Ohio SWA Requirements & Hours Tracker

Ohio regulates the “Registered Social Work Assistant” (SWA) credential through the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board. To use the SWA title, you must hold a certificate of registration as a social work assistant under Ohio Revised Code (R.C.) 4757.29 and Ohio Administrative Code (O.A.C.) 4757‑19‑03. (codes.ohio.gov)

The sections below walk through the requirements and, in particular, the hours that matter (course hours, practicum, and continuing education) and confirm that Ohio does not require specific totals like “1,500 hours of direct experience and 1,500 hours of supervised experience” for SWA registration.

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1. What the SWA credential is and is not

Title and definition

The Board defines “Registered Social Work Assistant” as an individual issued a certificate of registration by the Board in accordance with R.C. 4757.29. (codes.ohio.gov)

The abbreviation for the credential is “SWA,” and only those registered by the Board may use the title “social work assistant” or “SWA.” (codes.ohio.gov)

Not a license to practice “social work”

R.C. 4757.26(D) specifies that a person with a certificate of registration as a social work assistant “is not authorized to engage in the practice of social work.” Instead, an SWA may, under direct supervision, provide human, social, and community services such as intake, screening, crisis intervention, case management, documentation, and related functions. (codes.ohio.gov)

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2. Core eligibility: the education requirement

2.1. Required degree level

R.C. 4757.29 requires the Social Workers Professional Standards Committee to issue a certificate of registration as a social work assistant to each applicant who: (codes.ohio.gov)

• submits a properly completed application,
• pays the fee established under R.C. 4757.31, and
• holds from an accredited educational institution one of the following:
  • an associate degree in social service technology, or
  • a bachelor’s degree that is equivalent to an associate degree in social service technology, or
  • a related bachelor’s or higher degree approved by the committee.

There is no additional post‑degree work‑hours requirement in the statute for SWA registration.

2.2. What “social service technology degree” must include (course hours)

O.A.C. 4757‑19‑03 spells out what the Board means by a “social service technology degree.” (codes.ohio.gov)

To qualify, the associate degree program must provide at least:

1. 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of core courses in social service / social work skills, theory, and systems including a social service practicum; and
2. 21 quarter hours or 14 semester hours of related courses (e.g., psychology, sociology, statistics, economics, or other relevant courses approved by the Social Worker Professional Standards Committee); and
3. A passing grade in all coursework being counted toward these requirements.

These “hours” are academic credit hours, not clock‑hours of employment.

2.3. If you have a higher or different degree

If your degree is higher than an associate degree (for example, a BA/BS in a related field), O.A.C. 4757‑19‑03(C) requires you to provide evidence that your coursework meets the same curriculum standards outlined above. (codes.ohio.gov)

The Board then evaluates whether your bachelor’s or higher degree is:

• “equivalent to an associate degree in social service technology,” or
• a “related bachelor’s or higher degree” acceptable under R.C. 4757.29. (codes.ohio.gov)

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3. Application and documentation steps

Step 1 – Complete the Board’s application (Rule 4757‑1‑04; Rule 4757‑19‑03)

All applicants for first licensure or registration, including SWAs, must file an application with the executive director of the Board using its prescribed forms (now done online via eLicense). (codes.ohio.gov)

For SWAs, O.A.C. 4757‑19‑03(A) adds that at the time of application, you must already have at least the qualifying associate degree in social service technology (or approved equivalent). (codes.ohio.gov)

Step 2 – Pay the required fee

R.C. 4757.31 and O.A.C. 4757‑1‑05 provide that the Board sets fees for “initial certificates of registration of social work assistants” and for renewal and late renewal. (codes.ohio.gov)

• Fees must be paid electronically (credit card or e‑check).
• The renewal fee is the same as the initial fee for SWA registration. (codes.ohio.gov)

Because the dollar amounts can change, the Board directs applicants to consult the current fee schedule rather than relying on a fixed figure.

Step 3 – Have official transcripts sent

Under O.A.C. 4757‑1‑04(C)(1), all applicants for licensure or registration must provide: (codes.ohio.gov)

• Official transcripts showing all coursework and degrees needed to meet the education requirements.
• Transcripts must bear the institution’s seal and registrar’s signature and are typically sent directly from the school to the Board.
• If the transcript does not clearly show that you meet the education requirements, the Board may require additional documentation about specific coursework.

For SWAs, the transcript must show the associate degree in social service technology, or the bachelor’s/higher degree that the committee will evaluate under O.A.C. 4757‑19‑03(C). (codes.ohio.gov)

Step 4 – Undergo a criminal records check (BCI/FBI)

O.A.C. 4757‑1‑04(E) requires all applicants for an initial license or registration issued by the Board—including SWAs—to complete both: (codes.ohio.gov)

• an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) records check, and
• a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records check.

Important points from that rule:

• The criminal records check must be requested in the manner specified by statute, using the Board’s agency code so that results go directly to the Board.
• The results must be dated within one year prior to licensure, or a new check is required.
• The Board will not issue a license or registration until it has received and reviewed the criminal records check results.

Applicants also must meet the Board’s general standards regarding criminal convictions under R.C. 9.79. (codes.ohio.gov)

Step 5 – Board review and issuance

O.A.C. 4757‑19‑08(A)(3) explains how SWA applications are approved. Staff may approve an SWA registration if: (codes.ohio.gov)

• there are no issues requiring committee review (e.g., felony convictions, prior license loss), and
• the transcript documents an associate degree in social service technology or a bachelor’s or higher related degree that clearly meets O.A.C. 4757‑19‑03 standards.

