South Carolina Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Guide - 2024

South Carolina Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) Licensure Process

An LBSW provides generalist, non-clinical services within organizations. They are only allowed to work while supervised by a more experienced social worker. LBSW jobs include:

• Case manager
• Child welfare social worker
• Residential counselor

Education Requirements

LBSW candidates must have a baccalaureate in social work from a CSWE-accredited social work program. Here you can find all schools offering social work degree programs in South Carolina.

Background Check

All social worker candidates are subject to a criminal background check by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED only provides records from South Carolina based on a finger-print based background check. The rest of the background check consists of:

• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) fingerprint-based background check
• Central Registry check to determine abuse or neglect toward a child
• National Crime Information Center (NCIC) National Sex Offender Registry check
• State sex offender registry check
• State criminal register, state sex offender, and state child abuse and neglect registry check for any state applicant has lived in the past five years

For more information regarding the background check, visit the South Carolina Child Care website.

Examination Requirements

You must pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelor’s exam. The exam’s fee is $230, and it has 170 multiple-choice questions. Once your application is submitted, wait for the Board to notify you that you’re able to sit down and take the test. They will be sent your scores about two weeks after completing the test.

Applying for Licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

Print out your Application For Licensure In Social Work to mail to the Board. Or you can register on the Labor Licensing (LLR) website and apply for licensure online.  Before applying online, download, print, and read the Requirements And Instructions For Social Work Licensure instructions. The following items must be included with your application.

• Check or money order for a non-refundable application fee of $45
• Copy of valid state-issued ID, passport, or military ID
• Copy of social security card
• Notarized Verification of Lawful Presence
• Legal documentation for name change, if applicable

Your official transcripts must be sent from your school or program directly to the Board. The ASWB exam scores also are to be mailed to the Board at:

If you haven’t taken the ASWB Bachelor’s exam, the Board will approve your request to sit down for the test once they receive all of the other required documentation. You can register for the exam if you are in the final semester of your BSW program. The Dean of the social work program must send in a letter verifying that information. Once you graduate, the Board will need a copy of your official transcript before issuing the license.

It takes 6-8 weeks for the application to be processed, after which time you are granted your LBSW licensure.