MSW Licensure Information

Graduating MSW students are eligible to register and take the LSW exam during their final (graduating) semester in Pennsylvania. The LSW is a national exam. If a student passes the exam in Pennsylvania, they are able to apply for reciprocity in another state.

The LCSW (clinical) exam can be taken a minimum of three years in Pennsylvania (two years in New Jersey) post-LSW exam with the approval of a clinical supervisor.

Licensure in Pennsylvania

The application no longer requires two recommendations from professional social workers. A Criminal Background Check is now required as part of the application for PA licensure. Also, there is a new requirement indicating that each applicant must complete the Self-Query form from the National Database of Clinicians within 6 months of the application. Details are contained in the application on the website.

State Boards must have official, final transcripts on file. Even if students pass the exam before graduation, they must send their official transcript to the State Board after graduation once degrees have been conferred. SP2 does not send the transcript on students’ behalf; students are responsible for ordering transcripts from the University Registrar. To ensure that a transcript is sent properly, students should check their unofficial transcripts in Path@Penn to ensure:

  1. that the degree has been conferred; and
  2. that all information is correct

Questions about the information displayed on a transcript should be addressed to the SP2 Registrar.

Please note that criminal history checks must be no older than 90 days from the date of Application for Licensure by examination.

Licensure in Other States

Exam Preparation

A recent survey of past participants of the prep course revealed a 90% exam pass rate after taking this course.

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Study: Climate change’s cost includes losses of learning and earnings due to natural disasters

In the wake of natural disasters, survivors’ losses of education and lifetime earnings may be comparable to the cost of property damage, according to a new study in Nature Human Behaviour by Dr. R. Jisung Park, an assistant professor at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) and coauthors.

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Program improving public health response to intimate partner violence receives second year of funding 

Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) is excited to announce a second year of its Survivor Link + Public Health AmeriCorps program, in partnership with the Office of Gender-Based Violence […]


Contact Us

Career Services Office

Suite 20, McNeil Building

3718 Locust Walk

Philadelphia, PA 19014-6209

Office Hours
Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm

Walk-in Hours for SP2 Students
Wednesdays, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Sharon Fleshman
Senior Associate Director

215-898-4381

215-898-2687 (fax)

fleshman@upenn.edu

Esther Ra
Career Advisor

Available by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays.

estherra@upenn.edu