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Syracuse University offers several programs leading to professional licensure within the State of New York through in-person and online program delivery. States vary in what professions they require to be licensed/certified and how licensure/certification is acquired.
Some states require an individual to graduate from an accredited program. Others require individuals to obtain additional coursework, additional fieldwork, background checks, passage of additional state licensing exams, additional fees, or other requirements.
Accreditation Statement
Syracuse University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a regional accreditation body recognized by the US Department of Education. For more information, visit the Syracuse University’s Accreditation Website.
State Authorization
Syracuse University is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), which allows us to provide distance learning programs and coursework to residents of states other than New York. NC-SARA membership, however, does not grant reciprocity or exempt us from state professional licensing requirements. As a result, licensing requirements in New York may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license in any other state.
Relocation
Should a student relocate during the course of a program to another state, it may impact the student’s ability to remain in the program, meet the state licensure requirements, and/or continue to receive financial aid funding. Prior to considering relocation, please contact your program to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.
International Students
The programs listed on this page have not been evaluated for professional licensure requirements outside of the United States. Prior to enrolling in any program at Syracuse University, prospective students living and/or working outside of the United States should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency whether successful completion of any degree program at Syracuse University will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment, as to certain types of employment or for advanced/specialized educational programs. International students should also check directly with their home country regarding licensure requirements.
Professional Licensure Requirements
The following programs may lead to a professional license or certification that is required for employment. Professional licensure/certification requirements vary from state to state, which may affect a student’s ability to apply for a professional license/certification upon the completion of the program.
The US Department of Education regulation, 34 CFR §668.14 and §668.43, requires an institution to disclose whether the program will fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification for each state. The administrative departments that offer the programs have made the following determination regarding their curriculum.
Social Work B.S. and M.S.W.
The School of Social Work—housed in the School of Education—offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs of study. The undergraduate professional social work degree is a bachelor of science in social work (B.S.S.W.)
The curriculum incorporates instruction in five professional foundation areas: social welfare policy and services, human behavior in the social environment, research, social work practice, and field practicum. Instruction in these areas builds upon liberal arts preparation in the humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and the natural sciences.
The School of Social Work also offers a master of social work (M.S.W.) in two formats: the two-year, 60-credit program for individuals who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in social work and the Advanced Standing Program for individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Both graduate programs prepare students for advanced social work practice and for creative, responsible roles in the social work field.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia require that a social worker sitting for a licensing exam be a graduate of a CSWE-accredited program. The B.S.S.W. and M.S.W. programs are fully accredited by CSWE.
As of July 1, 2024, Syracuse University has made the following determinations regarding the program meeting specific state licensure or certification requirements:
Please note that the following states do not currently offer licensure at the bachelor’s degree (B.S.S.W.) level: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington
Meets (state abbreviations)
Does Not Meet*
AL, AK, AZ, AR, DC, DE, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NV, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Guam
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
Republic of the Marshall Islands
The Federated States of Micronesia
The Republic of Palau
Social Work Licensure Notice
This information is provided in good faith to applicants as of Nov. 1, 2024.
The Syracuse MSW program leads to a Master of Social Work degree. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program is designed to meet the eligibility requirements for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam and not an initial license. Licensure requirements, including levels of licensure, vary by state and students should contact their state licensing board to determine the specific requirements for licensure, including any additional requirements beyond the scope of the program.
The information below provides a state-by-state breakdown of comparable licenses, including a determination of eligibility for initial licensure, if applicable. This information provided is designed as a baseline determination of whether the program meets individual state specific requirements.
Licensure requirements, the type of license to apply for, and the appropriate pathway to pursue licensure are subject to change and may differ based on individual student backgrounds, including coursework taken outside the scope of the program. Students should do their own due diligence and determine the appropriate pathway and license type for themselves.
What is Issued: License
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
The Associate Clinical Social Worker title is intended for applicants that hold a master’s degree in social work and have not completed their post-graduate experience. Individuals holding the aforementioned title complete post-graduate experiences to later earn additional licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
The ASWB Clinical examination must be taken prior to application to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s):
State Jurisprudence exam
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s Advanced examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Connecticut does not currently require an exam for its initial license.
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Additional Important Information: The ASWB master’s level examination requirement has been suspended until January 1, 2026.
What is Issued: License
Recommended Initial Title: Masters Social Worker (M.S.W.)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Additional Important Information: A Licensed Graduate Social Worker must practice under supervision. Applicants must complete 3000 hours of supervised postgraduate experience to gain licensure to practice unsupervised.
What is Issued: License
Recommended Initial Title: Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Florida does not require an exam for its initial license.
Curriculum Requirements:
Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Complete 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours in theory of human behavior and practice methods as courses in clinically oriented services, including a minimum of one course in psychopathology. Courses not considered to be clinically oriented are: policy, administration, organization and communities.
Eight-hour laws and rules course from board approved provider required before licensure exam
An individual who has not satisfied the post graduate or post master’s level experience requirements must register as an intern in the profession for which they are seeking licensure before beginning the post-master’s experience requirement.
Florida requires a letter from a school official on university letterhead verifying the setting in which you provided clinical services to clients, and that the supervised field placement was completed during the master’s or doctorate program.
What is Issued: License
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s, Advanced, or Clinical examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Illinois does not require an exam for its initial license.
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Certified Social Worker (CSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Additional Important Information: Louisiana applies the Certified Social Worker designation to graduates that have just completed their program. It is a temporary certification which entitles the M.S.W. graduate to perform social work duties and responsibilities while pursuing licensure. Status as a CSW is required to sit for the ASWB examination. Once the graduate has passed the ASWB examination, the LMSW is issued.
What is Issued: License
Recommended Initial Title:
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Licensed Master Social Worker Conditional Clinical
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Additional Important Information: The Licensed Master Social Worker license is a non-clinical master level independent license. The Licensed Master Social Worker Conditional Clinical license is a master level license for those who intend to pursue a clinical license after the completion of their supervision hours.
What is Issued: License
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Limited Master’s Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Michigan does not require an exam for its initial license.
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Recommended Initial Title: Licensed Master’s Social Worker Candidate
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s examination
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)
Additional Important Information: The Licensed Master’s Social Worker Candidate designation is intended for applicants that have completed a master’s degree in social work, but have not completed 2000 hours of supervised experience.The state requires that applicants without this experience register as an LMSW candidate.
What is Issued: Certification
Recommended Initial Title: Provisional Certification as a Master Social Worker (PCMSW)
Accreditation Requirements: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Examination(s): Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Advanced Generalist, Master’s or Clinical level examination.
Curriculum Requirements: Identify the specialized knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors that extend and enhance the nine Social Work Competencies (per CSWE)