Indiana Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
AKA: Indiana LSW License
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In an Indiana county hospital discharge-planning unit, HR may not confirm your start date until your LSW license number is on file. Exam timing and paperwork can also matter if you’re trying to hold onto a caseload slot.
The Indiana LSW often functions as a hiring and credentialing checkpoint. It shows you’ve met the state’s baseline education and testing requirements for practice under this credential, which can shape assigned duties, job-posting language, and whether you can be listed for certain services—while keeping scope tied to what Indiana law and rules allow.
Licensing goes through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board, and related profession details are available in the PLA’s Behavioral Health and Human Services rules and resources hub. The sections that follow cover the typical path: education expectations (including CSWE accreditation), the exam requirement, supervision topics where applicable, applying through the state portal, and renewal under Indiana’s continuing education rules.
In an Indiana school-based mental health program, the LSW education requirement acts as a public-protection checkpoint: it verifies graduate-level social work preparation before practice under the LSW credential.
Indiana ties LSW eligibility to an earned master’s degree in social work. State law requires an applicant to furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individual “has a master’s degree in social work” from an eligible postsecondary educational institution approved by the board, or from a foreign school with a program of study approved by CSWE’s Foreign Equivalency Determination Service. IC 25-23.6-5-1 (reference copy)
For most applicants, “approved” is proven through clean transcript documentation: degree awarded, program title clearly indicating social work, and a posted conferral date. When the transcript language is unclear (for example, a specialization listed without “social work,” or a degree still “in progress”), that’s when verification delays tend to happen.
CSWE accreditation is the standard reference point for U.S. social work program quality, and Indiana’s statute language points foreign-educated applicants to CSWE’s Foreign Equivalency Determination pathway. CSWE’s accreditation hub is here: CSWE Accreditation.
In an Indiana community mental health setting, the exam requirement is the state’s standardized way to confirm baseline competence before granting LSW authorization.
Indiana law requires applicants to “Pass an examination provided by the board.” IC 25-23.6-5-1 (reference copy)
Indiana’s published LSW application instructions specify the exam the board has adopted for this license: the ASWB Masters Level examination. LSW-by-Exam Application Instructions (PDF)
For the Indiana LSW, supervision is best treated as a scope-and-safety framework rather than a pre-licensure hour-count checklist—because Indiana notes that supervision is not required to obtain the bachelor or master license, while post-licensure supervision of practice is required for those license levels. PLA BHHS Licensing Information
Use Indiana’s Behavioral Health and Human Services licensing information hub as the starting point for supervisor qualification and supervision questions tied to social work licensure. PLA BHHS Licensing Information
If you’re stepping into a hospital-based case management role in Indiana, the online LSW application is where the state confirms your education and exam completion to protect the public.
If something on the portal screens is unclear, use the Behavioral Health & Human Services rules hub for cross-references and board context: https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/behavioral-health-and-human-services/.
Renewal is handled through Indiana’s online licensing system. Keep renewal and continuing education (CE) records organized so the license stays active and verification is painless during audits or employer credentialing checks.
Indiana’s CE rules include category limits that affect how CE can be counted toward renewal. The CE rules state that the licensee “(1) shall obtain a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the required amount of CEUs for renewal from Category I; and (2) may obtain a maximum of fifty percent (50%) of the required amount of CEUs for renewal from Category II.” Rule 6. Continuing Education (PDF)
Telehealth, school mobility, and multi-state employers can create cross-border licensing questions for Indiana LSWs, especially when clients travel.
Remote sessions may feel “local” when the social worker is in Indiana, but licensing authority is commonly based on the client’s physical location at the time of service. If the client is in another state (even briefly), that state may view the session as practice occurring there and may require separate authorization.
When a multi-state situation comes up, confirm what Indiana recognizes for an LSW and how licensure is handled through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board: https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/behavioral-health-and-human-services/behavioral-health-and-human-services-licensing-information/.
Health systems, schools, and contractors that operate across multiple states often use standardized onboarding that includes license verification and renewal tracking. Keeping your license record accurate helps avoid delays when credentialing teams pull data directly from Indiana’s licensing system.
