New Jersey Social Work License Requirements and Schools: Learn How to Become a Social Worker in NJ

Written by Maura Deering
Last Updated: July 2023

New Jersey needs social workers. The New Jersey Department of Education identified more than 200 school districts in the state without mental health professionals, including school social workers. A new statewide grant program provides funding to hire these professionals.

In addition, New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce projections for 2018-2028 identified a need for healthcare social workers as well.

Explore this page to learn how to obtain a New Jersey social work license, potential salaries, and accredited program options.

New Jersey Social Work Licensure Requirements

New Jersey’s State Board of Social Worker Examiners licenses social workers at three levels: certified social worker (CSW), licensed social worker (LSW), and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

CSWs can provide non-clinical social work services that include assessment, counseling, client advocacy, and community organizing. LSWs perform the same services as CSWs and can also offer clinical social work services when supervised by an LCSW.

LCSWs can provide non-clinical social work services, practice clinical social work independently, and supervise LSWs.

The subsections below list the requirements for each licensure level.

Certified Social Worker (CSW)

New Jersey licensure requirements for CSW include:

• Online application
• $75 application fee
• Criminal background check certification and authorization form
• Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• $70 licensing fee

Non-social work bachelor’s degree-holders who earned degrees prior to April 6, 1995 in disability/vocational rehabilitation, guidance and counseling, human services, marriage and family counseling, psychology, sociology, or social work from a non-CSWE-accredited program can also apply for their CSW licenses. The board may require proof of 1,600 post-bachelor’s clinical hours logged prior to April 6, 1995 from these applicants.

Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

New Jersey licensure requirements for LSW include:

• Bachelor of social work or bachelor’s in a related field
• Completion of at least 40 credits toward a master of social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program or enrollment in the last semester of a CSWE-accredited advanced standing MSW program
• Registration for the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB) master’s-level exam
• $230 exam fee
• Passing exam score
• Online application
• $75 application fee
• Official MSW transcript submitted by email
• Criminal background check certification and authorization form
• $120 license fee

The licensure board notifies applicants by email when their applications are complete, usually 6-8 weeks after submission.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

New Jersey licensure requirements for LCSW include:

• Bachelor of social work or bachelor’s in a related field
• Master of social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
• Documentation of 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical experience with job descriptions
• Documented completion of a board-approved 20-hour supervision course from clinical supervisor
• Combined LCSW application/registration for the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB) clinical exam
• $260 exam fee
• Passing exam score
• $75 application fee
• Emailed official MSW transcript, including 12 credits of graduate-level methods of clinical social work practice
• Criminal background check certification and authorization form
• $160 license fee

The licensure board no longer requires a preapproval application prior to taking the clinical exam and has combined the license application and exam registration.

Featured Online Social Work Programs

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

The time it takes to become a licensed social worker in New Jersey depends on several factors, including the licensure level and degree pursued, full- or part-time enrollment in a degree program, and whether post-degree clinical experience is required.

In general, CSWs can earn a BSW degree in about four years and do not need to complete post-bachelor’s clinical experience. LSWs typically earn a bachelor’s degree and an MSW in about six years. However, BSW-holders may qualify for advanced standing in their MSW programs and finish sooner.

LCSWs also need a bachelor’s degree or a BSW and an MSW, which takes about 5-6 years. They also need at least two years to log their 3,000 post-master’s clinical hours.

Out of State Licensing Reciprocity in New Jersey

Social workers licensed in other states need a New Jersey social work license to practice in the state. New Jersey does not maintain any formal reciprocity agreements with other states, but individual social workers can apply for equivalent New Jersey credentials through the licensure board’s reciprocity process.

Applicants must submit a verification of license from the state in which they hold their licenses, along with an application for New Jersey licensure and an official ASWB master’s or clinical exam score transfer request, if applicable.

How to Renew a Social Work License in New Jersey

Renewal of New Jersey social work licenses happens every two years and requires board-approved continuing education hours. CSWs must complete at least 20 hours, and LSWs need 30 hours. The 20 or 30 credits must include five in ethics and three in social and cultural competency. CSWs pay a $70 renewal fee, and LSWs pay $120.

The licensure board requires 40 continuing education credits and a $160 renewal fee for LCSWs. The 40 credits must include 20 credits in clinical practice, five credits in ethics, and three credits in social and cultural competency.

