Licensure

Reinstatement

According to KRS 335.130(1), a licensee shall renew his or her license on a three (3) year basis in order to continue to practice social work in Kentucky.

• The three (3) year renewal cycle is based on the date that your initial license was issued by the board.
• A licensee must update their contact information with the board.
• Notify the board if your personal or employment information changes – update your information at the Self Service Portal.
• If your Kentucky social work license has expired, you must immediately CEASE & DESIST the practice of social work in Kentucky. You may not practice social work until your license is reinstated.

Two regulations apply to reinstatement. 201 KAR 23:051Renewal, termination, reinstatement of license, and 201 KAR 23:075​ Continuing education for renewal, see Section 11.​​​

​​Expired 3 M​onths or LESS

1. Complete Licensure Renewal Form
   
2. Continuing Education
   • Include copies of CE certificates of completion; or
   • Write a request for six (6) month extension
3. Employment
   • Write a letter explaining where you have been employed; and
   • Begin with where you worked on the date your license expired to the date reinstatement is filed
4. Fees
   • License renewal fees: LSW $75, CSW $125, LSCW $200
   • Late renewal penalty fee: $100
   • Fees may be included in one check made payable to "KY State Treasurer"
5. After your reinstatement packet is reviewed, you will receive an email notice from board staff either requesting additional information or approving reinstatement​
   
   

Expired 3 Months or More

1. Complete the Licensure Renewal ​Form as if you're applying for licensure all over again
   • You may not have to resubmit official transcripts
   • You may not have to resubmit ASWB Score Report for the exam
   • You will be required to obtain current official verification of any out-of-state license(s)
2. Continuing Education
   • Include copies of CE certificates of completion; or
   • Write a request for six (6) month extension
3. Employment
   • Write a letter explaining where you have been employed; and
   • Begin with where you worked on the date your license expired to the date reinstatement is filed
   • You may include a resume
4. Fees
   • $25 nonrefundable application review fee made payable to "KY State Treasurer"
   • DO NOT include license renewal fees or late penalty fees at this point
5. After your reinstatement packet is reviewed, you will receive an email notice from board staff requesting additional information or approving reinstatement as asking you to mail the required fees:
   • License renewal fees: LSW $75, CSW $125, LSCW $200
   • Late renewal penalty fee: $100​
     ​
     

Continuing Education

This step depends on whether you've completed the required CE hours in the three years preceding the date of your request for reinstatment. 15 hours are required for LSW; 30 hours are required for CSW & LCSW

• If you have completed the required CE programs, mail in copies of the CE certificates of attendance for the three (3) years preceding your request for reinstatement; or
• If you have NOT completed the required CE credits, you can mail in a request for a six (6) month extension to take the required CE courses.

Six (6) Month Extension

• If you need the six month extension, you will still have to complete the required hours of continuing education for the next renewal period.
• If you fail to send in the CE certificates on or before the six (6) month period ends, your license will expire.
• After the end of the extension period, you must complete the required CE hours for your next renewal.​​​​​​​​
  

Out of State Licenses​​

​If you are a social worker licensed by another state, click here to apply online.​ Kentucky does not have reciprocity with any other statesat this time.

If you have taken the ASWB exam, Kentucky accepts the Bachelor, Masters and Clinical categories of the exam.​ Kentucky does not accept the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam category.

If you have taken the ASWB exam in another state, the required report is called an “Official Transfer Score Report.” You contact ASWB to have them send that directly to us (or to you). The website is aswb.org and their Customer Service telephone number is 888-579-3926. Only submit the Official Transcript from your university that confers or awards your degree in Social Work. You can get an Official Verification of License by contacting each board where you hold a license. You may attach this form with your application or have it sent to us directly.

For LCSW applicants, Kentucky requires two (2) years plus 150 hours of supervision by an approved licensed clinical social worker (licensed a minimum of two years) - your supervisors will need to complete the ​Supervised Experience Documentation Form or d​ocuments that show you have been licensed in another state at the clinical level or your resume that shows you have been engaged in the ​active practice of clinical social work for five (5) years. Example: official job description(s) signed by the executive director, human resource director, or agency supervisor where the clinical social work services were provided. We will also accept letters of recommendation documen​ting the type of services you have provided in the clinical practice, and letters confirming that you are an approved provider for an insurance company or Medicaid.​​​

Temporary Licensure

• Non-Clinical permits are for LSW or CSW who will not be performing clinical social work activities as part of their social work practice setting.
• Clinical Permits are for a CSW who will be performing clinical social work activities as part of their social work practice setting.
• A CSW worker practicing clinical social work under a temporary permit shall be under the supervision of a LCSW who qualifies to provide supervision (pre-approved supervisor).
• Clinical Work Definition: 201 KAR 23:070 section 1 (2); practice of social work that focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of an emotional disorder and mental illness as related to the total health of the individual and that meets the ​requirements of section 2 of the administrative regulation (Link to KAR).
• The temporary permit extends for 180 days and renewable for another 180 days. CSWs who are practicing clinical social work will not have a gap between their temporary license and their regular license when they pass the ASWB exam.​​
  
• LCSW supervisors shall not serve as the supervisor for more than two persons holding a temporary permit at any one time and the two persons are included in the total of six supervisees allowed under 201 KAR 23:070.
  
• Temporary permits can be issued to out-of-state independently licensed persons for up to 90 calendar days in one year.
• See 201 KAR 23:160​
  

Visit our Forms page​ for required application documents.

Supervision

Click here to read the regulation: 201 KAR 23:070. NOTE: All LCSW supervisors are required to complete the 6 hour training.

Qualified supervisors must submit a request to the board for approval.

Requests can be conveniently submitted online here​.​

Supervision contracts may also be submitted by email or mail.​​ Visit our Forms page for the required documentation.

For more detail about Supervision, please see our FAQ page and search Supervision.