Ohio licenses independent clinical social workers as the LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker), through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. Ohio has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but no multistate licenses are being issued yet. Below: what Ohio asks of a social worker already licensed in another state, and where those applications slow down.
Ohio Social Work License Requirements
Ohio licenses social workers at 2 levels: the LSW (Licensed Social Worker) and the LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker).
LSW: ASWB Bachelors. Issued to BSW, MSW and doctoral graduates. Bachelor's graduates take the ASWB Bachelors exam; master's graduates take the ASWB Masters exam.
LISW: ASWB Clinical. Since July 10, 2026 the LISW requires the ASWB Clinical exam; the board discontinued the Advanced Generalist route to align with the Social Work Compact (board newsletter, Summer 2025). LISWs licensed earlier keep their license. An LISW can add a supervision designation (LISW-S), required to supervise toward the LISW.
Independent clinical practice requires the LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker).
3,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience for the clinical license, including 150 hours of direct supervision.
Licensed elsewhere: Ohio Admin. Code 4757-19-07 licenses out-of-state social workers by endorsement at the level they hold, on proof of a passing national exam, good standing and a criminal background check; the board may weigh years of practice but sets no minimum.
How Much Does an Ohio Social Work License Cost?
We have not published an Ohio figure yet
We have not verified Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board's current schedule, and board fees change between legislative sessions
Board: Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
We handle the Ohio 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 Ohio Applications Get Delayed
The LISW requires two full years and 3,000 hours of post-LSW experience (no more than 1,500 hours credited in any 12 months) with at least 150 hours of training supervision, one hour per 20 worked, from an LISW-S (Ohio Admin. Code 4757-19-02, 4757-23-01).
An LSW who practices psychotherapy or works in a private or group practice needs ongoing clinical supervision and must disclose the supervisor's name to clients (Ohio Admin. Code 4757-23-01).
The same board registers social work assistants (certificate of registration) and MSW students as social worker trainees; neither is a license (Ohio Admin. Code 4757-19-03, 4757-19-05).
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 Ohio Social Work License
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
CE Requirement
30 CE hours per renewal cycle
The Social Work Compact and Ohio
Ohio has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact (May 10, 2024). When the Compact opens, a social worker whose home state is Ohio 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 Ohio license.
Keeping it current
Ohio renews social work licenses every 2 years, with 30 hours of continuing education per cycle. 3 of the 30 hours must be ethics; LISW-S holders need 3 hours in supervision each cycle (Ohio Admin. Code 4757-9-03). Licenses expire two years from issue or renewal (4757-7-01). Holding licenses in several states means several calendars and several sets of CE rules, which is most of what our annual compliance service tracks.
Ohio Social Work License FAQ
What social work licenses does Ohio issue?
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Can I use the Social Work Compact for Ohio?
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I'm licensed in another state. How do I get licensed in Ohio?
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How many supervised hours does Ohio 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.
- LISW: MSW, two years and 3,000 hours supervised (max 1,500 per 12 months), exam — checked 2026-10-08
- LSW: bachelor's, master's or doctoral social work degree plus exam — checked 2026-10-08
- Supervision: 1 hour per 20 worked, minimum 150 hours, LISW with supervision designation; clinical supervision and client disclosure for LSWs — checked 2026-10-08
- Licensure of out-of-state social workers by endorsement — checked 2026-10-08
- 30 CE hours per renewal, 3 ethics, 3 supervision for LISW-S — checked 2026-10-08
- Two-year license term — checked 2026-10-08
- Social worker trainee registration for MSW students — checked 2026-10-08
- Archived board page: LISW exam is Clinical or Advanced Generalist; 150 hours supervision by LISW-S; laws and rules video is an attestation, not an exam. cswmft.ohio.gov refused connections from this server, so board.url is null. — 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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