Washington LASW Requirements & Hours Tracker

Becoming a Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) in Washington State involves specific education, supervised experience, and examination requirements laid out in state statute (RCW 18.225), regulation (WAC 246‑809), and Department of Health (DOH) guidance for social workers under the Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Advisory Committee. (doh.wa.gov)

Below is a step‑by‑step guide focused on the exact hour requirements and how Washington defines them.

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1. Credential overview

Washington recognizes LASW as one of the “licensed counselor” credentials governed by chapter 18.225 RCW and chapter 246‑809 WAC. (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

The LASW is generally for non‑clinical/advanced generalist social work roles (e.g., administration, policy, some casework) and requires:

• A CSWE‑accredited master’s or doctoral degree in social work
• A defined block of post‑graduate supervised experience (with a detailed hour breakdown)
• Passing the ASWB Advanced Generalist examination
• Application and issuance of the LASW credential by the Washington State Department of Health

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2. Education requirement

Degree requirement (LASW and LASW Associate)

Under WAC 246‑809‑320 and DOH’s licensing requirements page, you must:

• Graduate from a master’s social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), or
• Hold a social work doctorate from a university accredited by a recognized accrediting body. (regulations.justia.com)

Official transcripts must be sent directly to DOH from your program (with certified translation if not in English). (doh.wa.gov)

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3. Associate stage: Licensed Social Worker Associate–Advanced (LSWAA)

Most in‑state applicants will first hold the Licensed Social Worker Associate–Advanced credential.

3.1. Associate requirements

Key points from WAC 246‑809‑330 and DOH:

• No supervised postgraduate experience is required to become an associate. (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)
• You must already have the qualifying MSW/DSW degree. (regulations.justia.com)
• You must declare that you are working toward full licensure (LASW or LICSW). (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

3.2. Ongoing requirements as an associate

Current rules require:

• 16 hours of continuing education (CE) per year, including:
  • 6 hours of professional ethics and law every two years
  • 2 hours in professional roles and boundaries (separate from ethics)
  • 2 hours in health equity training every four years
  • For social worker associates specifically, required suicide assessment, treatment, and management training (6 hours before first renewal, plus periodic refreshers). (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

You must practice under an approved supervisor at all times.

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4. Supervised postgraduate experience for LASW

This is the core of your question: how many hours, what types, and how the state defines them.

4.1. Total supervised hours

Under WAC 246‑809‑330 and DOH’s LASW licensing page, the supervised experience requirement is:

• Minimum of 3,000 hours of postgraduate, supervised experience. (doh.wa.gov)

DOH’s “Postgraduate Supervision Hours” guidance further interprets social worker supervision rules to require 3,000 total hours of supervised experience over at least two years under approved supervisors. (doh.wa.gov)

4.2. Required breakdown inside the 3,000 hours

Within those 3,000 total supervised hours, WAC 246‑809‑330(1)(c) and DOH specify: (doh.wa.gov)

1. Direct client contact hours

   • At least 800 hours must be “direct client contact.”
   • “Direct client contact” means face‑to‑face (or synchronous virtual) time providing professional services to clients, not staff meetings, trainings, or documentation time.

2. Supervision hours (a subset of the 3,000 total)

   • Total direct supervision required: 90 hours.
   • Those 90 hours must be with an approved supervisor (see definitions below) and are part of the 3,000 hours, not in addition to them. (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

3. Required format of the 90 supervision hours

   • Of the 90 hours of direct supervision:
     • At least 40 hours must be “one‑on‑one supervision” (also called individual supervision).
     • The remaining 50 hours may be either one‑on‑one or group supervision. (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

There is no longer a rule that a minimum number of those supervision hours must be with an LASW or LICSW; that requirement was removed as part of the behavioral health workforce changes (2SHB 1724), and the current WAC reflects this shift. (doh.wa.gov)

So if you want it in the format you requested:

• 3,000 total supervised postgraduate hours, including:
  • At least 800 hours of direct client contact, and
  • 90 hours of direct supervision, which must include:
    • 40 hours minimum of one‑to‑one supervision, and
    • 50 hours that may be one‑to‑one or group supervision.

Everything else within the 3,000 hours can be indirect work (documentation, case consultation, meetings) as long as it is supervised and within an approved setting.

4.3. Who can supervise you?

WAC 246‑809‑310 provides the key definitions: (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

• Approved supervisor (for LASW) means:

  • A Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), or
  • A Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) (for LASW candidates), or
  • An “equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.”

• Equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner means:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
  • Licensed Psychologist
  • Licensed physician practicing as a psychiatrist
  • Licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner

• One‑on‑one supervision is defined as face‑to‑face or virtual supervision with one supervisor and one licensure candidate.

