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Becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida lets you provide psychotherapy, diagnose and treat mental health conditions, and practice independently. Florida’s path has a few steps that trip people up, especially registering as an intern before your supervised hours start counting.
This guide walks through every step of getting your LCSW in Florida: education, intern registration, supervised experience, required courses, the ASWB Clinical exam, fees, renewal, and licensure by endorsement.
Quick answer: How do you become an LCSW in Florida?
- Earn an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program, with clinical coursework that includes psychopathology.
- Register as a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (RCSWI) with a Board-approved supervisor. Hours don’t count until your registration is issued.
- Complete 2 years of post-master’s supervised experience: 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy and 100 hours of supervision over at least 100 weeks.
- Complete Florida’s required courses: 8-hour laws and rules, plus HIV/AIDS and domestic violence.
- Pass the ASWB Clinical exam.
- Apply for your LCSW license ($180 in state fees).
Jump to: Requirements at a glance · Step-by-step · Fees · The Clinical exam · Renewal and CE · Moving to Florida · FAQ
Florida LCSW Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Florida LCSW |
|---|---|
| Licensing board | Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling |
| Degree | Master’s in social work from a CSWE-accredited program |
| Clinical coursework | 24 semester (32 quarter) hours in clinically oriented theory and practice methods, including at least one psychopathology course |
| Intern registration | Required before supervised hours count; $150; valid 5 years and not renewable |
| Supervised experience | 2 years post-master’s; 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy |
| Supervision | 100 hours over at least 100 weeks, at least 1 hour every 2 weeks, with a Board-approved qualified supervisor |
| Required courses | 8-hour Florida laws and rules; 3-hour HIV/AIDS (or affidavit); 2-hour domestic violence within 6 months of licensure |
| Exam | ASWB Clinical exam ($260, paid to ASWB) |
| Background check | Electronic fingerprints through a Livescan provider |
| License fee | $180 total ($100 application + $75 initial license + $5 unlicensed activity fee) |
Steps to Get Your LCSW in Florida
1. Earn your MSW from a CSWE-accredited program
You need a master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Search the CSWE directory of accredited programs.
Florida also requires clinically focused coursework: 24 semester hours (or 32 quarter hours) in clinically oriented theory and practice methods, including at least one psychopathology course. The Board uses an Education Worksheet to evaluate your transcript, and you’ll need a practicum letter from your school confirming that you provided direct clinical services. If you’re still in school, choosing a clinical concentration and taking psychopathology will save you trouble later.
2. Register as a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (RCSWI)
This is the step people most often miss. In Florida, supervised experience does not count toward licensure until your intern registration has been issued and the Board has approved your supervisor. Register as soon as you have a clinical job and a qualified supervisor lined up.
- Fee: $150 (non-refundable).
- Coursework to register: at least 15 semester (22 quarter) hours of clinical coursework, including psychopathology. You’ll need the full 24 semester hours before you can be licensed.
- Supervisor letter: your Board-approved qualified supervisor must submit a signed letter agreeing to supervise you.
- Fingerprints: electronic fingerprinting through a Livescan provider.
- Validity: registration is valid for 5 years and cannot be renewed. If you don’t finish in time, you must reapply under the rules in effect at that point. A one-time hardship extension may be available in limited circumstances.
Apply through the Florida Board’s RCSWI page.
3. Complete your supervised clinical experience
Florida requires two years of post-master’s clinical experience under a Board-approved qualified supervisor, including:
- 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy with clients.
- 100 hours of supervision spread over at least 100 weeks.
- At least 1 hour of supervision every 2 weeks.
Because the 100 hours must be spread over at least 100 weeks, you can’t finish faster by doubling up on supervision. Your supervisor will document your experience on the Board’s Verification of Clinical Experience form. Florida’s rules also limit group size for supervision and require that a portion of supervision take place in person, so confirm the current details with your supervisor and the Board.
4. Complete Florida’s required courses
- Florida laws and rules: an 8-hour course from a Board-approved provider.
- HIV/AIDS: a 3-hour course (or submit the HIV/AIDS affidavit).
- Domestic violence: a 2-hour course, completed within six months of licensure.
5. Get approved for and pass the ASWB Clinical exam
You can be approved to take the exam once you’ve completed all required graduate coursework and have at least 18 months of documented clinical experience. Request approval from the Board by emailing [email protected] before registering with ASWB. Once you’re approved, register for the exam with ASWB and pay the $260 exam fee.
