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Tennessee Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Guide - 2024

AKA: Tennessee LCSW License

Tennessee Social Worker License - 2024 Guide
Social Worker License

by Social Worker License Staff

Updated: April 24th, 2023

Tennessee Licensing Body

Tennessee Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensure Process

LCSWs can work independently without agencies or organizations and provide the following services:

  • Diagnose and treat behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders
  • Treat, assess, and diagnose addiction
  • Treat adults with severe mental health illnesses
  • Treat emotionally disturbed children
  • Counseling and advanced case management

Education Requirements

An MSW or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school is necessary for LCSW licensure. Here you can find all schools offering social work degree programs in Tennessee.

Experience Requirements

You’ll need 3,000 hours of supervised direct clinical experience with clients to receive a LCSW license. The experience must be completed in 2-6 years and overseen by an LCSW. You must be face-to-face with your supervisor for 100 of those hours. The supervisor also has to be licensed for three years and have completed supervision training.

Background Check

A TBI and FBI criminal background check is conducted on all social work applicants. The check is fingerprint-based and compared to several national registries. Visit the IdentoGo site to schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints digitally scanned. You can also call the vendor at (855) 226-2937 to register for the service. The processing fee is $35.15. For further instructions, visit the Board’s website and review the criminal background check instructions.

Examination Requirements

When the Board accepts your application, they will inform you of your eligibility to take the ASWB Clinical exam. Once you register on the website, you have access to a practice test to help you prepare for the exam.

Applying for Licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

The first step is to earn the supervised experience hours, which requires the Board to approve your LCSW Supervision Plan. After your plan is accepted, you can begin the supervision experience and accumulate the 3,000 hours needed to apply for licensure. Once you have them under your belt, you can submit an application packet to the Board. Be sure to include:

You’ll be able to sit for the ASWB Clinical exam when the Board approves your application. Schedule a test date, and after your pass, your scores are sent to the Board. Once the Board has all of your information, they will grant you an LCSW license.