How to Become a Social Worker in North Dakota

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What Social Work Licenses Are Available in North Dakota?

There are three types of social worker’s licenses available in North Dakota:

Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

Those who are interested in obtaining a social worker’s license in the state of North Dakota must first complete required coursework, field experience in some cases, and then pass the licensing examination. Below is a general outline of the steps needed to become a social worker in North Dakota. More in-depth information is available via the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners.

What Kind of Degree Ss Required to Become a Social Worker in North Dakota?

The minimum education requirement in North Dakota to become a social worker is a Bachelor’s Degree, and it must be obtained from a school or program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. For advanced social workers licenses (LCSW or LICSW), a Master's degree in Social Work is required. The good news is that the CSWE maintains an updated list of all of the accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the country and information about the specialties offered. Students should check it out as they create a list of potential schools.

North Dakota Social Work Licenses	Education Requirements	Education Length	Available Programs
LSW (License Bachelor's Social Work)	Bachelor's	4 Years	Online or Campus
LCSW (Licensed Certified Social Worker)	Master's	6 Years	Online or Campus
LICSW (Licensed Independant Social Worker)	Master's +3,000 Clinical Hours	7-8 Years	Online or Campus

Read more about social work degrees in North Dakota.

How Do I Get My LSW in North Dakota?

Those who are interested in pursuing a LSW in North Dakota must graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in social work from an accredited school or program. The next step is to take the state-level examination to become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW).

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from a school accredited by the CSWE. There are no field requirements in order to obtain the LSW.

LSW candidates must take the Master’s Level Examination available from the Association of Social Work Boards and score a 70 or better.

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How Do I Get My LCSW in North Dakota?

Individuals interested in becoming a LCSW in North Dakota must graduate with a Master’s Degree in social work from an accredited school or program. The next step is to take the state-level examination to become a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)

After graduating with a Master’s Degree from a CSWE-accredited school, individuals can take the examination to become a Licensed Certified Social Worker.

Those who are interested in obtaining the LCSW in North Dakota and have successfully completed the MSW program from an accredit school must take the Master’s Level Examination from the ASWB and score a 70 or higher.

How Do I Get My LICSW in North Dakota?

In order to become a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in North Dakota must graduate with a Master’s Degree from an accredited school or program. They must then obtain the required experience in a clinical setting under a licensed supervisor before taking the state-level examination.

After graduating with a Master’s or Doctorate Degree from a CSWE-accredited school, individuals must accumulate 3,000 hours of post-master, supervised experience in a clinical setting. This must be accomplished within 4 years of earning the Master’s. You may then apply for and take the examination to become a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.

Those who are interested in obtaining the LICSW in North Dakota who have successfully finished the MSW program from an accredited school and have accumulated the required post-degree experience must take the ASWB Clinical Level Exam. Their score must be a 70 or higher in order to pass.

More detailed information on the education and field requirements for North Dakota are available via the North Dakota Board of Social Worker Examiners.

Social Worker Career Outlook in North Dakota

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has collected information from all industries and employers in May of 2022, including social workers in North Dakota. As one might imagine, the social work industry in North Dakota is small compared to the rest of the country. According to the BLS, there are slightly more than 1,300 social workers employed in North Dakota. There were 720 child, family and school social workers, 340 healthcare social workers, 150 substance abuse social workers and another 120 specialty social workers. The average annual salary ranges from $56,320 for social workers in a substance abuse and mental health setting to $60,880 for child, family, and school social workers. For more information on the occupational data and wage estimates, please visit the North Dakota Employment Statistics Page with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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