Nevada LMSW Requirements & Hours Tracker

Nevada’s Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) credential is a non‑clinical master’s‑level license regulated by the Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers under Chapter 641B of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and related regulations (NAC 641B). It is distinct from the clinical (LCSW) and independent (LISW) licenses, which carry significant supervised‑hour requirements.

A key point for Nevada: there is no state‑mandated post‑master supervised‑hour requirement to obtain the LMSW license itself. Supervised hour requirements apply later if you pursue LISW or LCSW.

Below is a step‑by‑step outline using the Board’s statutory and regulatory language wherever possible.

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1. Understand what “Licensed Master Social Worker” means in Nevada

Nevada regulations define:

• “Licensed master social worker” as a person licensed by the Board “to engage in the practice of social work as a master social worker.” (law.cornell.edu)

The statute governing this license is NRS 641B.225, “Master social worker: Qualifications; practice; supervision of other social workers.” It states that the Board grants a license to engage in social work as a master social worker to an applicant who:

• Meets the preliminary qualifications in NRS 641B.200, and
• “Possesses a master’s or doctoral degree in social work” from a CSWE‑accredited (or candidate) program and “passes an examination prescribed by the Board.” (law.justia.com)

There is no supervised‑hours clause in the LMSW qualifications section; those appear in the independent and clinical social worker sections (NRS 641B.230 and 641B.240), not in 641B.225. (nevada.public.law)

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2. Meet the preliminary qualifications (NRS 641B.200)

Every Nevada social work license starts with the same basic statutory prerequisites:

Preliminary qualifications – NRS 641B.200

Each applicant must furnish evidence satisfactory to the Board that they are: (nevada.public.law)

1. At least 21 years of age, and
2. A citizen of the United States or lawfully entitled to remain and work in the United States.

In addition, Nevada law requires:

• Fingerprint/background check. NRS 641B.202 requires each applicant to submit fingerprints, which the Board may send to the state repository and the FBI for a criminal history report. (leg.state.nv.us)

These preliminary requirements apply to all licenses (LSW, LMSW, LISW, LCSW).

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3. Complete the required education

Degree requirement

For the LMSW license, Nevada statute requires: (law.justia.com)

• A master’s or doctoral degree in social work from:
  • A college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or a CSWE candidate program, or
  • A qualifying foreign program with equivalency documentation per NRS 641B.204.

The Board’s regulation on evidence of education (NAC 641B.100) requires that the school send a certified transcript directly to the Board showing the degree awarded. (regulations.justia.com)

Practicum / field hours

Nevada does not separately list a numeric practicum requirement for LMSW licensure. Instead:

• The MSW program must meet CSWE standards, which include a substantial field practicum (often about 900 clock hours). Schools that publish Nevada disclosures typically summarize Nevada’s LMSW requirements as:
  • CSWE‑accredited MSW
  • Postgraduate work experience: None
  • Examination: ASWB Master’s exam (waldenu.edu)

So, any “hours” tied to LMSW are embedded in your accredited MSW program, not imposed by the Nevada Board as a separate, numbered requirement for the LMSW license.

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4. Apply to the Nevada Board for LMSW licensure

Application process

The Nevada Board uses an online licensing portal. Third‑party licensure disclosures that link directly to the Board’s LMSW application page describe the Nevada Master Social Worker License as requiring: (waldenu.edu)

• A CSWE‑accredited master’s degree in social work,
• No postgraduate work experience, and
• Passing the relevant ASWB exam.

From NASW–Nevada’s summary “Qualifications for Licensure per the Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers” (which is explicitly based on Board information): (naswnv.socialworkers.org)

Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW)
• Possesses a master’s degree in social work from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or which is a candidate for such accreditation, AND
• Passes the ASWB Masters examination.

You will generally need to:

1. Create an account in the Board’s online system and start an LMSW application. (socialworkerlicense.com)
2. Arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly from your MSW program to the Board (per NAC 641B.100). (regulations.justia.com)
3. Complete fingerprinting using the Board’s fingerprint request/waiver forms and submit them for the background check. (socialworkerlicense.com)
4. Upload any other documents the portal requests (ID, immigration/authorization documentation if applicable, etc.).

Fees

NASW–Nevada’s summary of the Board’s fee schedule (for LSW/LMSW level) lists: (naswnv.socialworkers.org)

• Application fee: $50
• Initial license fee: $125
• Optional provisional license, licensure by endorsement, and renewal fees have their own amounts.

By statute, there is also a reduced initial license fee (not more than half) for certain active‑duty military, spouses, veterans, and surviving spouses. (leg.state.nv.us)

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5. Pass the ASWB Masters Examination

Nevada regulations on examinations (NAC 641B.105) state that an applicant for licensure as a licensed master social worker must pass the Masters Examination of the Association of Social Work Boards. (law.cornell.edu)

Key points:

• The Board must approve you to sit for the exam after reviewing your application. (regulations.justia.com)
• The exam is administered by ASWB at testing centers; you register and pay the ASWB fee (commonly listed around $230 for the Masters exam). (naswnv.socialworkers.org)
• There is no statutory limit on the number of retakes, but ASWB imposes at least a 90‑day wait between attempts, and NASW–Nevada notes that Nevada requires a 90‑day wait between retakes. (naswnv.socialworkers.org)

Once you pass the exam and all other application items clear (including the background check), the Board issues your LMSW license.

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6. What the Nevada LMSW license allows you to do

Under NRS 641B.225(2), a person licensed as a master social worker may: (law.justia.com)

• Engage in social work independently as part of a Board‑approved internship program to complete the supervised social work required for LISW licensure (NRS 641B.230).
• Engage in clinical social work as part of a Board‑approved internship program to complete the supervised, postgraduate clinical hours required for LCSW licensure (NRS 641B.240).
• Supervise other persons engaging in the practice of social work (subject to the Board’s scope‑of‑practice rules).

The LMSW itself is a non‑clinical license: it authorizes generalist, administrative, and supervisory social work, but does not allow independent psychotherapy or clinical diagnosis unless you are operating within a Board‑approved internship toward LCSW and under appropriate supervision. (beherenv.org)

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7. Hour requirements: how Nevada distinguishes LMSW from LISW/LCSW

Because you asked specifically about “type of hours required and the verbiage defined by that state board,” it’s useful to compare the statutory language.

LMSW: no post‑master supervised‑hour requirement

For the master social worker license, NRS 641B.225 requires only:

• Preliminary qualifications (age and legal work status),
• A master’s or doctoral degree in social work from an appropriate program, and
• Passing an examination prescribed by the Board. (law.justia.com)

There is no clause in NRS 641B.225 that says “completes X hours” of supervised experience. Independent and clinical licenses do include explicit 3,000‑hour requirements; the LMSW statute does not.

Multiple licensing disclosures that summarize Nevada Board requirements therefore describe the Master Social Worker License as requiring:

• Postgraduate Work Experience: None
  for initial licensure. (waldenu.edu)

LISW and LCSW: 3,000 supervised hours (for later, advanced licensure)

For context, Nevada’s advanced licenses do specify supervised‑hour requirements:

• Independent Social Worker (LISW) – NRS 641B.230(1)(b): must complete “3,000 hours of supervised, postgraduate social work approved by the Board.” (nevada.public.law)
• Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – NRS 641B.240(1)(b): must complete “3,000 hours of supervised, postgraduate, clinical social work approved by the Board.” (nevada.public.law)

Board and NASW‑Nevada summaries further specify that for LCSW, at least 2,000 of those 3,000 hours must be in psychotherapeutic methods and techniques with individuals, families, and groups. (naswnv.socialworkers.org)

Nevada does not break these 3,000 hours into a “1,500 direct / 1,500 supervised” format; instead, it uses the statutory language above (3,000 supervised hours, with a 2,000‑hour clinical/psychotherapy sub‑requirement for LCSW).

The LMSW license is the front‑end credential you hold while you complete those supervised hours later, under a Board‑approved internship, if you choose to pursue LISW or LCSW.

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8. Renewal and continuing education obligations for LMSWs

Once licensed, you must renew and maintain continuing education (CE).

Renewal cycle

• Nevada licenses are renewed annually, on the last day of your birth month. (msweducation.org)

Continuing education (NAC 641B.187)

For each reporting period, a licensee who is a licensed associate in social work, licensed social worker, or licensed master social worker must complete at least 30 continuing education hours, including: (law.cornell.edu)

• 4 hours in ethics in the practice of social work,
• 2 hours in evidence‑based suicide prevention and awareness (every two years),
• 6 hours in cultural competency and diversity, equity, and inclusion (every two years), and
• 10 hours in the licensee’s field of practice,
  with the remaining hours in areas approved by the Board.

LCSWs and LISWs have a slightly higher total (36 hours) and a 12‑hour field‑of‑practice minimum, but the LMSW requirement is the 30‑hour standard above. (law.cornell.edu)

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9. Summary of Nevada LMSW requirements

Putting the Board’s language and structure together, the pathway to an LMSW in Nevada is:

1. Meet preliminary qualifications

   • At least 21 years old, and
   • A U.S. citizen or lawfully entitled to remain and work in the U.S., with required fingerprints/background check. (nevada.public.law)

2. Earn an appropriate degree

   • Master’s or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE‑accredited (or candidate) program or qualified foreign equivalent. (law.justia.com)

3. Submit an LMSW application to the Nevada Board

   • Online application, official transcripts, fingerprints, fees (currently $50 application + $125 initial license at the LSW/LMSW level per NASW–Nevada summary). (naswnv.socialworkers.org)

4. Pass the ASWB Masters Examination

   • As required by NAC 641B.105 for licensed master social workers. (law.cornell.edu)

5. Receive your LMSW license and practice within the LMSW scope

   • Non‑clinical social work; may participate in Board‑approved internships to earn the 3,000 supervised hours needed for LISW or LCSW in the future, but no supervised‑hour total is required to obtain the LMSW itself. (law.justia.com)

6. Maintain the license

   • Renew annually and complete 30 CE hours per reporting period, with required content in ethics, suicide prevention, and cultural competency, plus practice‑field hours. (law.cornell.edu)

If you’re planning your path, the practical takeaway is that Nevada’s LMSW is an exam‑plus‑degree license with no separate state‑mandated post‑master “1,500 direct / 1,500 supervised”‑style hour requirement. Those hour requirements arise only when you move on to LISW or LCSW.