• Group supervision means one supervisor with up to six licensure candidates. (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

For LASW candidates specifically, WAC 246‑809‑330(1)(c) still requires that your 3,000 hours include 90 hours of supervision “by a licensed independent clinical social worker or a licensed advanced social worker” who has been licensed or certified for at least two years, but your direct supervision hours (the 90 hours of supervision meetings) may be under an LICSW, LASW, or an equally qualified licensed mental health professional per the amended rule. (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

4.4. Experience credit for Substance Use Disorder Professionals (SUDP)

If you previously practiced as a Substance Use Disorder Professional, Washington offers possible hour reductions:

• DOH’s LASW licensing page explains that if you’ve practiced as an SUDP for at least three years within the past ten, the department will reduce the required supervised hours by 10%.
• Based on DOH’s interpretation, this means a reduction from 3,000 hours to 2,700 supervised hours for LASW applicants who qualify. (doh.wa.gov)

At the same time, WAC 246‑809‑330(1)(b) still contains older wording referencing a reduction “from 3,200 hours to 2,880 hours.” (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov) Because 2SHB 1724 lowered LASW supervised-hour requirements, DOH guidance now treats 3,000 hours as the baseline, so applicants should follow the 3,000 → 2,700 framework unless DOH issues new rule text to match the current statute and policy.

If you plan to rely on this credit, it’s wise to confirm with DOH at the time you apply, as this area is in flux.

4.5. Out‑of‑state LASWs (supervision waiver)

If you have already been licensed as an advanced social worker in another U.S. jurisdiction:

• An applicant who has held an active advanced social worker license for at least one year, with no disciplinary record or disqualifying criminal history, is deemed to have met the supervised experience requirement in WAC 246‑809‑330(1)(c). (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

This does not waive education or exam requirements, but it means you do not have to re‑document specific hours.

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5. Examination requirement (ASWB Advanced Generalist)

Washington requires LASW applicants to pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Advanced Generalist exam. (doh.wa.gov)

From DOH’s LASW licensing information:

• The exam is designed for MSW‑level social workers with about two years of post‑degree non‑clinical experience.
• You must first submit a licensing application to DOH; you cannot register for the exam until your application is accepted.
• Once DOH approves you, they send instructions on registering with ASWB. Exams are delivered by appointment at testing centers (no fixed test dates).
• ASWB must send your official scores directly to DOH. (doh.wa.gov)

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6. Application process for LASW (in‑state pathway)

Putting the pieces together, the typical Washington in‑state path looks like this:

1. Earn your degree

   • Complete a CSWE‑accredited MSW or social work doctorate.

2. Obtain the associate license (LSWAA)

   • Apply to DOH as a Licensed Social Worker Associate–Advanced.
   • Provide official transcripts and pay associate fees.
   • Identify an approved supervisor and declare you are working toward full licensure. (doh.wa.gov)

3. Accrue supervised postgraduate experience

   • Work in an approved setting under your supervisor.
   • Track hours to ensure you meet:
     • 3,000 total supervised hours, including
     • 800 direct client contact hours, and
     • 90 hours of direct supervision (40 one‑to‑one; 50 one‑to‑one or group). (doh.wa.gov)
   • Make sure your supervisor completes DOH’s verification forms.

4. Complete required CE and suicide‑prevention trainings (as an associate)

   • Maintain your LSWAA each year with the required continuing education and any mandated suicide‑prevention training. (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

5. Apply for full LASW license

   • Submit the LASW application and fees.
   • Have your supervisors submit verification of supervised experience directly to DOH. (doh.wa.gov)
   • Ensure DOH has official transcripts and any out‑of‑state license verifications.

6. Pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam

   • Once DOH approves you to test, schedule and pass the exam.
   • Have ASWB send your scores directly to DOH. (doh.wa.gov)

7. Receive your LASW credential

   • After DOH confirms that education, experience, and exam requirements are all met, they issue the LASW license.

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7. Reciprocity and probationary LASW licenses

Washington has a reciprocity/probationary licensure program for behavioral health professions (including LASW) created under Senate Bill 5054:

• If your current or very recent LASW license in another state has a substantially equivalent scope of practice, DOH may grant a one‑year probationary LASW license, renewable once.
• During the probationary period, you may practice while completing any Washington‑specific requirements that differ from your original state. (doh.wa.gov)

This is separate from the one‑year‑license rule that deems your supervised experience requirement met.

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8. After licensure: ongoing requirements

For context (beyond initial licensure), the current rules for licensed counselors, including LASWs, require:

• 32 hours of CE every two years, including:
  • At least 6 hours in professional ethics and law,
  • At least 2 hours in professional roles and boundaries,
  • At least 2 hours in health equity every four years, and
  • Periodic suicide assessment, treatment, and management training (6 hours at least once every six years, chosen from DOH’s approved list). (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov)

These CE requirements apply for license renewal after you become fully licensed.

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Key hour summary (LASW)

• Total supervised postgraduate hours:

  • 3,000 hours minimum (typically over at least two years)

• Inside those 3,000 hours:

  • Direct client contact:
    • 800 hours minimum of direct client contact
  • Direct supervision:
    • 90 hours total, under an approved supervisor, including:
      • 40 hours minimum of one‑on‑one supervision
      • 50 hours that may be either one‑on‑one or group supervision

These figures and definitions come directly from Washington’s statute, administrative code, and DOH’s LASW licensing guidance, and they represent the current standards used by the Department of Health and its Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Advisory Committee when reviewing LASW applications. (doh.wa.gov)