South-carolina LISW-AP Requirements: Hours, Exams & Step-by-Step Guide

Licensure as a Licensed Independent Social Worker – Advanced Practice (LISW‑AP) in South Carolina is defined in statute and board policy with fairly precise language about coursework, supervision, and hours. What follows distills those requirements into a structured, step‑by‑step description that tracks the wording of the South Carolina Social Work Practice Act and the Board of Social Work Examiners.

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1. What the LISW‑AP License Authorizes

South Carolina treats “Independent Social Worker—Advanced Practice” as a macro/organizational license. By statute, the practice of Independent Social Work—Advanced Practice focuses on:

• Community and organizational systems and other indirect (nonclinical) services, and
• Activities such as community organization, policy and social planning, administration of programs, outcome evaluation, research, nonclinical supervision and consultation, nonclinical assessment and referral, mediation, expert testimony, and advocacy. (scstatehouse.gov)

A LISW‑AP may not independently practice clinical social work; independent clinical practice requires the LISW‑CP license. (scstatehouse.gov)

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2. Baseline Eligibility Before Supervised Advanced‑Practice Hours

To qualify for LISW‑AP you must meet general eligibility and education requirements laid out in S.C. Code § 40‑63‑240(B): (scstatehouse.gov)

1. Application and age

   • Submit a written application on forms prescribed by the Board.
   • Be at least 21 years of age.
   • Be of good moral character.

2. Degree requirement (social work only)

   • Hold a master’s or doctoral degree in social work from:
     • A program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body for social work (i.e., CSWE or equivalent), or
     • A program whose standards are at least equivalent, as approved by the Board. (scstatehouse.gov)

3. LMSW licensure prerequisite

   • The required supervised experience must occur after licensure as a Masters Social Worker (LMSW); the statute states that the supervised practice “must have occurred after licensure as a Masters Social Worker.” (scstatehouse.gov)
   • Practically, this means you must already hold a South Carolina LMSW before any hours can count toward LISW‑AP.

4. Background check

   • All applicants for initial licensure must undergo a state (SLED) and national (FBI) fingerprint‑based criminal history background check, with costs paid by the applicant. (scstatehouse.gov)

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3. Required Coursework

The LISW‑AP pathway has two distinct coursework expectations:

1. Advanced practice macro coursework – 90 academic contact hours

   Statute requires that “course work content shall include ninety academic contact hours of course work in advanced social work practice with communities and organizations.” (scstatehouse.gov)

   • These hours are typically satisfied through your MSW/DSW curriculum (policy, administration, community practice, etc.).
   • If your transcript does not clearly show this coverage, the Board may require supplemental documentation or additional coursework; applicants usually document these hours on a Required Coursework form submitted with official transcripts. (publichealthonline.org)

2. Ethics coursework – 15 academic hours or 20 CE hours

   During the supervised experience period, you must either: (scstatehouse.gov)

   • Complete 15 academic contact hours in professional ethics, or
   • Complete 20 continuing education contact hours in professional ethics, or
   • Complete a Board‑sponsored specialty course in professional ethics.

These ethics hours are a separate requirement in addition to the 90 macro practice hours.

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4. Supervised Advanced‑Practice Experience: Hours and Structure

The most detailed part of the LISW‑AP requirements is the supervised advanced‑practice experience, governed by S.C. Code § 40‑63‑240(B)(6). (scstatehouse.gov)

4.1 Total practice hours required

The statute requires that an LISW‑AP applicant:

“demonstrate to the board the satisfactory completion of three thousand hours of social work practice under advanced practice supervision … or equivalent supervised experience in the practice of advanced practice social work.”

Key points about these 3,000 hours:

• They are hours of practice, not a split of “direct experience vs separate supervised experience hours” (unlike some other states that, for example, require 1,500 direct‑client hours and 1,500 other hours).
• All 3,000 hours must be:
  • In advanced practice social work (macro/organizational/community focus, not clinical psychotherapy), and
  • Performed under advanced practice supervision as defined by the Board. (scstatehouse.gov)

4.2 Timeframe for accruing hours

The law specifies that supervised practice under advanced‑practice supervision: (scstatehouse.gov)

• Must occur after you are licensed as an LMSW, and
• Must be completed over a minimum of two (2) years and a maximum of four (4) years.

