Washington
Your Step-by-Step Path to Licensure and Beyond
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
How to become a social worker
Step 1: Graduate MSW program
Step 2: Gain the Required Washington Social Work Experience
- Accrue 4,000 post-graduate hours in no less than 3 years
- 1,000 of these hours must be supervised by an LICSW and must be face-to-face with patients or clients
- 130 hours must be under direct supervision, 70 of which can be group supervision, and the remaining 60 must be one-on-one supervision
- LICSW candidates must take four (4) hours of HIV/AIDS training
Step 3: Complete LICSW Application and Register for the ASWB Exam
- Fill out the WA state licensing application and submit it to the Department of Health.
- Have an official transcript sent from your MSW college or university
- Application and licensing fee: $216
- Verify supervision and supervisor’s qualifications via verification form (included in application)
- Once submitted,
- Contact the ASWB to register for the exam
- Then contact Pearson VUE to sign up for your exam date
Continuing Education Requirements
Pre-licensure-Social workers in WA have the same CE requirements as Licensed Social workers.
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 36 hours
- Must include:
- 6 hours Ethics
- Every 4 years: 2 hours in Health Equity
- Every 6 years: 6 hours Suicide Prevention Training
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
- Completion of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience
- 1,000 hours must be direct client contact
- 500 hours must be gained in diagnosing and treating families and couples
- 200 hours of qualified supervision with an approved supervisor
- 100 must be one-on-one supervision
- 100 hours of supervision must be with a LMFT who has at least 5 years of clinical experience
- A graduate from a COAMFTE-accredited program will be considered to have 500 hours of direct clinical contact and 100 hours of meetings with the supervisor
Step 3: Pass 2 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!
- After passing the written exam, Tennessee requires an oral examination administered by a committee approved by the board.
Step 4: Apply for LMFT Licensure
- Submit supervised hours
- AMFTRB exam results
- Submit official transcripts
- Pay licensure application fee $306
Continuing Education Requirements
CE Requirements for Washington MFTS
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 36 hours
- Must include:
- 6 hours professional law and ethics
- 6 hours suicide assessment, treatment, and management (every 6 years)
- 26 hours online learning allowed
Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
