Arkansas Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)
AKA: Arkansas LCSW License
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A master’s degree is also required for this license, along with two years, or 4000 hours of postmaster’s LCSW supervised experience. Passing the Board-approved exam and criminal background check are also necessary.
If your goal is to open your own practice or work independently in Arkansas, a Licensed Certified Social Worker credential is needed. An LCSW license permits social workers to provide clinical and non-clinical services without the supervision of Board-certified members. In fact, they are required to supervise LSWs and LMSWs.
Arkansas LCSW Licensure Process
Education Requirements
LCSWs in Arkansas hold a master’s in social work from a CSWE-accredited school or university. You must also complete a specific amount of supervised experience before receiving their license; after you have your master’s degree, complete the following steps to become a licensed LCSW.
You can also find all Arkansas social work schools here.
Experience Requirements
All LCSW applicants must obtain 4,000 hours of post-graduate work supervised by a Board-approved member. Applicants have no fewer than two years to finish their required 4,000 hours and need the supervision of an LCSW while earning the time. One hour of face-to-face time is the average needed per week during this period. A Supervision Plan form needs to be submitted to the Board within sixty days of starting your supervised work. Keep in mind that if you need to change supervisors for any reason, at any point, a new supervision plan form will have to be sent to the Board.
Application Process
Once you have the necessary required experience under your belt, it’s time to submit an application for the LCSW. There are two ways to send in the application. One is online; the other is to print and mail a hard copy to the Board. The LCSW application fee is $100, with an additional $5.50 tacked on if you use the website to submit the application. Part of the application is the Supervision Evaluation form. Your supervisor(s) will need to submit the form, and your school has to mail a copy of the MSW transcript to the Board.
Background Check
After a thorough review, the Board will mail instructions for you to complete the required background check. You will need to find an approved agency to fingerprint you so you can return the fingerprint card to the Board. Once they receive the card, the background check will begin.
Provisional licenses are not issued for LCSWs. But, if you do not have an LMSW when you submit the application for the LCSW, the Board will give you a provisional LMSW license after passing the background check. You are then able to practice as an LMSW under LCSWs supervision for one year as you prepare for the LCSW licensing exam.
Examination Requirements
When your application is finally approved, you can register for the ASWB Clinical exam. The exam fee is $260 and consists of 170 questions. These questions test the applicant’s knowledge of clinical social work theory, techniques, and practices. You won’t have to request that the exam scores be sent to the Board as the ASWB automatically transmits the information.
You’ll receive your LCSW license once the steps above are completed, and you can begin practicing social work independently in Arkansas. LCSWs also is responsible for supervising LSWs, LMSWs, and those earning supervised experience to obtain an LCSW license.