How long does it take to get my LICSW in West Virginia?

Minimum 2 years (24 months calendar time plus 3,000 hours). Most candidates complete this in 2-3 years working full-time in a clinical social work setting. There is no annual hour cap for social workers (unlike the counselor/MFT tracks), so full-time workers can accumulate hours continuously.

What counts as face-to-face supervision?

In-person supervision and synchronous video supervision both count as face-to-face. At least 70 of your 100 supervision hours must be face-to-face. The remaining 30 hours may be via other technology-assisted methods. Phone-only supervision does not count as face-to-face.

Can my LCSW supervisor oversee my LICSW hours?

No. West Virginia requires that LICSW supervision be provided by a currently licensed LICSW (in WV or another state with equivalent requirements) with at least 2 years of post-licensure clinical experience. An LCSW does not meet this requirement.

What is the difference between LCSW and LICSW?

LCSW is an advanced generalist license with limited clinical scope. LICSW is the highest clinical social work license in West Virginia, permitting full clinical independence including comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of all mental health and developmental conditions. LICSW requires significantly more supervised experience (3,000 hours + 100 supervision hours vs. 2 years flexible experience for LCSW).

Is West Virginia part of the Social Work Licensure Compact?

No. As of March 2026, West Virginia has not enacted Social Work Licensure Compact legislation. Out-of-state social workers must apply for traditional endorsement to practice in West Virginia.

CredentialTraxLicensure Compliance

High ComplexityComing SoonLicensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) → Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

West Virginia LGSW → LICSW Supervision Requirements

Everything you need to know about completing your 3,000 supervised hours for full clinical independence in West Virginia.

Total Hours

3,000

Calendar Minimum

24 months

Supervision

100 (70 face-to-face minimum)

Direct Hours Floor

Not specified

Why This State Is Complex

West Virginia's LICSW pathway requires 3,000 hours of post-MSW clinical practice over a minimum of 2 years, plus 100 hours of direct clinical supervision with at least 70 hours face-to-face. The face-to-face supervision tracking, quarterly reporting requirements, formal supervision agreement, and mid-point/final assessments create moderate-to-high complexity. Supervisors must hold a current LICSW license with 2+ years post-licensure clinical experience.

Key Requirements at a Glance

Master's or doctoral degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program with graduate coursework in abnormal psychology or psychopathology

Clinical field placement of at least 600 hours supervised by an LICSW or MSW with 3+ years clinical experience

3,000 hours of post-MSW clinical social work practice over a minimum of 2 years

100 hours of direct clinical supervision with at least 70 hours face-to-face (in-person or synchronous video)

Supervisor must hold a current LICSW license with minimum 2 years post-licensure clinical experience

Formal supervision agreement required and submitted to the Board before supervision begins

Quarterly documentation of hours, supervision, and progress submitted to the Board

Pass the ASWB Clinical Level Examination

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Not tracking face-to-face vs. telehealth supervision hours separately — at least 70 of 100 supervision hours must be face-to-face; exceeding 30 telehealth supervision hours means additional face-to-face sessions are needed

Using a supervisor without a current LICSW license — unlike the PLPC/PLMFT tracks, LICSW supervision specifically requires an LICSW supervisor (not LCSW)

Starting supervised practice without a formal supervision agreement filed with the Board — hours logged before the agreement is in place may not count

Confusing LICSW supervision requirements with LCSW — LCSW has flexible supervision; LICSW has strict 100-hour requirements with face-to-face minimums

Missing the September 30 license expiration — social work licenses expire on a different date than counseling/MFT licenses (June 30)

Frequently Asked Questions

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