Minnesota LSW Requirements: Hours, Exams & Step-by-Step Guide

Becoming a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in Minnesota involves both meeting initial licensure requirements and completing a defined block of supervised practice hours after you are licensed. Minnesota now also offers a no‑exam provisional pathway that has its own, separate hour requirements.

Below is a breakdown focused on the exact types and amounts of hours the Minnesota Board of Social Work and Minnesota Statutes require.

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1. What the LSW license is (scope of practice)

In Minnesota, LSW is the bachelor’s‑level social work license. By law:

• An LSW may engage in social work practice but “must not engage in clinical practice”—clinical work is reserved for LICSWs (and LGSWs/LISWs only under LICSW supervision). (revisor.mn.gov)

So all of the hour requirements below are for nonclinical social work practice.

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2. Pathways to a standard LSW license

There are three main ways to hold a standard LSW in Minnesota:

1. Standard LSW by examination (most typical for new Minnesota grads)
2. Standard LSW by completion of provisional license requirements (no‑exam pathway)
3. Standard LSW by endorsement (for those already licensed in another jurisdiction)

All three paths share the same baseline degree, background check, and ethics requirements, and all standard LSWs (except certain endorsement cases) must complete the same post‑licensure supervised practice requirement described in Section 4.

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3. Initial licensure requirements (before supervised practice hours)

3.1 Standard LSW by examination

To be licensed as an LSW by exam, Minnesota Statutes and the Board require that you: (revisor.mn.gov)

1. Education

   • Hold a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, or another accreditation body designated by the Board.

2. Exam

   • Pass the ASWB Bachelors exam (or equivalent exam designated by the Board).
   • The statute specifies that:
     • The exam is not valid if you passed it 8 or more years before you apply for licensure.
     • You must take the exam no more than six months before completing your degree requirements.

3. Application and fees

   • Submit a completed, signed application to the Board and pay all application and initial license fees.

4. Criminal background check (CBC)

   • Complete a fingerprint‑based criminal background check under Minn. Stat. § 214.075, unless you already hold a current standard or temporary Minnesota social work license.

5. Ethical and disciplinary requirements

   • You must not have engaged in conduct that violates the Board’s standards of practice; if you have, the Board may take disciplinary action or deny licensure.

The Board recommends students apply about six months before graduation to smooth the exam and processing timeline. (mn.gov)

3.2 Standard LSW by completion of provisional license requirements (no‑exam route)

Under a 2024 law change, Minnesota created a path to a standard LSW that does not require the ASWB exam. Instead, you: (revisor.mn.gov)

1. Obtain a Provisional LSW (P‑LSW) (Section 3.3 below).
2. Complete the provisional supervised practice requirement (2,000 practice hours + 37.5 supervision hours—see Section 3.3.2).
3. Then apply for standard LSW under Minn. Stat. § 148E.055, subd. 2b by showing:
   • You “completed all requirements” of the provisional statute (now § 148E.0551), and
   • You still meet the LSW education, application, background check, fee, and ethics requirements in § 148E.055, subd. 2(1) and (3)–(6).

3.3 Provisional LSW (P‑LSW): requirements and hours

A Provisional LSW is a three‑year, non‑renewable bachelor’s license that allows you to practice while completing additional supervised practice hours instead of taking the exam. (mn.gov)

3.3.1 Eligibility and application (before counting hours)

For a Provisional LSW (no exam) you must: (mn.gov)

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE‑accredited (or Canadian equivalent) program.
• Complete a fingerprint‑based CBC under Minn. Stat. § 214.075 (unless you already hold a Minnesota standard or temporary social work license).
• Attest that you have not engaged in conduct violating the Board’s ethical standards of practice.
• Apply and pay the provisional application fee (currently $75 plus CBC fee) and submit official transcripts and other required documents.
• You may apply only after your degree is conferred.

