North Dakota Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Guide - 2024

North Dakota Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensure Process

The LCSW licensure is the highest level of licensure for social workers in North Dakota. Anyone looking to practice clinical social work unsupervised or go into private practice needs an LCSW. These social workers can be found:

• Counseling emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues
• Creating treatment plans
• Providing clinical assessments
• Consulting with medical professionals

Education Requirements

A CSWE-accredited or Canadian school accredited by the CASWE has to issue you an MSW or doctoral degree in social work before applying for an LCSW license.

Find all schools offering social work degree programs in North Dakota.

Background Check

A criminal background check is required for licensure. That includes a Child Abuse Information Index Check and fingerprinting. You’ll be mailed the fingerprinting cards and will have to find a facility qualified to perform the task. Any fees involved are your sole responsibility.

You’ll also be sent two forms to fill out: the Criminal History Record Check Request and Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry. Complete all of the information and send it back to the Board to review along with the appropriate fee for the background check. Once the Board receives the completed forms and payment, they will immediately submit your information. It takes about six weeks for them to get the results, at which time you’ll be informed of your licensure status.

You’ll be given your license in a week if the record comes back clean. If there is an issue with the information in your record, the Board will consider everything and determine whether you will be granted licensure.

Experience Requirements

You’ll need 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience to qualify for an LCSW license. You’ll need to send the Board your supervision plan first, and if approved, you can move forward with accruing the necessary hours. A clinical social worker has to supervise your first 1,500 hours. The remaining hours can be supervised by a different type of mental health provider if a clinical social worker cannot supervise your work.

At least 150 hours must be in-person supervision, and only 50 of those hours can be under group supervision. The time frame to finish your required hours is four years. A new supervision plan must be submitted if you switch supervisors. When you complete the supervised experience, your supervisor and employer have to send in the Verification of MSW Supervision form and the Verification of MSW Employment form.

Examination Requirements

LCSWs must pass the ASWB Clinical exam. The registration fee is $260 for the 170 multiple-choice question test. After two weeks, the Board will have your test results, and you’ll receive a notification that you have passed.

Applying for Licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Once the supervised clinical hours are completed, it’s time to submit an LCSW application. Send the information online or by mail to:

You don’t have to send any reference forms for this level of licensure. Just include the $25 application fee and your official transcript. After you meet all requirements, you’ll be granted an LCSW license. AS a newly licensed LCSW, you will have to pay the $75 licensing fee. Now you’re ready to begin providing clinical services independently and supervise LCSW applicants.