Social Work License from Alabama to New York: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work) ↗
A social work license transfers from Alabama to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work), verify your Alabama license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. The ASWB exam is not retaken; ASWB must send the Clinical exam score directly to NYSED (scores from the candidate or other jurisdictions are not accepted). Endorsement requires that your initial clinical license was based on the ASWB clinical social work exam. No New York jurisprudence exam; New York-approved child-abuse identification and reporting coursework is required of all LCSW applicants..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Only Alabama has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, and since the compact is not issuing multistate licenses anywhere, that difference does not affect this move. You apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work) by endorsement, with your Alabama license verified and your ASWB score transferred.
What changes, Alabama → New York
| Alabama (current) | New York (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| SW Compact status | SW Compact enacted — not yet issuing | Licensure by endorsement |
| 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.) | $294 ($294 fee for licensure and first registration (same fee for endorsement and standard applicants). Partial refunds may be available on withdrawal.) |
| Processing time | The 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. | NYSED publishes no processing time on the LCSW requirements page. |
| Licensing authority | Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New York sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- File Form 1 (Application for Licensure) with the $294 fee.
- Show at least 10 years of licensed clinical social work practice in the 15 years before applying (Forms 4E and 4F) to qualify for endorsement.
- Have your school verify your MSW with clinical content on Form 2.
- Have each jurisdiction where you are licensed verify your initial basis of licensure and good standing on Form 3.
- Have ASWB send your Clinical exam score directly to NYSED.
- Complete New York State-approved training in identifying and reporting child abuse.
- Pay the fees ($294 ($294 fee for licensure and first registration (same fee for endorsement and standard applicants). Partial refunds may be available on withdrawal.)) and allow NYSED publishes no processing time on the LCSW requirements page..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does New York accept an Alabama social work license?
A social work license transfers from Alabama to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work), verify your Alabama license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. The ASWB exam is not retaken; ASWB must send the Clinical exam score directly to NYSED (scores from the candidate or other jurisdictions are not accepted). Endorsement requires that your initial clinical license was based on the ASWB clinical social work exam. No New York jurisprudence exam; New York-approved child-abuse identification and reporting coursework is required of all LCSW applicants..
Do I retake the ASWB exam moving from Alabama to New York?
The ASWB exam is not retaken; ASWB must send the Clinical exam score directly to NYSED (scores from the candidate or other jurisdictions are not accepted). Endorsement requires that your initial clinical license was based on the ASWB clinical social work exam. No New York jurisprudence exam; New York-approved child-abuse identification and reporting coursework is required of all LCSW applicants. ASWB sends the score for $40 per transfer, requested in ASWBCentral, and delivery takes 7-10 business days.
What does the Alabama-to-New York move cost and how long does it take?
$294 ($294 fee for licensure and first registration (same fee for endorsement and standard applicants). Partial refunds may be available on withdrawal.) Processing: NYSED publishes no processing time on the LCSW requirements page.
Does the Social Work Licensure Compact help with this move?
No. Alabama has enacted it and New York has not, and the compact was not issuing multistate licenses anywhere as of 2026-09-27. Endorsement through the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work) is the route.
Will New York 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. New York's rule, where the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Social Work) 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.
- NYSED Office of the Professions — LCSW License Requirements (incl. Applicants Licensed in Another State) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — Licensed Clinical Social Worker profession page ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Social Work Licensure Compact — compact jurisdictions ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Alabama Admin. Code 850-X-4-.02 — Reciprocity and Applications from Non-Residents (Alabama Legislature) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Alabama Admin. Code 850-X-5-.02 — Processing Fees (Alabama Legislature) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners — Reciprocity requirements and application (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners — Online Applications and Forms ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners — Frequently Asked Questions ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- ASWB — Sending your exam results to another state or province ↗ (accessed 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]