3.3.2 Provisional supervised practice: exact hours and ratios

Once your Provisional LSW is issued, Minnesota requires both practice hours and supervision hours:

• Practice hours (provisional)

  • You must complete 2,000 hours of social work practice (clinical and non‑clinical) under provisional license supervision. (mn.gov)

• Supervision hours (provisional)

  • The Board states that provisional licensees complete 37.5 hours of supervision over the course of 2,000 hours of practice. (mn.gov)
  • This is expressed as:
    • 3 hours of supervision for every 160 hours of practice, for a total of
    • 37.5 hours of supervision over 2,000 hours of practice. (mn.gov)

• Types of supervision (provisional) (mn.gov)

  • Total required supervision: 37.5 hours.
  • At least half of the 37.5 hours must be one‑on‑one supervision.
    • May be in person or via eye‑to‑eye electronic media with visual contact (e.g., video conferencing).
  • The remaining hours may be one‑on‑one or group supervision, but:
    • Group supervision cannot exceed six supervisees.
    • Group supervision can be in person, by telephone, or via eye‑to‑eye electronic media (with visual contact).
  • Supervision cannot be provided by email (this restriction mirrors the statute’s general supervision rules).

• What counts as “practice” for these 2,000 hours?
  For provisional licensees in non‑clinical roles (including P‑LSWs), the Board lists activities such as: (mn.gov)

  • Direct client work: assessment, intervention, case management, client advocacy, education, consultation, counseling, crisis intervention, and referral.
  • Indirect work that benefits clients: developing and administering programs, policy and advocacy work, research related to social services, community organization, and teaching social work knowledge and skills.

• Who can supervise a Provisional LSW? (mn.gov)

  • Supervisors must have 30 hours of training in supervision (through coursework or continuing education).
  • A Provisional LSW may be supervised by:
    • An LSW who has completed their own supervised practice requirement,
    • An LGSW,
    • An LISW, or
    • An LICSW.
  • Up to 25% of supervision hours may be from an alternate supervisor (e.g., licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, LPCC, LMFT, or certain other “mental health professionals”)—and in certain rural or special situations, up to 100% of supervision may be by alternates.

When the 2,000 practice hours and 37.5 supervision hours are completed and documented (including six‑month and final evaluations), you may apply to convert the provisional license to a standard LSW under the no‑exam pathway. (mn.gov)

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4. Post‑licensure supervised practice for all LSWs

Whether you become an LSW by exam or by completing provisional requirements, virtually all standard LSWs must complete a one‑time block of supervised practice as a licensed social worker. This requirement is set in Minn. Stat. § 148E.100 and detailed on the Board’s “Standard License Nonclinical Supervision” page. (revisor.mn.gov)

4.1 Required practice hours as an LSW

After your standard LSW is issued, you must complete:

• 4,000 hours of post‑baccalaureate social work practice (“postbaccalaureate social work practice authorized by law”) during which supervision is required. Minn. Stat. § 148E.100 requires that these hours occur in the first 4,000 hours of LSW‑level practice after licensure. (revisor.mn.gov)

The Board describes this as working about two years full‑time (4,000 hours) in nonclinical social work roles. (mn.gov)

What counts as practice here?
For standard nonclinical supervision, the Board uses the same nonclinical practice definition as for provisional licensees: direct client work (assessment, intervention, case management, counseling, crisis services, etc.) and indirect work that benefits clients (program development, administration, policy, research, community organizing, supervising others, and teaching social work). (mn.gov)

There is no separate minimum of “direct client contact hours” for an LSW, unlike the LICSW clinical requirements that specify 1,800 direct clinical client‑contact hours. The LSW requirement is framed entirely in terms of total nonclinical practice hours plus supervision hours.

4.2 Required supervision hours as an LSW

During those first 4,000 hours of practice as an LSW, you must receive:

• At least 100 hours of licensing supervision, with the following structure: (revisor.mn.gov)
  • 4 hours of supervision for every 160 hours of practice (roughly once a month if you work full‑time), for a total of
  • 100 hours of supervision over 4,000 hours of practice.

This aligns exactly with the Board’s wording that supervision is 4 hours per 160 hours of practice and totals 100 supervision hours over 4,000 hours of practice.