If another jurisdiction or employer asks for evidence of Indiana licensure, it’s often fastest to use Indiana’s online licensing system for updates and renewals so the public record stays current: https://mylicense.in.gov/eGov/.
Cross-border moves or job changes can also trigger exam-related questions. Indiana’s rule language includes: “An individual who applies for a license as a social worker must meet the following requirements: (4) Pass an examination provided by the board.” ASWB exam registration details are available here: https://www.aswb.org/exam/.
If practice will span borders (tele-services, travel, or relocation), match service delivery to each state’s authorization expectations before sessions occur rather than relying on employer policies or informal reciprocity assumptions.
Strong recordkeeping, CE tracking, and portal updates reduce renewal delays and make audits, credentialing, and job transitions easier to manage.
Licensure paperwork comes back around at predictable times—renewals, audits, employer credentialing, and cross-state moves—so treating your records like a regulated file set helps avoid last-minute gaps.
Indiana’s continuing education rules use category limits, not just total hours. The CE rule language states that the licensee “shall obtain a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the required amount of CEUs for renewal from Category I” and “may obtain a maximum of fifty percent (50%) of the required amount of CEUs for renewal from Category II.” Details are in Indiana’s CE rules: https://www.in.gov/pla/files/2008_CE_Rules.pdf.
Indiana’s licensing pathway includes graduate education and an exam requirement; keeping documentation ready can prevent delays if you’re asked for it again after an address change or portal update.
Many third parties rely on what appears in Indiana’s licensing system rather than emailed screenshots. Using the state portal for updates helps keep verification clean and consistent across renewals and credential checks: https://mylicense.in.gov/eGov/.
If job duties shift (new program lines, clinical responsibilities, tele-services), match day-to-day tasks to what Indiana authorizes for an LSW instead of relying on internal titles. When a position description includes activities that seem to require different authorization, address it before services begin by reviewing requirements through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board materials.
These FAQs cover Indiana LSW licensing basics, including degree documentation, exam expectations, supervision questions, portal steps, and renewal CE category rules.
Keep a clean, retrievable record trail (official transcript, degree conferral date, and program details) because the licensing file depends on verifiable education documentation. If the degree is from outside the U.S., retain the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service outcome referenced by CSWE accreditation resources: https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/.
The specific ASWB exam level is not identified here, so save every exam-related confirmation (registration, authorization, and result notices) as part of a long-term verification file. ASWB exam information and registration live here: https://www.aswb.org/exam/.
Before committing to a job plan that assumes certain hours or supervisor credentials, confirm what Indiana expects through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) — Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board licensing information page. Keep supervision agreements, logs, and supervisor credentials versioned and backed up once requirements are confirmed: https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/behavioral-health-and-human-services/behavioral-health-and-human-services-licensing-information/?AreaStudy=BIZ&Program=GCA&abtestactive=true%2Ctrue.
Use one consistent account identity (same name format and email), then archive submission confirmations and uploaded documents in a single folder so later audits or employer verifications match what was filed. Portal access is here: https://mylicense.in.gov/eGov/.
A practical set includes: official transcripts/degree proof, exam communications, portal receipts, and any correspondence requesting clarification. Store PDFs with clear filenames (date + document type) so re-submission does not rely on memory or old email threads.
Plan CE with a running log that tags each course as Category I or II so the category split can be proven without rework at renewal time. The CE rule language appears in Indiana’s CE rules document: https://www.in.gov/pla/files/2008_CE_Rules.pdf.
When job duties include clinical treatment planning, diagnosis language, or independent service delivery expectations, match tasks to what Indiana clearly authorizes for the credential rather than relying on internal titles. Use the Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board materials to align role descriptions with legal authorization.
Name mismatches are a common source of delays because transcripts, exam records, and portal profiles must align; keep supporting documents (e.g., name-change paperwork) ready to upload if requested. After any update, re-check that the public-facing license record reflects the change.
Maintain a single “equivalency packet” (evaluation outcome plus translated transcripts if applicable) so it can be reused for renewals, employer credentialing, or future state applications without re-ordering documents. Pair that packet with a stable digital archive of all submissions made through the state portal.
