Pennsylvania issues the LBSW, LSW and LCSW. Under 49 Pa. Code § 47.16, a clinical social worker licensed in good standing elsewhere can get the LCSW without a new exam by showing a CSWE master's, an accepted clinical exam score and 3,000 supervised clinical hours that met their own state's rules. The compact bill is still pending.
Pennsylvania's State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors issues three social work licenses under 49 Pa. Code Chapter 47:
- LBSW, Licensed Bachelor Social Worker: a CSWE-accredited BSW and the ASWB Bachelors exam;
- LSW, Licensed Social Worker: a master's in social work or social welfare (or a social work doctorate) and the ASWB Masters exam; and
- LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker: an LSW, a CSWE-accredited master's, the ASWB Clinical exam and 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience after the degree.
Endorsement for clinical social workers
Section 47.16 lets the Board issue an LCSW by endorsement, without a new exam, if you:
- meet the general qualifications in § 47.12;
- hold a CSWE-accredited master's in social work or social welfare, or a social work doctorate;
- passed a clinical social work exam the Board accepts, with the score reported through the exam reporting service or by the jurisdiction that gave it;
- hold a clinical social work license in good standing in another state, with a letter from that state's board certifying it and reporting any discipline; and
- show at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience that met the rules of the state where you are currently licensed.
Note the last point. Pennsylvania measures your hours against your state's supervision rules, not its own. If your state required 3,000 hours, your original licensing file is the evidence. If it required fewer, you will need to document additional supervised clinical hours to reach 3,000.
Section 47.14 is an older reciprocity rule that applies to all levels and depends on the other state granting reciprocity to Pennsylvania licensees. For clinicians, § 47.16 is the cleaner route; for an LSW or LBSW, § 47.14 or a regular application is the path.
Is Pennsylvania joining the compact?
The Compact Commission's map lists Pennsylvania as "pending," with HB 554. The bill passed the House in 2025 and was in the Senate as of our last check; nothing has been signed. Pennsylvania's legislative site does not load from our servers, so confirm the current status there. Even if it passes, no state is issuing multistate licenses yet, and the Commission projects its data system for spring 2027. A Pennsylvania license remains the way to treat clients located in Pennsylvania.
After licensure
Social work licenses renew every two years with 30 hours of CE from approved providers, including at least 3 hours on ethics and 2 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training. Extra hours do not carry over. The child abuse training rules are in § 47.58; check what it asks of new licensees before you file, so a missing course does not hold up the license.
A Pennsylvania LCSW by endorsement is a License by Endorsement engagement. See the Pennsylvania page, or our general guide to moving an LCSW to another state.
Common questions
- Do I need to retake the ASWB Clinical exam for a Pennsylvania LCSW?
- No, under the endorsement rule in § 47.16, if you passed a clinical exam the Board accepts and your score is reported by the exam service or the state that gave it.
- Is Pennsylvania in the Social Work Licensure Compact?
- Not yet. The Commission lists Pennsylvania as pending with HB 554, which passed the House in 2025. No state is issuing multistate licenses yet.
- How much CE does a Pennsylvania LCSW need?
- Thirty hours every two years from approved providers, including 3 hours on ethics and 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting. Extra hours do not carry over.
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