Common practice and guidance further emphasize:

• You cannot count more than what would reasonably constitute full‑time work (often interpreted as no more than 40 hours/week toward the 3,000‑hour total). (msweducation.org)

4.3 Required supervision within those 3,000 hours

Within the 3,000 practice hours, the statute requires a defined minimum of direct supervision:

• You must have at least 100 hours of direct advanced practice supervision,
• Conducted as face‑to‑face meetings (in‑person or via approved two‑way, HIPAA‑compliant video),
• “Equitably distributed” across the supervision period. (scstatehouse.gov)

From the statutory language:

Supervised practice “must include face‑to‑face meetings between the approved advanced practice supervisor and the supervisee for a minimum of one hundred hours of direct advanced practice supervision equitably distributed.” (scstatehouse.gov)

Interpretations and board‑aligned guidance provide additional detail:

• At least 100 hours of your time with the supervisor must be supervision sessions (case discussion, organizational work, policy projects, ethical issues, etc.).
• In practice, resources that track SC requirements note:
  • At least 100 hours of face‑to‑face supervision are required, and
  • Up to 50% of those supervision hours may be done in group supervision with no more than six supervisees, with the remainder as individual supervision. (msweducation.org)
• The Board’s FAQ confirms that the 100 required supervision hours can be provided via secure electronic means if a HIPAA‑compliant two‑way video platform is used. (llr.sc.gov)

4.4 Documentation and supervision plan

The law is explicit that supervision must follow a documented plan: (scstatehouse.gov)

• Your hours must be governed by a written plan for advanced practice supervision that is:
  • Filed with the Board before you begin counting any hours, and
  • Amended if the supervisor changes (with notice of the end of supervision and a termination evaluation).
• At the end of the supervisory period, the supervisor must submit a termination evaluation and a Report of Supervised Experience verifying:
  • 3,000 hours of advanced practice social work, and
  • 100 hours of direct advanced practice supervision. (publichealthonline.org)

The supervision plan is typically called the LISW Supervision Contract and must be signed by you and your board‑approved advanced practice supervisor and then approved by the Board. (llr.sc.gov)

4.5 Type of work that counts

Because the LISW‑AP is macro/macro‑systems focused, qualifying experience generally includes:

• Program and policy development
• Community organization and development
• Administration of social work programs and services
• Nonclinical case consultation, staff supervision, and organizational consultation
• Research, evaluation, and outcome measurement
• Advocacy and systems‑level interventions (scstatehouse.gov)

The Board’s FAQ emphasizes that supervision for advanced practice (LISW‑AP) does not count for LISW‑CP, and clinical supervision does not count for LISW‑AP, even though an LMSW may perform a mix of duties during a supervision period. (llr.sc.gov)

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5. Supervisor Qualifications (Advanced Practice Supervisor)

To count toward LISW‑AP, supervision must be provided by an Approved Advanced Practice Supervisor. The statute sets these qualifications in § 40‑63‑240(C): (scstatehouse.gov)

An Approved Advanced Practice Supervisor must:

1. Hold the LISW‑AP license

   • “Be a Licensed Independent Social Worker—Advanced Practice.”

2. Pass the prescribed examination

   • “Have successfully passed an examination prescribed by the board” (the same category‑appropriate ASWB exam required for LISW‑AP). (scstatehouse.gov)

3. Post‑licensure experience requirement

   • Have a minimum of 4,500 hours of advanced practice earned over a period of not less than three (3) years beyond receipt of an LISW‑AP. (scstatehouse.gov)

4. Supervision training

   • Have 45 academic contact hours or 45 continuing education contact hours in supervision. (scstatehouse.gov)

The Board FAQ restates this more simply: to be an approved LISW supervisor (CP or AP), a licensee must hold that independent license, have at least 4,500 hours of clinical/advanced practice over at least three years beyond LISW, and 45 hours of coursework or CE in supervision. (llr.sc.gov)

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6. Examination Requirement

After you complete the supervised experience and coursework requirements and the Board approves your documentation, you must pass the examination prescribed by the Board. The statute states generally that an LISW‑AP applicant must: (scstatehouse.gov)

• “Have successfully passed an examination prescribed by the board.”

