North Dakota Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)

North Dakota Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Licensure Process

The entry-level credential for social workers is the LBSW. They are able to provide non-clinical services but are unable to practice as clinical social workers. One semester before your graduation date, you can apply for an LBSW license to get ahead of the process.

Education Requirements

A BSW from a CSWE-accredited college or university or a Canadian school accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) is needed to become an LBSW.

Courses include:

• Psychology
• Social welfare
• Policy
• Human behavior

Find all schools offering social work degree programs in North Dakota.

Background Check

A criminal background check is performed on all new applicants and a Child Abuse Information Index Check. You will be mailed two fingerprint cards, a Criminal History Record Check Request form, and a Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry. Visit a police or sheriff’s department or fingerprinting agency to have your fingerprints taken. You are responsible for any fingerprinting costs, and if they aren’t clear, they will be rejected, and you’ll have to get new prints taken.

The cost for a criminal background check is $41.25, and you must pay that fee also. Send both forms and the fingerprint cards back to the Board for evaluation. The process can take up to six weeks before the Board is notified of the results. If all information is received and comes back clean, you will be issued a license within a week.

If you have any questionable charges or convictions, the licensure process will be delayed. The Board will then review the information and determine whether you will be granted a license to practice social work in North Dakota.

Applying for Licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

After attaining your BSW, the licensure process begins with submitting your application to the Board. You can complete the process online or send the form to the Board with the appropriate application fee of $25. Mail applications to:

Additional documents that should be included with the application are three professional reference letters and a copy of your school transcript. The school will likely send the requested information to the board. If you have not yet graduated, a current faculty member must give you a reference form that proves you are on track to graduate by the projected date.

Each of your three references must come from each one of these individuals:

• Field placement supervisor
• Licensed social worker or license-eligible social worker
• Social work department faculty advisor

Once the Board receives your application, they will place it under review and notify you of your eligibility to take the next step, which is the exam.

After completing all necessary requirements, pay the $75 license fee, and your LBSW license will be sent to you via postal mail. You are then ready to provide general social work services. If you started the application process before graduating, the Board would need your final BSW transcript before issuing your license.

Examination Requirements

When the Board sends you a letter permitting you to take the test, you can register for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelor’s exam. There is a $230 fee to take the 170 multiple-choice exam, which assesses your general bachelor’ s-level social work knowledge. After the exam, you’ll receive a score report, but that’s for your personal records as the ASWB will send your results to the Board.https://www.ndbswe.com/