U.S. Virgin Islands licenses independent clinical social workers as the CISW (Certified Independent Social Worker), through the Virgin Islands Board of Social Workers' Licensure, Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. U.S. Virgin Islands is not a Social Work Licensure Compact member. Below: what U.S. Virgin Islands asks of a social worker already licensed in another state, and where those applications slow down.
U.S. Virgin Islands Social Work License Requirements
U.S. Virgin Islands licenses social workers at 4 levels: the SWA (Social Work Associate), the LSW (Licensed Social Worker), the CSW (Certified Social Worker) and the CISW (Certified Independent Social Worker).
SWA: ASWB Bachelors. DLCA's web page allows a non-social-work bachelor's or an associate degree in human services; the 2022 application packet says a bachelor's degree and lists the Bachelors exam.
LSW: ASWB Bachelors. BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. DLCA's web page calls this level "Social Worker" and also allows another bachelor's plus two years of social work experience.
CSW: ASWB Masters. MSW, DSW or PhD in social work from a CSWE-accredited school.
CISW: ASWB Clinical. The independent clinical level; applicants must hold a CSW (or equivalent elsewhere) first.
Independent clinical practice requires the CISW (Certified Independent Social Worker).
3,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience for the clinical license, including 100 hours of direct supervision.
Licensed elsewhere: Reciprocity for a current license substantially equivalent in education and experience to the matching Virgin Islands level, with a passing ASWB score at the level the Virgin Islands requires and verification from every jurisdiction ever licensed (DLCA application packet). No minimum years licensed.
How Much Does a U.S. Virgin Islands Social Work License Cost?
We have not published a U.S. Virgin Islands figure yet
We have not verified Virgin Islands Board of Social Workers' Licensure, Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs's current schedule, and board fees change between legislative sessions
Board: Virgin Islands Board of Social Workers' Licensure, Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
We handle the U.S. Virgin Islands 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 U.S. Virgin Islands Applications Get Delayed
CISW experience: 3,000 hours of clinical social work over at least two years, counted after the CSW is issued for MSWs conferred after August 31, 2011, with 100 hours of individual face-to-face supervision (1 hour per 35 worked, at most 1 hour per week). Work done in the Virgin Islands must be supervised by someone licensed there.
A 6-month temporary license at any level lets you work before passing the exam; it can be renewed once.
The ASWB exam is given at the Pearson center on St. Thomas.
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 U.S. Virgin Islands Social Work License
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
CE Requirement
24 CE hours per renewal cycle
The Social Work Compact and U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands is not a Social Work Licensure Compact member, so a multistate license will not cover practice here even once the Compact opens. Seeing clients located in U.S. Virgin Islands takes a U.S. Virgin Islands license, by endorsement where the state offers it or a full application where it does not.
Keeping it current
U.S. Virgin Islands renews social work licenses every 2 years, with 24 hours of continuing education per cycle. CISW: 24 clock hours every two years (12 per year). LSW and CSW: 20 hours every two years. Every renewal needs at least 3 hours each in ethics, domestic violence and cultural sensitivity. Holding licenses in several states means several calendars and several sets of CE rules, which is most of what our annual compliance service tracks.
U.S. Virgin Islands Social Work License FAQ
What social work licenses does U.S. Virgin Islands issue?
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Can I use the Social Work Compact for U.S. Virgin Islands?
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I'm licensed in another state. How do I get licensed in U.S. Virgin Islands?
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How many supervised hours does U.S. Virgin Islands 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 URL (200, no redirect); license levels, ASWB exams, temporary license, two-year licensure period, CE hours and topics — checked 2026-10-08
- application packet (rev. 08/2022): level titles, exam per level, CISW 3,000 hours and 100 supervision hours, reciprocity requirements — checked 2026-10-08
- Social Work Licensure Compact map: Virgin Islands, No Active Legislation — 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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