Missouri Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Guide - 2024

Missouri Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensure Process

LCSW license holders are the only class of social workers that are allowed to carry out clinical tasks unsupervised in social work. The following sections contain information about their licensure and the procedure for application.

Education Requirements

An applicant for an LCSW license must hold either a master’s or doctor of social work from the completion of a CSWE-accredited social work program, preferably from a Missouri-based institution. Here you can find all schools offering social work programs in Missouri.

These programs must equip participants with the fundamental knowledge and skills to practice social work independently and to function well under supervision in clinical settings. The committee of social workers in the state must receive an original copy of your transcript, sent directly from the relevant institution as proof that you completed such a program. Your transcript must be sent by regular mail and it must include the date of graduation and the type of degree awarded.

Examination Requirements

LCSW license applicants are required to achieve a passing score in the ASWB Clinical Level Examination, a computer-based test administered by Pearson Vue. The test lasts for 4 hours and includes 170 multiple-choice questions. Ideally, you are supposed to register and sit for the examination after completing your mandatory supervised practice period. However, upon the completion of 75% (18 months and 2,250 hours) of the supervision, you may sit early for the examination.

The requirements for this include an application for the examination, your fingerprints, and an email from your registered supervisor that you are on track to complete the required supervision. The examination fee is $260 which can be paid with MasterCard, Visa, or a credit card.

Once your application is accepted, you will receive a notification from the ASWB about scheduling your examination online. You can access practice tools and materials here. The results of the test will be made available to the committee by the ASWB.

Experience Requirements

Applicants for an LCSW license are required to participate in a mandatory supervised practice arrangement which must last for a minimum of 3,000 hours within 24-48 months. To qualify for this, you must be a holder of a valid LMSW license. You must also register the supervision appropriately with the committee using this form, otherwise it will not be considered valid.

Your supervisor must be a licensed LCSW at a minimum. The committee requires that a Record of Supervision Log Form is filled and that Annual Supervision Progress Reports must be taken and made available to the committee. After the supervision period, the committee must also be notified of the termination of the supervision.

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 Clinical Social Worker

Download the relevant form here and mail a completed copy to the State Committee for Social Workers. Include a cashier’s check, personal check, or money order for $70 made payable to the committee.

The committee requires that a completed copy of the Attestation of Supervised Social Work Experience form be sent directly from your supervisor. The form can be found on page 6 here.

You must provide the board with evidence of completion of 2 hours of suicide prevention training (form on page 5 here).

The results of a fingerprint-based background check run on you must be made available to the board. These results are valid for a year.

All applicants for an LCSW license must achieve a passing score in the ASWB Clinical Level Examination. The results of the test will be sent to the committee by the ASWB.

Verification of Licensure must be made available to the committee from every state where you have ever held a social work license in.

Once all requirements are met, your license will be processed and made available to you.