New York State Licensing Information for Students
- Suzanne Wenger
- Tracy Walker
If you are planning to get licensed in a state other than New York you can get information online from the Association of Social Work Boards (A.S.W.B.). This information is also available online on the Social Work Licensure State guide. Additionally, the Syracuse University Library also provides License Exam Study Guides. Also refer to the New York State Clinical Course Chart below for required course work.
In This Section:
New York State L.M.S.W. Licensing Information
Step 1
Download the necessary New York State forms.
Step 2
Submit an Application (Form1) and fee ($294) to the New York State Education Department.
Step 3
Complete the Certification of Professional Education Form (Form 2) and mail it to Lisa Dievendorf, 330 Barclay Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244. It takes the University 4-6 weeks post-graduation to certify your degree. The registrar will notify NYS directly. The New York State Education Department will notify A.S.W.B. when you have satisfied the examination eligibility requirements.
Step 4
Register directly with A.S.W.B. You may register by phone, fax, mail or email. Exam fee is $230. You will receive an authorization letter which will contain your Authorization Number, the exam category for which you are registered, the jurisdiction your score will be sent to, and information on how to make an appointment to take the examination.
Step 5
Take the test. The test contains 170 items (150 scored; 20 questions that are being pre-tested as possible future exam questions.) It is a computer-based examination for which you will have a 4-hour test window. Notification of pass/fail & equated score is provided to you at the end of the exam. There is a 90-day waiting period to retake the exam.
New York State L.C.S.W. Licensing Information
If you are seeking the New York State L.C.S.W., please follow these steps:
Step 1
Download the necessary New York State Forms.
Step 2
Obtain a copy of your transcript from Syracuse University by visiting the Registers Office. The School of Social Work cannot provide you with a transcript.
Step 3
Use the clinical course chart to determine which courses on your M.S.W. transcript fulfill the clinical coursework requirements. Over the years, the number of credits for some courses has changed, so be careful to note the credits your course carried.
Step 4
Mail the following:
A completed Licensed Clinical Social Work Form Certification of Professional Education (Form 2)
Your contact information on a separate sheet of paper.
To:
Lisa Dievendorf
330 Barclay Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244
Step 5
Send your official transcript and all other completed required application forms to New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. The New York State Education Department will notify A.S.W.B. when you have satisfied the examination eligibility requirements.
Step 6
Register directly with A.S.W.B. to take the exam. You may register by phone, fax, mail or email. Exam fee is $260. You will receive an authorization letter which will contain your Authorization Number, the exam category for which you are registered, the jurisdiction your score will be sent to, and information on how to make an appointment to take the examination.
Licensure Frequently Asked Questions
New York State Clinical Course Chart for Required Coursework
Diagnosis & Assessment in Clinical Social Work Process
New York State Requires Course Content on the D.S.M. Diagnosis & Assessment Framework
2 credit hours (–to Spring 1993)
SWK 601: Fundamentals of Social Work Practice I: Individuals, Families & Groups
SWK 602: Fundamentals of Social Work Practice II: Individuals, Families & Groups
4 credit hours (Fall 1993-Spring 1997)
SWK 601: Fundamentals of Social Work Practice I
SWK 602: Fundamentals of Social Work Practice II
3 credit hours (Fall 1997-present)
SWK 601: Fundamentals of Social Work Practice I
3 credit hours
SWK 724: Psychopathology*
SWK 730: Family Systems Theory
SWK 705: SWK Practice in Health
1 credit hour
SWK 740: Family Systems Concepts
SWK 740: Psychodynamic Concepts*
SWK 750: Mental Health Issues in Late Life
SWK 760: Clinical Assessment Using the SWMIII-R*
*Has DSM content
Clinical Social Work Treatment
3 credit hours
SWK 730: Family Systems Theory
SWK 732: Advance Practice with Individuals, Families & Groups
SWK 712: Clinical Social Work with Groups
SWK 701: Social Work Practice in Family Mental Health I
SWK 705: Social Work Practice in Health I
SWK 707: Short Term Intervention in Social Work
SWK 708: Social Work Practice with Children & Families I
SWK 648: Seminar on Mental Health
SWK 725: Group Behavior
SWK 733: Social Work Practice in Mental Health
SWK 743: Advanced Integrated Social Work Practice
1 credit hour
SWK 740: Child Therapy
SWK 740: Crisis Intervention
SWK 740: Psychotherapy
SWK 760: Crisis Intervention in Health Care
Clinical Social Work Practice with General & Special Populations
3 credit hours
SWK 701: Social Work Practice in Family Mental Health I
SWK 702: Social Work Practice in Family Mental Health II
SWK 703: Direct Practice with the Elderly
SWK 705: Social Work Practice in Health I
SWK 706: Social Work Practice in Health II
SWK 707: Short Term Intervention in Social Work
SWK 708: Social Work Practice with Children & Families I
SWK 709: Social Work Practice with Children & Families II
SWK 781: Social Work Practice and Substance Abuse
SWK 700: Principles and Methods of Social Work Practice with Black Families
SWK 734: Feminist Social Work Practice
SWK 735: Principles and Methods of Social Work Practice with Black Families
SWK 736: Evidence-Based Approaches to Mental Health Treatment
SWK 738: Core Concepts in Trauma Treatment in Children & Adolescents
SWK 740: Treatment of Complex Trauma with Individuals
SWK 784: Genetic Disorders and Social Support
3 credit – 1988 or earlier
SWK 620: Human Sexuality
SWK 701: Family Therapy Practice
SWK 702: Family Therapy
SWK 702: Family Therapy Practice
SWK 703: Direct Service with the Elderly
1 credit courses
SWK 740: Alcoholism & Substance Abuse
SWK 740: Alternate Family Styles
SWK 740: Death & Dying
SWK 740: Human Sexuality
SWK 740: Topics in Family Mental Health: Alcoholism & Substance Abuse
SWK 740: Topics in Family Mental Health: Perspectives on Human Sexuality
SWK 750: Topics in Gerontology: Mental Health Issues in Late Life
SWK 750: Aging – Direct Service Skills
SWK 760: Infertility and Reproductive Technologies
A.S.W.B. Licensure Exam Pass Rates
The Association of Social Work Boards (A.S.W.B.) owns, maintains and administers the social work licensing examinations that are used to test a social worker’s competence to practice ethically and safely. Below are the results of licensure pass rates for first-time test-takers of both the A.S.W.B. Master and Clinical examinations.
Master Examination(First time Pass Rates Required for licensure as an L.M.S.W. in New York) * | ||||||
School | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Syracuse University | 78% | 83% | 85% | 79% | 78% | 97% |
All NY Schools |
| 66% | 75% | 71% | 74% | 78% |
National Rate |
| 73% | 76% | 76% | 81% | 81% |
Clinical Examination(Required for licensure as an L.C.S.W. in New York) ** | |||||
School | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Syracuse University | 84% | 83% | 81% | 81% | 86% |
All NY Schools | 77% | 76% | 76% | 76% | 80% |
National Rate | 76% | 75% | 74% | 73% | 78% |
*Entry for the Master exam in New York requires application for licensure and an M.S.W. degree (macro or clinical).
**Entry to Clinical exam in New York requires application for licensure, clinical M.S.W. or sufficient clinical coursework as part of the M.S.W., and completion of 36 months of supervised experience, acceptable to S.E.D.