Before test day, review our Pre-Test Checklist and see how to know if you’re ready.
6. Apply for your Florida LCSW license
Submit your LCSW application through the Florida Department of Health’s online licensing system with your transcripts, Education Worksheet, practicum letter, Verification of Clinical Experience, course certificates, and fees. See the Board’s LCSW licensure page for current forms and instructions.
Florida LCSW Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| RCSWI intern registration | $150 |
| LCSW application fee | $100 |
| Initial license fee | $75 |
| Unlicensed activity fee | $5 |
| ASWB Clinical exam (paid to ASWB) | $260 |
You’ll also pay for fingerprinting and the required courses. Fees can change, so confirm current amounts with the Board before you apply.
The ASWB Clinical Exam
Florida uses the ASWB Clinical exam. The new exam, launched August 3, 2026, has:
- 122 questions (110 scored and 12 unscored pretest questions), in two 61-question sections, with 4 hours of total testing time and an optional break of up to 10 minutes after the first section.
- Three content areas: Values & Ethics (36%), Assessment & Planning (32%), and Intervention & Practice (32%).
- A passing score of between 66 and 78 correct out of 110 scored questions, depending on the exam form.
In 2025, 75.7% of first-time Clinical exam takers passed. If you don’t pass, you’ll generally wait 90 days to retest. See our guide to retaking the ASWB exam.
Preparing for the Clinical exam? Agents of Change includes video and audio lessons built for the new ASWB exam, hundreds of practice questions with rationales, 2 live study groups each month, and access until you pass.
Renewing Your Florida LCSW License
Florida clinical social work licenses renew every two years, with licenses expiring March 31 of odd-numbered years. You’ll need 30 hours of continuing education per renewal period. No CE is required for your first renewal if you were licensed partway through the cycle. After that, required topics include:
- 2 hours on prevention of medical errors.
- 3 hours on professional ethics and boundary issues (or telehealth).
- 2 hours on domestic violence, every third renewal.
- 3 hours on Florida laws and rules, every third renewal.
CE requirements are tracked through CE Broker. Check the Board’s renewal page for current requirements before your renewal deadline.
Moving to Florida With an Existing License
If you’re already licensed as a clinical social worker in another state, you may qualify for licensure by endorsement under Florida’s MOBILE law. Generally, you’ll need:
- An active, unencumbered license in another state, D.C., or U.S. territory, in a profession with a similar scope of practice.
- A passing score on a national licensure exam, such as the ASWB Clinical exam.
- At least two years of practice in the four years before you apply.
- No disciplinary actions in the past five years, and no pending disciplinary proceedings.
Florida is not currently a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact. A 2026 bill to join passed the Florida House but died in the Senate. Read more in Can You Take the ASWB Exam in a Different State?
FAQ: Florida LCSW Licensure
How long does it take to get an LCSW in Florida?
At least two years after your MSW, because supervision must be spread over at least 100 weeks. Add time for intern registration, the exam, and processing your application.
Do my supervised hours count before I register as an intern?
No. Hours don’t count until your RCSWI registration has been issued and the Board has approved your supervisor. Register as soon as you start a clinical position.
Can I take the ASWB Clinical exam before finishing my supervised hours?
Yes. Once you’ve completed your required coursework and have at least 18 months of documented clinical experience, you can request Board approval to take the exam.
How much does it cost to get an LCSW in Florida?
State fees total $330 ($150 for intern registration and $180 for licensure), plus $260 for the ASWB Clinical exam. You’ll also pay for fingerprinting, required courses, and, often, supervision.
What is a Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) in Florida?
Florida also offers a Certified Master Social Worker credential for MSW-level social workers who aren’t pursuing clinical licensure. It’s a separate credential from the LCSW and doesn’t authorize independent clinical practice. See Social Work Licensing Acronyms for how credentials compare across states.
Where can I find the official requirements?
On the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling website. Requirements and fees change, so always confirm with the Board.
For a step-by-step look at the path from MSW to clinical licensure in any state, see Transitioning from MSW to LCSW: A Detailed Roadmap.
Sources: Florida Board – Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Florida Board – Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern, ASWB, Florida Senate – HB 13 (2026).
► Learn more about the Agents of Change course here: https://agentsofchangeprep.com
About the Instructor, Dr. Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group test prep for the ASWB for over 11 years. From all of this experience helping others pass their exams, she created the Agents of Change course to help you prepare for and pass the ASWB exam!
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Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
