Missouri Social Work License Requirements and Schools: Learn How to Become a Social Worker in MO

Written by Maura Deering
Last Updated: July 2023

Highly ranked master of social work (MSW) programs, straightforward licensing requirements, and a growing need for more social workers make Missouri an excellent choice for beginning your social work career.

This guide outlines Missouri social work license requirements, details salary expectations, and lists the top MSW programs to help you decide if Missouri is a good fit for your academic and practice goals.

Missouri Social Work Licensure Requirements

The Missouri Division of Professional Registrations’ Committee for Social Workers issues social work licenses at four levels: licensed bachelor’s social worker (LBSW); licensed master social worker (LMSW); licensed advanced macro social worker (LAMSW); and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

LBSWs can practice non-clinical social work under supervision. After gaining experience, LBSWs can request permission from the social worker committee to practice independently. LMSWs can practice general social work without supervision and begin logging experience for their LCSW credentials.

LCSWs can offer clinical social work services, and LAMSWs can work independently in community organization and policy development and can practice clinical social work if supervised by LCSWs.

Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)

Missouri licensure requirements for LBSWs include:

• Bachelor of social work (BSW) from a Council for Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program
• Official college transcripts
• Fingerprints for a criminal background check
• Passing score on the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB)’s bachelor’s exam

NOTE: Applicants who want to take the ASWB exam prior to completing their BSWs can submit a letter from their program indicating they are on track to graduate on time. Licensed LBSWs who want to practice without supervision complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience within 24-48 months and ask the social worker committee for permission to practice independently.

Licensed Social Worker (LMSW)

Missouri licensure requirements for LMSWs include:

• Master of social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
• Official MSW transcripts
• Fingerprints for a criminal background check
• Passing score on the ASWB’s master’s exam

NOTE: Applicants who want to take the ASWB exam prior to completing their MSWs can submit a letter from their program indicating they are on track to graduate on time. Once licensed, LMSWs can provide general, non-clinical social work. Those pursuing LAMSW or LCSW credentials can practice advanced or clinical social work under supervision.

Licensed Advanced Macro Social Worker (LAMSW)

Missouri licensure requirements for LAMSWs include:

• Master of social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
• LMSW license
• Registration of supervision by a LAMSW or LCSW with the social worker committee
• Documented 3,000 hours of supervised macro social work experience within 24-48 months
• Fingerprints for a criminal background check
• Passing score on the ASWB’s advanced generalist exam

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Missouri licensure requirements for LCSWs include:

• Master of social work (MSW) or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
• LMSW license
• Registration of supervision by an LCSW with the social worker committee
• Documented 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work experience within 24-48 months
• Fingerprints for a criminal background check
• Passing score on the ASWB’s clinical exam

NOTE: Licensure candidates who want to take the ASWB clinical exam prior to completing their supervised hours can apply after completing 2,250 hours within an 18-month timeframe.

Featured Online Social Work Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Licensed Social Worker in Missouri?

Each licensure level has its own time frame. LBSWs generally earn a four-year BSW degree, while LMSWs typically spend two years completing their MSW, in addition to four years for their BSW.

LAMSWs and LCSWs who earn a master’s degree need about six years of education, but those who opt for doctorates need 2-4 more years on average. LAMSWs and LCSWs must also devote 2-4 years to completing their 3,000 postgraduate supervised experience hours.

Timelines can vary depending on full- or part-time enrollment, accelerated or online learning, and whether a BSW-holder qualifies for advanced standing in an MSW program.

Out of State Licensing Reciprocity in Missouri

Missouri provides licensing reciprocity on an individual basis to social workers who hold active licenses in other states and have been licensed for a year or more. Applicants submit a reciprocity application to the social worker committee, along with fingerprints for a criminal background check and license verification from the state(s) in which they are licensed.

Active license-holders from other states who’ve been licensed for less than one year should contact the committee for information and instructions.

How to Renew a Social Work License in Missouri

Missouri social work licenses renew every two years. Renewal requires 30 clock hours of continuing education during each renewal period. The continuing education hours must include three hours of ethics and two hours of suicide prevention training.

The social worker committee allows completion of continuing education hours through in-person classes, including live interactive webinars, or self-study. The committee accepts up to 15 hours of self-study coursework, as well as employer-provided and -documented continuing education training.

Salary Expectations for Social Workers in Missouri

The table below lists average wages for Missouri social workers in different specialty areas. For comparison purposes, the nationwide median salary for social workers equals $50,390 per year, or $24.23 per hour. National average salaries for child, family, and school social workers ($56,680), healthcare social workers ($62,760), mental health and substance abuse social workers ($60,130), and social workers, all other ($64,360) exceed average annual salaries in Missouri.

Missouri’s cost of living — which ranked as the fourth-lowest in the country during the first quarter of 2023 — and affordable housing can offset the state’s comparatively lower salaries.

Source: BLS, 2022

Accredited Master’s of Social Work Programs in Missouri

• Missouri Baptist University — St. Louis, MO (Online)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $668 per credit hour
• Missouri State University — Springfield, MO (Online)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $19,840 per program
• Missouri Western State University — St. Joseph, MO (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $425 per credit hour in-state; $710 per credit hour out-of-state
• Park University — Parkville, MO (On Campus, Online)
  • Available Concentrations: Children and Families; Gerontological Social Work; Military Social Work
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $695 per credit hour
• Saint Louis University — Kansas City, MO (Hybrid)
  • Available Concentrations: Clinical; Community and Organization
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $1,120 per credit hour
• University of Missouri — Columbia, MO (On Campus, Online)
  • Available Concentrations: Clinical; Policy, Planning, and Administration in Human Services
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $435 per credit hour in-state and online; $1,192 per credit hour out-of-state
• University of Missouri-Kansas City — Kansas City, MO (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $488-$732 per credit hour in-state; $732-$1,225 per credit hour out-of-state
• University of Missouri-St. Louis — St. Louis, MO (On Campus)
  • Available Concentrations: Family Practice; Leadership and Social Change
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $614-$921 per credit hour in-state; $921-$1,460 per credit hour out-of-state
• Washington University in St. Louis — St. Louis, MO (On Campus, Hybrid)
  • Available Concentrations:
    • Full Time and Part Time: Children, Youth, and Families; Mental Health; Social Impact Leadership
    • Full Time Only: American Indian and Alaska Native; Health; Individualized; Social and Economic Development (Domestic or International)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $23,420 per semester

Professional Organizations for Social Workers in Missouri

Joining a professional organization can help you advance your career. These groups provide networking opportunities through conferences and workshops, offer continuing education and professional development resources, and promote job opportunities in the field. Many also advocate on behalf of their members for higher salaries and better working conditions.

Here are three organizations serving social work professionals in the state.

• National Association of Social Workers – Missouri Chapter: NASW represents more than 132,000 professionals across the country. The Missouri chapter provides detailed information on licensure and renewal in the state, hosts an annual conference, and lobbies the state government for policies that benefit social workers and their clients. Members also receive discounted tuition for continuing education courses.
• Missouri Society for Clinical Social Work: MSCSW serves clinical social workers in the state. It offers continuing education workshops and trainings, an online forum for collaborating with other clinical professionals, and a mentoring program for new social workers. The society also publishes a quarterly newsletter and maintains a variety of mental health resources on its website.
• School Social Workers Association of Missouri: SSWAM works exclusively with social workers employed by schools and other educational organizations. The association hosts an annual networking conference and continuing education seminars throughout the state. The group’s website features a job board and a listing of social work programs in Missouri.