Arkansas licenses independent clinical social workers as the LCSW (Licensed Certified Social Worker), through the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board. Arkansas has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but no multistate licenses are being issued yet. Below: what Arkansas asks of a social worker already licensed in another state, and where those applications slow down.
Arkansas Social Work License Requirements
Arkansas licenses social workers at 4 levels: the LSW (Licensed Social Worker), the LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker), the LCSW (Licensed Certified Social Worker) and the Provisional LSW / LMSW (Provisional Licensed Social Worker or Provisional Licensed Master Social Worker).
Independent clinical practice requires the LCSW (Licensed Certified Social Worker).
4,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience for the clinical license, including 100 hours of direct supervision.
Licensed elsewhere: Arkansas licenses without a new exam if you hold a current license from a state with substantially equivalent standards and passed that state's approved exam. LCSW applicants must document 24 months and 4,000 supervised hours, unless they have practiced at the independent clinical level for the last three years.
How Much Does an Arkansas Social Work License Cost?
We have not published an Arkansas figure yet
We have not verified Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board's current schedule, and board fees change between legislative sessions
We handle the Arkansas application end-to-end.
Eligibility screening, document prep, board follow-ups, and tracking — so you don't lose a board meeting cycle to a missing form.
View full pricingWhere Arkansas Applications Get Delayed
At 4,000 hours, Arkansas asks for more supervised clinical experience than most states. Check whether your hours elsewhere will be credited before you plan a start date.
Arkansas requires 4,000 supervised hours over 24 months for the LCSW, more than most states, with no more than 2 supervision hours counted in any one week.
Only an LCSW may engage in private independent practice or social work consultation.
Supervisor attestations and verifications from other boards take the longest. Request them the week you decide to apply, not the week you file.
Renewing Your Arkansas Social Work License
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
CE Requirement
30 CE hours per renewal cycle
The Social Work Compact and Arkansas
Arkansas has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact (April 16, 2025). When the Compact opens, a social worker whose home state is Arkansas will be able to apply for one multistate license that covers every member state, and members' multistate licensees will be able to practice here. That has not happened yet: as of October 2026 the Commission was still building its data system and had issued no multistate licenses. Until it does, practicing here takes an Arkansas license.
Keeping it current
Arkansas renews social work licenses every 2 years, with 30 hours of continuing education per cycle. At least 3 hours in professional ethics; no more than 15 hours of independent study. Holding licenses in several states means several calendars and several sets of CE rules, which is most of what our annual compliance service tracks.
Arkansas Social Work License FAQ
What social work licenses does Arkansas issue?
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Can I use the Social Work Compact for Arkansas?
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I'm licensed in another state. How do I get licensed in Arkansas?
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How many supervised hours does Arkansas require for the clinical license?
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Where these facts come from
Checked against primary sources. Boards change rules between sessions, so we confirm the current process again before anything is filed.
- board name and site — checked 2026-10-08
- A.C.A. 17-103: license levels, provisional licenses, 4,000 hours, endorsement, two-year renewal — checked 2026-10-08
- rules effective 2022-01-01: endorsement, 100 supervision hours, 30 CE hours with 3 in ethics — checked 2026-10-08
- ASWB exam, LCSW examination, private practice limited to LCSW, provisional license (rev. 05/2025) — checked 2026-10-08
- HB 1712 became Act 639, act date 4/16/2025 — checked 2026-10-08
- compact status: enacted — checked 2026-10-08
- compact status: enacted — checked 2026-10-08
What Working with Us Costs
Transparent, a la carte service fees. Board, exam and fingerprinting fees are paid directly to those organizations. Our concierge fee is separate and is the only thing you pay us.
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