Do you have general licensure questions? Are you curious about recent updates to licensure in Michigan? Then check out the tools and resources we’ve put together for you here.

Recent Updates

• Important Updates as LARA Moves to the MiPLUS System (September 2021)
• LARA Announce Adopted Implicit Bias Training Requirement to Improve Equity Across MI (June 2021)
• 2021 Michigan Social Work General Rules Update. On March 31, 2021, the Michigan Social Work General Rules were officially updated through LARA, with changes made in regards to continuing education and wording clarification on telehealth (as well as some smaller changes). These new changes took effect immediately and will impact all social workers, starting with those that renewed or gained a license as of May 1, 2021
• Beginning July 1, 2021, limited licensed social worker will need to complete all 4,000 hours of the require supervised work requirements before being eligible to sit for the ASWB exam. Click here to read the October 2019 notice.
• Updates from LARA regarding June 30th ASWB Exam Changes (March 2021)
• Click here to read LARA's FAQs regarding MSW exam eligibility
• December 2016 Michigan Social Work General Rules Changes. (Human trafficking training requirements, continuing education clarification, rules for relicensure)

Other Licensure Resources

• Michigan licensure updates with COVID-19 (Update as of April 13, 2020)
• Executive Order 2020-30 (fingerprinting, continuing education, etc)
• Licensure application materials (both BSW and MSW) - Michigan Department of Licensure and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
• Renew your license or limited license
• Licensure Exam Preparation Resource: PassItPro, ASWB exam materials
• Supervision resources - Michigan statewide registry, contract template, weekly logs, social work standards

Why Do We Have Licensure?

On July 1, 2005, the Social Work Licensure Act (Public Act 61 of 2004) went into effect in Michigan. Licensure changed the regulation of the social work profession from simple title protection (registration) to the protection of the practice for qualified social workers through a license.

The major goal of the social work licensure law is to provide protection for the citizens of Michigan by ensuring qualified and competent practitioners. This is accomplished through establishing and monitoring high standards for practice. People have to be educated in social work, have supervised experience under a licensed social worker and pass a standardized nationally developed examination that ensures applicants possess the minimum skills needed to practice social work. The description of the scope of practice for each level of licensure is included in the Public Health Code.

• Michigan Public Health Code (Social Work Section)
• Michigan Social Work General Rules

What is Title Protection?

If you want to call yourself a "Social Worker" in Michigan you must be licensed.

Working with a licensed professional gives clients peace of mind that the person is educated in evidence-based practice and treatments, adheres to a strict code of ethics and is regulated by a licensing board. A licensed professional is subject to professional sanctions.

People often encounter a social worker at their most vulnerable and building a trust with a stranger, even a licensed professional, is difficult in the best of times. For people to engage in potentially transformative work with social workers, Michiganders must be assured that the social worker with whom they're working is required to comply with the licensing law.

As a society we do not tolerate someone who is untrained or unlicensed being called an attorney, doctor or certified public accountant. The same holds true for other licensed professions like social work.

If the need for social work is expected to increase twice as fast as any other occupation, then it is important for the public and decision-makers to understand the value of social work. When the value of social work is realized, programs will be better funded; jobs will be valued at the salary level they should be; and educational debt relief, workplace safety and caseload sizes will become important because securing a workforce of social workers is important.

How should I list my credentials?

Did you know that there is a correct way to list your licensure credentials? Here is a quick guide on how to market yourself properly in Michigan:

• Associate Degree
  • RSST
• Bachelor's Degree
  • LLBSW (limited license)
  • LBSW (full license)
• Master's Degree
  • LLMSW-Clinical (limited license)
  • LLMSW-Macro (limited license)
  • LMSW-Clinical (full license)
  • LMSW-Macro (full license)
  • LMSW-Clinical & Macro (full license)

Questions About Licensure?

If you have questions about licensure, including how to apply for your license, the status of your application, details about your license, or any other license issue, you need to contact the Bureau of Professional Licensing in the Michigan Department of Community Health. To reach this office, please call 517-241-0199 or email BPLHelp@michigan.gov.

Click here to visit the social work section of LARA's website

Michigan Board of Social Work

The Michigan Board of Social Workers was created under Article 16 of Public Act 299 of 1980, as amended, the Occupational Code, to register social workers in Michigan. Public Act 11 of 2000 transferred the Board of Social Work, and its authority, to the Public Health Code, Public Act 61 of 2004, as amended to require social workers to become licensed.

The Board consists of 9 members: 6 individuals engaged primarily in the practice of social work and 3 public members. Each board member serves 4 year terms and are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.