Education Requirements
CE Requirements for South Carolina MFTS
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 40 hours
- Must include:
- 6 hours ethics
- 34 hours related to specific professional discipline
- 6 hours supervision for supervisors
- 15 hours online/home study allowed
Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
