Washington licenses master's-level social workers only: LSWAA and LSWAIC associates, the LASW and the LICSW. An out-of-state clinician who has held an equivalent independent clinical license for at least a year without discipline is deemed to meet the 3,000-hour experience rule, and still needs a CSWE MSW and the ASWB exam. A probationary license bridges reciprocity gaps.
Washington's Department of Health (DOH) licenses social workers under chapter 18.225 RCW, the same chapter that covers the state's other licensed behavioral health clinicians, with rules in chapter 246-809 WAC. There is no bachelor's-level social work license. The credentials are:
- Licensed social worker associate-advanced (LSWAA) and licensed social worker associate-independent clinical (LSWAIC): pre-licensure credentials for MSW graduates accruing supervised hours toward the full license;
- Licensed advanced social worker (LASW): the advanced non-clinical license; and
- Licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW): the independent clinical license.
Both associate credentials require a CSWE-accredited MSW (or a social work doctorate) and a declaration that you are working toward full licensure. Since October 1, 2025, an applicant may practice for up to 120 days on a pending associate application.
The LICSW for someone licensed elsewhere
The LICSW experience requirement (WAC 246-809-330) is 3,000 hours over at least two years, including 1,000 hours of direct client contact supervised by an LICSW and 100 hours of direct supervision, 70 of them with an LICSW and 60 of the 100 one-on-one.
The rule also has the clause out-of-state clinicians want: an applicant who has held an active independent clinical social worker license for the past year or more in another state, D.C. or a territory, without a disciplinary record or disqualifying criminal history, is deemed to have met the supervised experience requirement. The same one-year rule applies to the LASW.
You still need the CSWE-accredited MSW and a passing ASWB exam. Washington's rule names the ASWB advanced or clinical exams; for the LICSW, that is the Clinical exam. Have ASWB send the score.
The probationary license
For reciprocity applicants, Washington also offers a probationary license (RCW 18.225.140 and WAC 246-809-095). It applies to the LASW and LICSW, and to some other professions on the same chapter. Key points:
- Your out-of-state license must be from a state on DOH's published list of states eligible for reciprocity for your profession.
- It lasts one year and can be renewed once, for one more year.
- To renew it, you complete Washington's suicide assessment, treatment and management training.
- If DOH decides you need more supervised hours for full licensure, you complete them under an approved supervisor while on the probationary license.
It is a useful bridge when DOH wants something you do not yet have. It is not needed if you already meet the one-year rule and the exam requirement; apply for the full license.
What changes when the compact goes live?
Washington enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact on March 19, 2024 (HB 1939), the fourth state to do so. That makes it a member, but membership has not yet produced a single multistate license anywhere. The Commission is building its data system with a vendor and projects completion in spring 2027, and each state then has to activate its own process.
Once it is live, two things change for Washington:
- A clinician whose home state (primary domicile) is another live member state could practice with Washington clients under a multistate license instead of a Washington license.
- A Washington resident with a multistate license could practice in the other live member states.
What does not change: Washington residents still need a Washington license as the home-state base, and clients in non-member states still need those states' licenses. The fees are not set yet beyond the Commission's $20 per-transaction fee, adopted in September 2026. Our compact page tracks the status.
Keeping it
LICSWs and LASWs renew with 32 CE hours every two years, including at least 6 in professional ethics and law and 2 in professional roles and boundaries (separate from the ethics hours), plus 2 hours of health equity training every four years and 6 hours of suicide assessment, treatment and management at least once every six years. Associates complete 16 hours every year.
A Washington LICSW for a clinician licensed elsewhere is a License by Endorsement engagement. If you are waiting on the compact instead, the Social Work Compact Readiness Review checks whether your home license will qualify. See the Washington page for the basics.
Common questions
- Does Washington license bachelor's-level social workers?
- No. Washington's social work credentials are the two associate licenses, the LASW and the LICSW, all of which require a master's or doctorate in social work.
- Can I practice in Washington on my multistate license now?
- No. Washington enacted the compact in March 2024, but no multistate licenses have been issued anywhere. The Commission projects its data system for spring 2027.
- How long does Washington's probationary license last?
- One year, renewable once for another year. Renewal requires Washington's suicide assessment, treatment and management training.
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