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Louisiana offers straightforward pathways to obtaining a social worker license. Entry-level social workers need only earn a social work bachelor’s degree to qualify for a license or advanced standing admission to a master’s program. Master’s in social work holders can opt for additional training to practice clinical social work.
Our comprehensive guide explains how to become a social worker in Louisiana, including licensing requirements, education, career paths, and average salaries.
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Learn More About Our Partners Loading. Learn More Visit Site Loading. Learn More Visit Site Loading. Learn More Visit SiteThe Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE) licenses social workers at the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree levels. Applicants with bachelor of social work (BSW) degrees can qualify for registered social worker (RSW) licenses. Master of social work (MSW) holders can apply for licensed master social worker (LMSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) credentials.
An LMSW can practice the same duties as an RSW, plus addiction services, employee assistance, service or treatment evaluation and planning, supervision, and teaching. LMSWs work as agency employees but can also provide services as consultants. An LMSW credential allows for clinical social work practice and psychotherapy under the supervision of an LCSW.
LMSW career paths include child welfare specialists, medical social workers, and mental health case managers.
Louisiana licensure requirements for a LMSW include:
In addition to performing the same duties as RSWs and LMSWs, LCSWs can practice clinical social work. Clinical social work functions include developing treatment plans, providing psychotherapy, and helping clients with daily challenges and recovery from addictions and mental health issues.
LCSWs work for government agencies, mental health facilities, and social services organizations, and they can also establish their own private practices. After earning their MSWs, LCSWs spend an additional 2-3 years completing state-mandated supervised training requirements.
Louisiana licensure requirements for an LCSW include:
The LABSWE rules permit social workers licensed in other states to practice in Louisiana through endorsement of credentials or reciprocity.
Endorsement and reciprocity require:
Louisiana is also a member state of the Social Work Licensure Compact, which hopes to make multistate social work licenses available in the future.
Louisiana social workers renew their licenses every year. To avoid licensure lapse, social workers must renew by August 31. Lapsed license renewal between September 1 and February 28 requires an application for reinstatement and payment of additional fees. Longer lapses may require additional continuing education (CE) hours and a passing score on the Louisiana laws, procedures, and standards exam.
To renew, social workers complete 20 hours of LABSWE-approved CE that includes three hours of ethics every two years and ten hours or more of clinical content covering the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
Healthcare social workers earn the highest average annual social worker salaries in Louisiana, followed by “all other” social workers, which include job titles like criminal justice social worker and forensic social worker. Louisiana social worker wages fall below the national averages, but the state’s 92.1% cost-of-living index ranks 13th for affordability, which can stretch paychecks further.
Projections Central lists positive long-term employment growth during 2022-2032 in Louisiana across the social work careers. Employment data shows projected increases of 7.3% for child, family, and school social workers, 10.2% for healthcare social workers, 12.9% for mental health and substance use social workers, and 7.8% for “all other” social workers.
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $62,520 | $30.06 |
| Mental Health and Substance Use Social Workers | $49,980 | $23.55 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $60,810 | $29.24 |
The Louisiana state board offers three types of social worker licenses–one at the bachelor’s degree level and two for master’s degree holders: registered social worker, licensed master social worker, and licensed clinical social worker.
Louisiana social work licensure requires earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work. Master’s degree holders also must pass the ASWB master’s or clinical examination. Clinical social workers have an additional requirement of 3,000 hours of post-master’s clinical experience.
Average annual salaries for Louisiana social workers range from $48,980 for mental health and substance use social workers to $62,520 for healthcare social workers. Child, family, and school social workers earn average wages of $50,710 per year, and “all other” social workers make $60,810 on average annually.
RSWs can earn their BSWs in four years and become entry-level social workers. LMSWs need an additional 1-2 years of graduate study to earn their MSWs. LCSWs spend 2-3 years completing their supervised clinical training after obtaining their MSWs.
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