In practice, South Carolina uses the ASWB Advanced Generalist examination for LISW‑AP applicants: (publichealthonline.org)

• Format: 170 multiple‑choice questions (150 scored, 20 pretest).
• Focus: macro practice, organizational and community interventions, administration, policy, and evaluation.

The Board authorizes you to sit for the exam only after approving your LISW‑AP application. Once you pass, ASWB reports your score directly to the Board.

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7. Application Process – Putting It All Together

In practical order, the LISW‑AP path typically looks like this:

1. Earn an MSW or DSW in Social Work

   • Make sure your program can document the 90 academic contact hours in advanced practice with communities and organizations and provides coursework that supports your future ethics and supervision requirements. (scstatehouse.gov)

2. Obtain LMSW licensure in South Carolina

   • Apply to the Board as an LMSW, pass the ASWB Masters exam, and receive your LMSW license. You cannot count any hours toward LISW‑AP until you are licensed as an LMSW. (scstatehouse.gov)

3. Secure a Board‑Approved Advanced Practice Supervisor

   • Confirm your supervisor:
     • Holds LISW‑AP,
     • Has at least 4,500 hours of advanced practice over ≥3 years post‑LISW‑AP, and
     • Has 45 hours of supervision‑specific training. (scstatehouse.gov)

4. File the LISW Supervision Contract with the Board

   • You and your supervisor complete the Board’s Social Work Supervision Contract (for advanced practice) and submit it; hours do not count until the contract is approved. (llr.sc.gov)

5. Accrue 3,000 hours of advanced practice social work under supervision

   • Work in approved social, medical, or governmental agencies or other macro practice settings.
   • Complete 3,000 hours of social work practice under advanced practice supervision, over 2–4 years, beginning after you are licensed LMSW. (scstatehouse.gov)
   • Ensure that at least 100 hours of that time are face‑to‑face supervision sessions, equitably distributed over the supervision period; if using telehealth for supervision, it must be via approved, secure two‑way video. (scstatehouse.gov)

6. Complete the required ethics coursework during supervision

   • During this same period, obtain 15 academic contact hours or 20 CE contact hours in professional ethics, or complete the Board’s specialty ethics course. (scstatehouse.gov)

7. Document and submit your supervised experience

   • Your supervisor submits a Report of Supervised Experience and a final termination evaluation to the Board, confirming your 3,000 advanced practice hours and 100 supervision hours.
   • You submit:
     • LISW‑AP licensure application and fee,
     • Required Coursework form with official transcripts (showing the 90 macro hours and ethics coursework),
     • Evidence of having passed the background check. (publichealthonline.org)

8. Obtain Board approval to take the exam and pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist

   • After your file is approved, the Board notifies ASWB that you are eligible to test.
   • You register for and pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam. (publichealthonline.org)

9. Receive your LISW‑AP license

   • Once exam results are received and all statutory requirements are satisfied, the Board issues the LISW‑AP license. You may then practice advanced (macro) social work independently, within the scope defined in statute. Clinical services, however, still require either LISW‑CP licensure or appropriate clinical supervision. (scstatehouse.gov)

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8. Hour Breakdown – Direct Answer to the Example

To respond directly to the type of breakdown you asked about:

• South Carolina’s LISW‑AP pathway does not divide the requirement into “1,500 hours of direct experience and 1,500 hours of supervised experience.”

• Instead, the law requires:

  • 3,000 hours of social work practice under advanced practice supervision (your advanced practice work time),
  • Within which you must receive at least 100 hours of direct advanced practice supervision (face‑to‑face meetings with an approved advanced practice supervisor),
  • All completed after LMSW licensure, over a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 4 years, plus
  • 15 academic or 20 CE hours in professional ethics, and
  • 90 academic contact hours in advanced practice with communities and organizations. (scstatehouse.gov)

Those are the core hour and supervision requirements, in the State’s own terms, for becoming licensed as an LISW‑AP with the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners.