North-carolina CMSW Requirements & Hours Tracker

Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) is North Carolina’s advanced non‑clinical certification for social workers who hold a graduate degree in social work. It is issued by the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board (NCSWCLB) as a voluntary certification, not a clinical license. The Board’s rules are very clear that this credential does not require the kind of pre‑licensure practice and supervision hours that exist for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM). (ncswboard.gov)

The sections below summarize the official Board requirements and highlight exactly what types of “hours” are and are not required.

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1. Credential type and role of CMSW

The NCSWCLB describes four levels of credentialing, with three voluntary certifications (CSW, CMSW, CSWM) and one mandatory clinical license (LCSW / LCSWA). (ncswboard.gov)

• CMSW – Certified Master Social Worker (Level B)
  • Voluntary, non‑clinical credential
  • Typically used for advanced, non‑clinical practice roles (e.g., medical, school, policy, program development)
  • Protects the professional title “Certified Master Social Worker” under the Social Worker Certification and Licensure Act

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2. Core eligibility requirements for CMSW

According to the Board’s Levels and Eligibility Requirements page and the statute at G.S. 90B‑7(c), you must meet all of the following to obtain the CMSW credential. (ncswboard.gov)

2.1 Education

• You must hold one of the following social work degrees:

  • Master of Social Work (MSW)
  • Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
  • PhD in Social Work

• The degree must be from a social work program accredited (or in candidacy) with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). (ncswboard.gov)

The statute defines the educational requirement for CMSW as a master’s or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE‑approved or accredited program. (ncleg.gov)

2.2 Examination

The Board’s rules on qualifying examinations state that the examination “required by G.S. 90B‑7(c)(2) for the Certified Master Social Worker credential is the ASWB Master level examination or the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) examination.” (ncswboard.gov)

In practice, most applicants complete the ASWB Master level exam; ACSW is an accepted alternative where applicable.

2.3 Experience and supervision hours (pre‑credential)

For CMSW, the Board’s eligibility chart lists:

EXPERIENCE: No prior experience required. (ncswboard.gov)

Other guidance for North Carolina social work credentials reinforces this: “CSW and CMSW: No prior experience needed.” (northcarolinasocialwork.org)

That means:

• No practice hour requirement (e.g., no 1,500 or 3,000 practice hours)
• No supervised experience requirement (no required tally of supervised hours for CMSW specifically)
• No specified breakdown into “direct” vs. “indirect” hours for CMSW

In contrast, the LCSW credential requires 3,000 hours of post‑MSW paid clinical employment with at least 100 hours of supervision, but those requirements apply only to LCSW, not to CMSW. (ncswboard.gov)

So, if you are looking for language like “1,500 hours of direct experience and 1,500 hours of supervised experience,” there is no such requirement for CMSW in North Carolina. The Board explicitly states that there is no prior experience requirement for this credential.

2.4 Application and fees (initial certification)

The Board’s eligibility table lists the following for CMSW: (ncswboard.gov)

• APPLICATION FEE: $145
• Credential period: issued for a term not to exceed 2 years (all Board credentials follow a biennial cycle) (ncswboard.gov)

The typical application file for a new CMSW candidate will include:

• Completed CMSW application form (through the Board portal)
• Official graduate social work transcript sent directly from the school
• Verification of passing the ASWB Master (or ACSW) exam
• Required fee (money order or certified check, unless paid electronically as permitted) (ncswboard.gov)

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3. Step‑by‑step path to CMSW certification

Step 1 – Obtain a qualifying graduate social work degree

• Complete an MSW, DSW, or PhD in social work from a CSWE‑accredited (or candidate) program.
• If your degree is from outside the United States or its territories, the Board directs you to go through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition process to determine equivalency. (ncswboard.gov)

Step 2 – Apply to the Board for exam eligibility

• Submit the Board’s application or registration for exam eligibility indicating you are seeking CMSW.
• The Board must approve you before you schedule the ASWB Master level exam. (northcarolinasocialwork.org)

Step 3 – Pass the qualifying examination

• Register with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) for the Master level exam after receiving Board approval.
• Take and pass the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center (or approved testing arrangement). (northcarolinasocialwork.org)

Step 4 – Submit the CMSW certification application

Once you have:

• Verified your qualifying degree, and
• Passed the ASWB Master level (or ACSW) exam,

you submit the full CMSW certification application to NCSWCLB with:

• Proof of degree (official transcript)
• Exam score verification
• Any required disclosures (e.g., criminal history documentation, if applicable)
• $145 application fee (ncswboard.gov)

Because CMSW has no pre‑certification practice or supervision hour requirement, you will not be asked to document employment hours or supervision logs for this credential. Those forms are directed to LCSWA/LCSW and CSWM applicants.

Step 5 – Receive CMSW certificate and begin practice within its scope

Upon Board approval:

• You may present yourself to the public using the protected title “Certified Master Social Worker” (CMSW). (ncswboard.gov)
• You remain bound by the Social Worker Certification and Licensure Act and Board rules governing ethical practice.

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4. Ongoing hour requirements: continuing education and renewal

While there are no pre‑credential experience or supervision hours, there are hour requirements for maintaining the CMSW once issued.

4.1 Continuing education (CE) hours

The Board’s eligibility chart specifies for CMSW: (ncswboard.gov)

• BIENNIAL RENEWAL:
  • $90 renewal fee
  • Documentation of 40 clock hours of continuing education (CE) every 2 years
  • At least 4 of those hours must be in ethics

Other state‑level guidance on North Carolina social work CE echoes this language: all Board‑credentialed social workers, including CMSWs, must complete 40 total CE hours every two years, including 4 hours specifically in social work ethics. (northcarolinasocialwork.org)

In practical terms, that means:

• You must accumulate 40 contact hours of approved CE in each two‑year renewal cycle.
• Within those 40 hours, at least 4 contact hours must focus on social work practice ethics and ethical decision‑making. (northcarolinasocialwork.org)

The Board also limits how many of these hours can be done via distance learning; current guidance allows up to 20 hours of the 40 to be completed through distance education that meets Board or ASWB‑ACE/NASW‑NC standards. (northcarolinasocialwork.org)

4.2 Renewal cycle and documentation

• CMSW certification is issued for a period not to exceed two years and must be renewed biennially with the required fee and CE hours. (ncswboard.gov)
• You certify your CE hours at renewal; you only submit detailed documentation if selected for audit or when specifically requested by the Board. (northcarolinasocialwork.org)

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5. Summary of hour requirements for CMSW in North Carolina

Putting it all together, the Board’s own wording and rules mean:

• Practice / employment hours required before CMSW certification:

  • None. The Board’s eligibility table explicitly states for CMSW: “EXPERIENCE: No prior experience required.” (ncswboard.gov)
  • There is no requirement for “direct practice hours,” “indirect hours,” or “supervised hours” for CMSW, unlike the 3,000 supervised clinical hours required for LCSW or the 3,000 supervised administrative hours for CSWM. (ncswboard.gov)

• Supervision hours required before CMSW certification:

  • None. No pre‑certification supervision ratio or supervision hour minimum is attached to the CMSW credential.

• Continuing education hours required to maintain CMSW:

  • 40 clock hours of CE every 2 years, of which 4 hours must be ethics‑focused, plus payment of the biennial renewal fee. (ncswboard.gov)

So, for CMSW specifically, North Carolina’s Social Work Certification and Licensure Board defines zero required employment or supervision hours for initial certification, and the only hour‑based requirements appear in the continuing education obligations for renewal.