Missouri Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Guide - 2024

Missouri Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Licensure Process

The LBSW license allows a social worker to practice general, non-clinical social work under supervision first before they can go independent. This license is entry-level for most social workers in Missouri.

Education Requirements

Applicants for an LBSW license must hold a bachelor of social work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This program provides an introduction to social work theory, basic human behavior, and research. It is also expected that these programs include some level of exposure to real-life work experience.

Missouri’s licensing board requires that you provide proof of having completed such a program be sent to them in the form of your original transcript. Only transcripts sent directly from the relevant institution to the division are considered valid. The transcript must contain your date of graduation and the type of degree awarded.

Here you can find all schools offering social work degree programs in Missouri.

Examination Requirements

The qualifying examination for LBSW licensure in Missouri is the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) basic test which is a computer-based examination administered by Pearson Vue. This test consists of 170 multiple-choice questions, 20 of which are pretest questions that do not contribute to your overall test score.

You can only register for the test after Missouri’s licensing board has reviewed and accepted your application for an LBSW license. The registration fee is $230 which can be paid online using MasterCard, Visa, or Discover credit cards. The application can be completed online here. You can also download the form here and send a filled copy to the association’s address by mail or send it by fax (1-540-829-0142). The association address is as follows:

Once your registration is accepted, you will be sent a notification called Authorization to Test (ATT) which contains information about scheduling your test on the website and other things that applicants are expected to be made aware of before the test. Your test results will be sent to Missouri’s licensing board provided that you specify Missouri as the state you are seeking licensure in at the bottom of this page.

Applicants can retake the test 90 days after a previous failed attempt. You can practice online here and purchase the guide to social work exams here.

Experience Requirements

The division does not impose any stringent experience requirements on applicants for an LBSW license. This could be because they will be practicing under supervision at the early stages of practice and the fieldwork exposure during training prepares them well for the tasks they will be given at this level.

Fingerprint-based Criminal Background Checks

All applicants for a social work license in Missouri must take part in a fingerprint-based criminal background check. The 4-digit code for all applicants (within or outside Missouri) is 5416 The committee uses IdentoGo for the capturing process. Those who will be fingerprinted in Missouri must first register with the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS) after which they will be redirected to the IdentoGo site to select their fingerprint card type. Once your registration is completed, you will be issued a Transaction Control Number (TCN) for tracking your fingerprints throughout the background check process.

If you will be captured out-of-state, you must request an FD-258 fingerprint card via email (lcsw@pr.mo.gov). This card must be taken to your local Highway Patrol office for fingerprinting which may be ink rolled or LiveScan. After this, you must register with MACHS and continue the process as was specified for those captured within Missouri. More information about the background check process and sample forms can be found on pages 8 to 14 here.

Apply for Licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

Download the LBSW licensure application form here, and mail a completed copy to the State Committee for Social Workers with the other required documents as specified on page 2 here. The committee’s address is as follows:

Your application mail must include an application fee of $75 in form of a cashier’s check, personal check, or money order made payable to the committee. This fee is nonrefundable.

You will need to request that a copy of your original transcript be sent from your educational institution showing the date you graduated from a CSWE-accredited social work program and the type of degree you were awarded (at least a bachelor’s).

All applicants are also required to provide proof of having completed at least 2 hours of suicide prevention training. The relevant form is found on page 6 here.

You are required to provide a copy of a fingerprint-based criminal background check to the committee.

Finally, you must pass the ASWB basic examination before you can be issued an LBSW license to practice in Missouri.