South Carolina Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice (LISW-CP)

South Carolina Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) Licensure Process

This licensure level allows you to practice clinical social work independently. However, any non-clinical work performed has to be supervised. Clinical social workers can be found in the following settings:

• Clinics
• Hospice
• Public and private schools
• Rehabilitation facilities
• Residential treatment
• Eldercare facilities

Education Requirements

To apply for LISW-CP licensure, you’ll need a master’s or doctorate degree in social work from a program accredited by the CSWE. Here you can find all schools offering social work degree programs in South Carolina.

Experience Requirements

First, an LMSW license is required before applying for a LISW-CP. Applicants need 45 hours in both psychopathology and psycho-diagnostics. You’re also required to acquire 15 academic hours or 20 continuing education (CE) hours in professional ethics. In total, you must complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work experience within a 2-4 year period. The experience is to take place in a social, medical, or governmental agency and includes 100 hours of face-to-face meetings with your approved clinical supervisor.

Your supervisor needs at least 4,500 hours of experience after gaining their license to qualify for supervisory duties. They also must have 45 hours of training in supervision. There is a LISW-CP Supervision Contract to be filled out by both the supervisor and supervisee. The Board has to approve the contract before you can begin accumulating hours.

Fifty percent of your supervised time is to be completed in a group setting with a maximum of six supervisees. The other half is one-on-one time with the supervisor.

Background Check

A criminal background check is required for anyone applying for an LISW-CP. There is a fingerprint-based check completed by SLED and the FBI. The other registries that are checked are:

• Central Registry for child abuse or neglect
• NCIC National Sex Offender Registry
• State Sex offender registry
• State criminal register, state sex offender, and state child abuse and neglect registry check for any state applicant has lived in the past five years

The Child Care website contains detailed information regarding background check requirements.

Examination Requirements

Passing the ASWB Clinical exam is a requirement for licensure. The test assesses your clinical social work knowledge and consists of 170 multiple-choice questions. The cost of registration is $260.

Applying for Licensure as a Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice

Submit an application and fill in the circle next to Clinical Practice. Send in the following information with your application:

• $45 check or money order
• Copy of valid state ID, passport, or military ID
• Copy of social security card
• Legal documents for name change, if applicable
• Supervision contract
• Official transcripts
• ASWB exam scores

You can apply online, fax the form to (803) 896-4719, or mail the information to:

A Report of Supervised Experience is sent to the Board by your supervisor to confirm you completed the required 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. A Required Coursework form must also be submitted with a copy of your transcripts proving you’ve taken the necessary psychopathology, psycho-diagnostics, and 90 hours of advanced practice with communities and organizations.

You’ll get permission to take the ASWB Clinical exam once the Board approves your Supervisor Contract. After taking the test, your scores are sent directly to the Board by the ASWB. Once you’ve completed all the steps for licensure, you’ll be given an LISW-CP license.