Salary Expectations for Social Workers in New Jersey

New Jersey child, family, and school social workers earn the highest salaries in the U.S., with an average of $75,590, compared with the national average of $56,560. Mental health and substance social workers in Jersey also top the U.S. salary list at $92,850, which far outpaces the national average of $60,130.

Child, family, and school social workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City earn the second-highest salaries among U.S. metropolitan areas, bringing in an average of $76,200. Trenton ranks fourth with the average salary of $74,560. Mental health and substance abuse social workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City rank eighth among metro areas with an average salary of $85,590.

Source: BLS, 2022

Accredited Bachelor of Social Work Programs in New Jersey

• Centenary University — Hackettstown, NJ (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $18,318 per semester
• Georgian Court University — Brookdale, NJ (On Campus, Online)
  • Available Concentrations: Gerontology
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $17,680 per semester
• Monmouth University — West Long Branch, NJ (On Campus)
  • Available Concentration: Criminal Justice Dual Degree
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $22,049 per semester
• New Jersey City University — Jersey City, NJ (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $6,692 per semester
• Ramapo College — Mahwah, NJ (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $480 per credit hour in-state; $783 per credit out-of-state
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey — Camden and University College, NJ (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $6,450 per semester in-state; $15,300 per semester out-of-state
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Newark Campus — Newark, NJ (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $12,900 per semester in-state; $30,600 per semester out-of-state
• Saint Elizabeth University — Morristown, NJ (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $914 per credit hour
• Seton Hall University — South Orange, NJ (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $23,190 per semester
• Stockton University — Galloway, NJ (On Campus)
  • Available Concentration: Child Welfare
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $6,370 per semester in-state; $10,237 per semester out-of-state
• William Paterson University — Wayne, NJ (On Campus)
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $7,096 per semester in-state; $11,596 per semester out-of-state

Accredited Master of Social Work Programs in New Jersey

• Fairleigh Dickinson University — Teaneck, NJ (Online)
  • Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing, Weekends and Evenings
  • 2023 Tuition: $857 per credit hour
• Kean University — Union, NJ (On Campus, Online)
  • Available Concentrations: Clinical or Direct Practice
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
  • 2023 Tuition: $8,113 per semester in-state; $10,668 per semester out-of-state
• Monmouth University — West Long Branch, NJ (On Campus)
  • Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist, Families and Children, Global and Community Practice
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
  • 2023 Tuition: $2,190 per credit hour
• Montclair State University — Montclair, NJ (On Campus)
  • Available Concentrations: Children, Youth, and Families, Clinical or Direct Practice
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
  • 2023 Tuition: $763 per credit hour
• Ramapo College — Mahwah, NJ (On Campus)
  • Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
  • 2023 Tuition: $819 per credit hour
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey — Camden; New Brunswick, Newark, NJ (On Campus, Online)
  • Available Concentrations: Clinical or Direct Practice, Management or Administration
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple Cohorts Per Year, Weekends and Evenings
  • 2023 Tuition: $760 per credit hour in-state; $1,292 per credit out-of-state
• Seton Hall University — South Orange, NJ (On Campus)
  • Available Concentrations: Health, Mental Health
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
  • 2023 Tuition: $1,450 per credit hour
• Stockton University — Galloway, NJ (On Campus)
  • Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist
  • Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
  • 2023 Tuition: $797 per credit hour in-state; $1,162 per credit out-of-state

Professional Organizations for Social Workers in New Jersey

There are plenty of reasons to become a member of a professional organization or association for social workers. Members gain access to networking events and conferences, plus special publications and journals. Often, members benefit from special discounts on continuing education courses, trainings, and other professional development opportunities. With access to job boards, members can explore more employment opportunities and job-search resources, including career coaching, resume writing, and reference checking. Several professional organizations are available for social workers in New Jersey.

• New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Work (NJSCSW): The NJSCSW is a community of clinical social workers who practice psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis. This professional organization supports the clinical social work field with legislative initiatives and advocacy. Members benefit from an online clinical social work directory, as well as networking opportunities, educational programs, and conferences with guest speakers.
• New Jersey Association of School Social Workers (NJASSW): Affiliated with the NASW, the NJASSW is a membership organization that actively supports the school social work practice by offering professional events, workshops, and conferences to members. Composed of certified school social workers, NJASSW members have access to a job board, information about the certification process, and members-only content. Members can join as professionals, retired employees, or students.