Nevada Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Guide - 2024

Nevada Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensure Process

If you want to work in a clinical setting, you must first meet the requirements to become a licensed clinical social worker. Once approved, you can conduct therapy sessions, diagnose patients, aid in their treatment, and more.

Education Requirements

You’ll need a master’s degree in social work from a program that the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has accredited. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, currently offers the state’s only accredited program for those looking to specialize in clinical or direct practice. You will need to attend school in person to get the degree, and it’s open to part-time and full-time students.

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

Experience Requirements

You also need to meet the experience requirements to become an LCSW. The board requires a minimum of 3,000 hours of post-graduate experience. At least 2,000 of those hours should be spent diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.

Examination Requirements

All applicants must pass the exam administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)  before receiving licensure. First, you will submit your licensure application to get approval from the board to take the exam. After getting approval, kyudo can go to the ASWB’s website to register for the exam online. You’ll also need to pay the $260 exam fee when registering.

Background Check Requirements

You’re also required to submit your fingerprints and pass the background check to get your license. First, fill out the Fingerprint Request Form to give to the technician during your fingerprinting appointment. Additionally, submit the Fingerprint Waiver Form with your application.

Applying for Licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

You can submit your application and the supporting documents via the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers’ online portal. Begin by creating an account and then fill out your application. You’ll need to pay the $50 application fee and $125 initial license fee when applying.

Bookmark the online portal so you can go back to it after submitting your application. Then you can log into the portal to track the status of your application.

With so many options to become a social worker in Nevada, it’s clearly a great state for those pursuing this career path. First, decide which type of social worker you want to be. You can start work soon if you become a licensed social worker, although your earnings and career opportunities will increase with a more advanced license. Whichever one you choose, you can expect a rewarding, fulfilling career after receiving your license.