4.3 Required types of supervision (LSW)

Minn. Stat. § 148E.100 and the Board’s guidance describe how those 100 supervision hours must be structured: (revisor.mn.gov)

• Total supervision: 100 hours during the first 4,000 hours of post‑baccalaureate practice.
• Minimum 50 hours must be one‑on‑one supervision, delivered:
  • In person, or
  • Via eye‑to‑eye electronic media that maintains visual contact (e.g., video conferencing).
• Up to 50 hours may be either:
  • Additional one‑on‑one supervision, or
  • Group supervision (with no more than six supervisees), delivered:
    • In person,
    • By telephone, or
    • Via eye‑to‑eye electronic media with visual contact.
• Supervision cannot be conducted by email.

The Board explicitly notes that this one‑time nonclinical supervision requirement applies to all LSWs and all LGSWs in nonclinical practice, and that LSW supervision completed does not carry over to meet later LGSW requirements. (mn.gov)

4.4 Who may supervise an LSW (standard license)

For nonclinical supervision of an LSW, the Board specifies that supervisors must: (mn.gov)

• Have completed 30 hours of training in supervision (academic coursework or CE focused on evaluating and directing social work practice, maintaining ethical and competent practice, etc.).
• Meet license‑specific criteria. An LSW may be supervised by:
  • An LSW who has completed their own supervised practice requirement and the 30‑hour supervision training;
  • An LGSW, LISW, or LICSW who has completed 30 hours of supervision training.

Additionally:

• Up to 25% of the LSW’s supervision hours may be provided by an alternate licensing supervisor, defined as a qualifying “mental health professional” (e.g., psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, LMFT, LPCC, or registered psychiatric nurse) meeting their own board’s supervision standards.
• In certain circumstances—such as counties with five or fewer licensed social workers, exempt settings, or out‑of‑state practice—up to 100% of the supervised practice requirement may be completed with an alternate supervisor.

4.5 Documentation: supervision plans and verifications

To ensure those hours are properly counted, the Board requires: (mn.gov)

• A Supervision Plan submitted within 60 days of starting a social work position as an LSW and updated within 60 days whenever your job or supervision arrangement changes.
• Supervision Verification forms submitted:
  • At each license renewal, and
  • When you later apply for higher licenses (LISW or LICSW).

These forms can be filed through Online Services or by PDF/email/mail and must be completed by both supervisee and supervisor.

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5. Endorsement route and how it affects hours

If you already hold an active baccalaureate‑level social work license in another state, you may apply for Minnesota LSW by endorsement. In that case, you must show that you: (revisor.mn.gov)

• Hold an active baccalaureate‑level social work license or credential in another jurisdiction;
• Hold a relevant bachelor’s degree;
• Complete the Minnesota application, fees, CBC, and ethics requirements.

Minnesota law then provides an important exception regarding supervised practice:

• If you have practiced at least 4,000 hours of baccalaureate‑level social work in another jurisdiction within the four years immediately before applying, you are not required to meet Minnesota’s supervised practice requirement in § 148E.100. (revisor.mn.gov)

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6. Putting the hour requirements in plain numbers

To summarize the “type of hours required” for an LSW in Minnesota:

1. Provisional path (no exam) – before becoming a standard LSW:

   • 2,000 hours of supervised social work practice (clinical and/or nonclinical), and
   • 37.5 hours of supervision, at a ratio of 3 supervision hours per 160 practice hours. (mn.gov)

2. Standard LSW supervised practice (after you are licensed as an LSW) – applies to almost all LSWs:

   • 4,000 hours of post‑baccalaureate, nonclinical social work practice, and
   • 100 hours of supervision, at a ratio of 4 supervision hours per 160 practice hours. (revisor.mn.gov)

There is no Minnesota requirement that breaks this into something like “1,500 hours of direct experience and 1,500 hours of supervised experience.” Instead, the Board sets total practice‑hour thresholds and mandatory ratios of supervision‑to‑practice hours, plus rules on supervision type and who may supervise.