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| Michigan Licensure Process |
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The below steps are for individuals who do not currently (or previously) hold a social license in Michigan or another state. If you are moving to Michigan and are looking to transfer your license please visit the LARA website and review the endorsement process.
STEP 1Obtain a social work degree from an accredited social work institution (BSW or MSW)The first step in the licensure process in Michigan is graduating from a CSWE-accredited school of social work.
As social work students near graduation, they should thoroughly review the Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPLUS) and the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) websites (including reading the social work General Rules and Public Health Code). New licensure applicants will need to complete the following trainings prior to applying for a license: Beginning June 1, 2022: Individuals seeking licensure must have completed at least 2 hours of implicit bias training within the five years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration. Beginning December 22, 2021: Applicants for new social work licenses will have to confirm the completion of a human trafficking training.
STEP 2Apply for your limited license (LL) through LARAThis entails the following:
NASW-Michigan recommends creating your MiPLUS account and applying for your limited license application (with applicable fee) roughly two weeks before graduation. Once your application has been received you will get instructions on where to have your fingerprints taken and your official transcripts can be e-mailed to LARA from your school of social work. Once you application, fingerprints, and transcripts have been processed you will receive your limited license in the mail (applicants can also check their online account daily to see when the limited license has been issued).
STEP 3Complete the limited license social work requirementsThis entails the following:
Limited licenses are on a one year renewal cycle, and individuals are may renew their limited license up to 6 times. Renewals do not need to be consecutive, and it is not recommended that LLs renew their license if they are not collecting hours. You may begin collecting supervised work hours the day your limited license is activated. Work experience may be paid or volunteer work, as long as you are supervised (licensure supervision should be viewed like professional mentorship) by a fully licensed master's social worker with the same designation that you are going towards (Clinical or Macro at the master's level). You must complete supervised work for a minimum of 2 full calendar years before you are eligible to submit your hours to LARA. You can count work between 16 to 40 hours per week and can earn a maximum of 2,080 hours of experience per year. Supervisory review must be conducted for at least 4 hours per month with at least 2 hours of review on an individual basis (50% may be conducted in group settings). After the 4,000 hours of supervised work experience is complete, you are eligible to sit for the ASWB exam. The clinical exam is for those seeking a clinical designation while the generalist exam is for those seeking a macro designation. Exam results are directly sent to LARA from your testing center.
STEP 4Apply for your full licenseOnce you have finished all of the requirements for your full license, you can apply for it using the Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPLUS). Your license acronym depends on whether you are at the bachelor's level (LBSW) or the master's level (LMSW).
Once work experience, supervision, and the ASWB exam has been passed you need to apply for full licensure (with fee) and have your supervisor(s) complete the Supervision Verification form. NASW-Michigan highly recommends that a contract is kept for supervision arrangements and a regular log is signed by both the licensee and supervisor(s). This document will not need to be turned in to LARA, but it may serve as a back up in case a supervisor becomes unable to complete the verification form.
STEP 5 (optional)Obtain a second license designationFor master's level fully licensed social workers looking to become licensed in both macro and clinical work, the following additional steps need to be taken after securing the first designation:
Once a social worker has a full license (LMSW) they are eligible to add on a second designation (either Clinical or Macro). Licensees must complete 2,000 supervised work hours (in no less than one year), pass the additional exam, and mail in an application with the applicable fee. Applicants should contact LARA to get approval to sit for the second exam.
Additional resources
How should I list my credentials?Did you know that there is a correct way to list your licensure credentials? Below is a quick guide on how to market yourself properly in Michigan:
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