Social Work License Requirements in Kentucky
Explore social work licensure in Kentucky. Learn about licensing levels, education and experience requirements, and the exams you need to pass.
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Kentucky’s labor market holds promise for social workers. Analysts project high social work job growth rates during the 2020s — especially for healthcare, mental health, and substance use specialists.
Explore social work licensure in Kentucky and the paths you can follow to satisfy the state’s licensing requirements.
Kentucky Social Work Licensure Requirements
The Kentucky Board of Social Work (KBSW) handles social work licensure in Kentucky. It issues three types of licenses:
- Licensed social worker (LSW)
- Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- Certified social worker (CSW)
All three licenses require candidates to be at least 18 years old and meet Kentucky’s good moral character standards. Beyond these factors, each licensing level has its own unique requirements.
The subsections below break down specific licensure requirements.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Social Worker in Kentucky?
You can earn LSW1 licensure in Kentucky in about four years, as core licensing requirements include only a bachelor’s degree and a passing exam score.
CSW and LCSW licensure typically adds about 2-7 years to the process. The exact range depends on whether you qualify with a master’s or doctoral degree, and whether you need the two years of qualifying experience to provide clinical services as a CSW.
The most direct available route to LCSW licensure includes about two years for a master’s degree, plus two years of full-time supervised post-graduate clinical experience. This puts the total timeline at about eight years, which includes earning your bachelor’s degree.
Out-of-State Licensing Reciprocity in Kentucky
As of 2025, Kentucky does not have any active social work license reciprocity agreements with any other U.S. state or jurisdiction. Instead, you must apply for a Kentucky license.
In general, this process involves:
- Having your school(s) forward your academic transcripts to the KBSW for review
- Sending an Official Transfer Score Report for your qualifying ASWB exam to the board
- Obtaining and submitting an official license verification report from the state or jurisdiction where you’re currently licensed
If you’re seeking an LCSW license, you must also have two years plus 150 hours of supervised experience, supervised by a clinical social worker who has been licensed for at least two years. Your supervisor must document your work on a Supervised Experience Documentation Form and submit the form on your behalf.
Note that Kentucky only accepts the ASWB’s bachelor’s, master’s, and clinical examinations. You cannot qualify for a Kentucky license with the ASWB advanced generalist exam.
How to Renew a Social Work License in Kentucky
In Kentucky, social work licenses run on three-year renewal schedules. The three-year renewal requirement applies to LSW, LCSW, and CSW licenses.
All licensees must complete a set number of continuing professional education (CPE) hours every three-year licensing cycle. However, CPE requirements and renewal fees vary by license type. The following chart summarizes:
| License Type | CPE Requirements | License Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|
| LSW | 15 hours | $75 |
| LCSW | 30 hours | $200 |
| CSW | 30 hours | $125 |
Salary Expectations for Social Workers in Kentucky
Kentucky social workers’ earnings broadly align with the statewide average for all occupations, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported as $56,310 per year as of May 2024. Three of the four social work specializations tracked by the BLS outperformed this salary average.
At the same time, social workers in Kentucky generally earn salaries that fall below national averages for their respective professions. This trend is consistent among all four BLS-tracked social work specializations.
However, Kentucky’s affordability offsets the state’s lower average social worker salaries. In 2024, Kentucky’s cost of living was 7% below the national average, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.
| Occupation | Average Hourly Salary | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $27.59 | $57,390 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $31.18 | $64,840 |
| Mental Health and Substance Use Social Workers | $21.85 | $45,450 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $35.19 | $73,200 |
Professional Organizations for Social Workers in Kentucky
- National Association of Social Workers: The NASW’s Kentucky chapter offers extensive networking, social worker support, and professional development resources and programs. It also hosts free job listings and CPE opportunities. Members also get cost-advantaged access to professional liability, health, life, vehicle, and home insurance.
- Kentucky Society for Clinical Social Work: The KSCSW operates under a mandate to support professional practitioners of clinical social work in Kentucky. It offers training and education programs, clinical resources, networking events, and advocates for social work policy at the state government level. Members can also access job listings.
- Kentucky Association for School Social Work: Through its focus on supporting students and school-based social work programs, the KASSW works to advance the causes of social justice, racial equality, and social and emotional learning. The KASSW’s membership structure includes tiers for active professionals, students, and retirees.
- National Association of Black Social Workers: Dedicated to advocating for Kentucky’s Black population, the NABSW unites its membership with a unique code of ethics focused on service to the Black community. Among other benefits, members gain access to a career center, networking and leadership programs, and continuing education and professional development opportunities.
- Social Worker Anti-Racist Coalition of Kentucky: Branding itself as SWARCK, this intersectionality-focused social work organization advocates for social action, reform-oriented activism, and social justice causes. In addition to its political advocacy, SWARCK hosts education and outreach programs and social work licensing support.
- Kentucky Association of Social Work Educators: Through affiliations with multiple higher education institutions, KASWE works to build strong links between the various social work programs offered at Kentucky colleges. It also seeks to advance the professional standing of both licensed social workers and the social work educators who lead Kentucky’s academic programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Work Licensure
According to ZipRecruiter data from April 2025, most LCSWs earn salaries in the range of $62,500 per year (25th percentile) to $97,300 per year (75th percentile). Notably, these figures significantly exceed both the May 2024 median and mean Kentucky social worker salaries reported by the BLS.