If anything in the application raises questions (e.g., criminal history or non‑accredited degree), the case is held for review by the Social Worker Professional Standards Committee at its next meeting. (codes.ohio.gov)

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4. Hours requirements: what Ohio actually requires for SWAs

4.1. No post‑degree employment hour requirement for initial SWA registration

Unlike the Independent Social Worker (LISW) license—which explicitly requires two years of supervised social work experience totaling 3,000 hours, with no more than 1,500 hours credited in any 12‑month period—the SWA rules contain no comparable requirement for a specific number of employment or supervised practice hours to qualify for registration. (codes.ohio.gov)

For SWAs:

• There is no Board requirement such as “1,500 hours of direct experience plus 1,500 hours of supervised experience” to become registered.
• The only “hours” specified for initial registration are:
  • academic quarter/semester hours in the degree program (see section 2.2), and
  • the inclusion of a social service practicum within those 30 semester hours of core coursework. (codes.ohio.gov)

Individual college programs may mandate a certain number of practicum clock‑hours, but those are program‑level requirements, not set by the CSWMFT Board itself.

4.2. Practicum requirement in Board language

O.A.C. 4757‑19‑03(B) requires that the 30 semester (or 45 quarter) hours of core social service/social work coursework include a “social service practicum.” (codes.ohio.gov)

The rule does not state a minimum number of practicum clock‑hours (e.g., 400 or 500). The Board focuses on credit hours and curriculum content; the specific practicum length is typically governed by the college.

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5. Supervision and scope of practice once you are registered

5.1. Required supervision

R.C. 4757.26(D) and O.A.C. 4757‑21‑01(B) both emphasize that a social work assistant may practice only under direct supervision. (codes.ohio.gov)

Permissible supervisors include:

• Independent social worker (LISW)
• Social worker (LSW)
• Licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC)
• Licensed professional counselor (LPC)
• Marriage and family therapist (MFT) or independent MFT
• Psychologist or psychiatrist
• Certain advanced practice registered nurses certified in psychiatric‑mental health

The Board’s rule describes the services that may be performed under such supervision, including:

• intake assessment and referral, screening, crisis intervention and resolution
• community support, case management and outreach
• record keeping, social assessment, visual observation of a person in the environment
• assistance with groups and families, advocacy, orientation, education, and prevention services (codes.ohio.gov)

5.2. No independent or private practice

Because the statute explicitly states that an SWA is not authorized to engage in the practice of social work, SWAs may not:

• practice social work independently, or
• represent themselves to the public as a “social worker” or provide services outside the SWA scope. (codes.ohio.gov)

They must always be functioning in a supervised setting authorized by the Board’s rules.

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6. Renewal and continuing education hour requirements

6.1. Continuing education hours for SWAs

Ohio law and rules require SWAs to complete continuing professional education to renew their registration:

• R.C. 4757.31(B) states that a person holding a certificate of registration under R.C. 4757.29 must complete not less than 15 clock hours of continuing professional education during each registration period as a condition of renewal. (codes.ohio.gov)
• O.A.C. 4757‑9‑01(D) echoes this: persons holding a registration as a social work assistant “must earn fifteen hours of continuing education as a condition of renewal.” (codes.ohio.gov)

A “clock hour” is defined in O.A.C. 4757‑9‑04 as 60 minutes in an approved continuing education program (excluding breaks, meals, and social time). (codes.ohio.gov)

6.2. Ethics and “banked” hours

Under the general continuing education framework:

• For social workers and independent social workers, at least three of the 30 hours per renewal must be in ethics; SWAs have a lower total requirement but are still subject to Board‑approved content rules. (law.cornell.edu)
• O.A.C. 4757‑9‑04 currently allows SWAs to “bank” up to six hours of excess continuing education from the immediate prior renewal period, though that banking provision will be phased out as of July 1, 2026. (codes.ohio.gov)

6.3. Renewal cycle and lapse

Licenses and certificates of registration, including SWAs, are renewed biennially according to schedules set by rule. If a certificate is not renewed, it lapses on its expiration date. A lapsed SWA registration can be restored for up to two years by applying for restoration, paying the renewal fee, and completing the required continuing education hours for restoration. (codes.ohio.gov)

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7. Summary focused on “hours” and Board language

For an SWA in Ohio, the Board’s hour‑based requirements can be summarized as:

1. Academic course hours in the qualifying degree

   • At least 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of core social service/social work coursework, including a practicum, plus
   • At least 14 semester hours (or 21 quarter hours) of related coursework, all passed. (codes.ohio.gov)

2. No required total of post‑degree employment or supervised practice hours to obtain initial SWA registration

   • The Board does not require 1,500, 3,000, or any other specific number of work hours for SWA registration, in contrast to the independent social worker license, where “two years employment experience” is defined as 3,000 hours with no more than 1,500 credited per 12‑month period. (codes.ohio.gov)

3. Continuing education hours for renewal

   • 15 clock hours of Board‑acceptable continuing professional education every renewal period to maintain the SWA registration. (codes.ohio.gov)

If you structure your preparation around (a) completing a qualifying degree that meets the Board’s curriculum and practicum requirements, (b) submitting a complete application with transcripts, fee, and background checks under the Board’s rules, and (c) planning for 15 CE hours per renewal period, you will have satisfied the specific “hours” and other requirements that the Ohio CSWMFT Board has established for the Social Work Assistant (SWA) registration.