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LicenseReciprocity

Social Work License from Alabama to Louisiana: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE) ↗

Both Alabama and Louisiana have enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but multistate licenses are not yet being issued (as of 2026-09-27). Until the compact activates, transfer your social work license the standard way: apply for licensure by endorsement.

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Verdict

Compact enacted — endorsement for now

Interim path until the compact activates: licensure by endorsement.

Alabama and Louisiana have both enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but it was not issuing multistate licenses as of 2026-09-27. Shared enactment changes nothing about this move today: you apply to the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE) through its standard out-of-state process below, and your ASWB score is transferred, not retaken.

What changes, Alabama → Louisiana

Side-by-side: Alabama vs Louisiana (Social Work (LCSW / LICSW)), verified 2026-09-27
Alabama (current)Louisiana (destination)
SW Compact statusSW Compact enacted — not yet issuingSW Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Application fee$75 (Reciprocity application fee under Ala. Admin. Code 850-X-5-.02 (amended effective 2024-01-14); + $3.50 Alabama Interactive convenience fee when applying online. Fees are non-refundable. Private independent practice certification is a separate $75 application.)$103 (LCSW application fee shown at online payment as $103 (the $100 LCSW application fee in LAC 46:XXV.313 plus the $3 e-commerce fee). Fingerprinting is paid separately to IdentoGO (amount on the vendor's schedule, not stated by the Board). LCSW renewal fee is $100 per LAC 46:XXV.313 as amended October 2025.)
Processing timeThe Board publishes no processing time for reciprocity applications. Its FAQ says a license and letter are typically mailed 10-14 days after a passing exam grade is received, but that describes exam candidates, not reciprocity files.~2 weeks (The Board says applications are processed within 10-15 business days of receipt and milestones take about 2 weeks to update; the Board then reviews complete files at its meetings (all requirements, including background-check results, are due 7 days before a meeting) and posts its decision 7-10 business days after the meeting. No overall end-to-end time is published. Applicants with complete endorsement files are eligible for a 90-day temporary practice permit issued within 21 calendar days (per the October 2025 LAC 46:XXV rule amendments).)
Licensing authorityAlabama State Board of Social Work ExaminersLouisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Louisiana sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Louisiana's current requirements on the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Apply online via endorsement for the credential equivalent to the one you hold (the LCSW for a clinical-level license).
  5. Have each licensing board send LABSWE a verification of your credential; LCSW endorsements also need verification of supervision hours and your supervisor's license.
  6. Submit the licensing law from each state showing the qualifications you met for that credential.
  7. Complete the LSP/FBI fingerprint background check through IdentoGO (service code 27N463) after submitting the online application.
  8. Pass the Board's open-book exam on the Louisiana Social Work Practice Act and rules.
  9. Have an official transcript showing your social work degree sent directly to the Board.
  10. Pay the fees ($103 (LCSW application fee shown at online payment as $103 (the $100 LCSW application fee in LAC 46:XXV.313 plus the $3 e-commerce fee). Fingerprinting is paid separately to IdentoGO (amount on the vendor's schedule, not stated by the Board). LCSW renewal fee is $100 per LAC 46:XXV.313 as amended October 2025.)) and allow ~2 weeks (The Board says applications are processed within 10-15 business days of receipt and milestones take about 2 weeks to update; the Board then reviews complete files at its meetings (all requirements, including background-check results, are due 7 days before a meeting) and posts its decision 7-10 business days after the meeting. No overall end-to-end time is published. Applicants with complete endorsement files are eligible for a 90-day temporary practice permit issued within 21 calendar days (per the October 2025 LAC 46:XXV rule amendments).).

Official links

Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE) ↗Louisiana application ↗License verification ↗Social Work Licensure Compact ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Louisiana → AlabamaSocial Work in AlabamaSocial Work in LouisianaAll social work statesThe SW Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Louisiana accept an Alabama social work license?

Both Alabama and Louisiana have enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but multistate licenses are not yet being issued (as of 2026-09-27). Until the compact activates, transfer your social work license the standard way: apply for licensure by endorsement.

Do I retake the ASWB exam moving from Alabama to Louisiana?

The ASWB exam is not retaken; if an ASWB exam was passed for the current credential, have ASWB send LABSWE an official score transfer report. The Louisiana LCSW is issued on the ASWB Clinical exam, and endorsement requires substantially equivalent examination requirements. Endorsement applicants must ALSO pass LABSWE's open-book exam on the Louisiana Social Work Practice Act and rules (50 items, 70% to pass, 3-hour limit, retakes allowed). ASWB sends the score for $40 per transfer, requested in ASWBCentral, and delivery takes 7-10 business days.

What does the Alabama-to-Louisiana move cost and how long does it take?

$103 (LCSW application fee shown at online payment as $103 (the $100 LCSW application fee in LAC 46:XXV.313 plus the $3 e-commerce fee). Fingerprinting is paid separately to IdentoGO (amount on the vendor's schedule, not stated by the Board). LCSW renewal fee is $100 per LAC 46:XXV.313 as amended October 2025.) Processing: ~2 weeks (The Board says applications are processed within 10-15 business days of receipt and milestones take about 2 weeks to update; the Board then reviews complete files at its meetings (all requirements, including background-check results, are due 7 days before a meeting) and posts its decision 7-10 business days after the meeting. No overall end-to-end time is published. Applicants with complete endorsement files are eligible for a 90-day temporary practice permit issued within 21 calendar days (per the October 2025 LAC 46:XXV rule amendments).)

Alabama and Louisiana are both compact states. Can I practice in Louisiana on my Alabama license?

No. The Social Work Licensure Compact was not issuing multistate licenses as of 2026-09-27, so it authorizes no practice in Louisiana. You need a Louisiana license from the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE).

Will Louisiana accept the supervised hours I completed in Alabama?

Most boards credit supervised experience completed under another state's rules, but some compare it with their own requirement. Louisiana's rule, where the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE) publishes one, is in the requirements on this page; confirm with the board if your hours were logged under a different structure.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]