Social Work Licensure Compact: Enacted States and Launch Status (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · live membership: swcompact.org ↗
The Social Work Licensure Compact has been enacted in 33 states and passed its seven-state activation threshold in April 2024, but it is not issuing multistate licenses anywhere as of 2026-09-27. Until it does, a social worker moving between any two states applies to the destination board for licensure by endorsement.
Membership right now
Interactive version with every compact: Compact Membership Map
Does the SW Compact cover your move?
Pick your two states — the checker applies the compact rules for you.
Who qualifies: the 7 uniform licensure requirements
A multistate license is issued only if you meet every one of these, in addition to living in a member state:
- Your home state (primary state of residence / domicile) must be a compact member state
- Hold, or be eligible for, an active, unencumbered social work license in that home state
- Pass the Qualifying National Exam for your license category (currently only the ASWB exam; the Clinical exam for a clinical-category multistate license)
- Clinical category only: complete the period of supervised practice your home state requires for clinical licensure
- Graduate from an accredited social work education program
- Pass a background check, including an FBI criminal background check, conducted through the home state
- Pay the multistate license fee set by the home state (includes a Commission administrative fee; all fees are still to be determined as of 2026-09-27)
The Social Work Licensure Compact is ENACTED but NOT OPERATIONAL: as of 2026-09-27 no multistate license can be applied for or issued anywhere. The compact reached its seven-state activation threshold on 2024-04-12 (Kansas was the seventh state), the Commission held its inaugural meeting in September 2024, and the Executive Committee began meeting in February 2025. The Commission's July 7, 2026 update says multistate licenses 'are not yet available', that the data system (built by Inspiring Apps) is estimated for completion in Spring 2027, and that the overall implementation takes approximately 18-24 months before social workers can begin applying; the Commission's May 2026 FAQ said issuance is 'likely within 9-12 months' with 'no definite date'. When it launches, the compact will issue a multistate license at the bachelor's, master's or clinical category through the social worker's HOME state (primary residence), valid for practice in every member state; social workers only complete continuing education for the home-state license. Thirty-three states have enacted the model language as of 2026-09-27: alabama, alaska (HB 110, 2026-07-03), arizona, arkansas, colorado, connecticut, delaware, georgia, iowa, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maine, maryland, minnesota, mississippi, missouri, nebraska, new-hampshire, new-jersey, north-carolina, north-dakota, ohio, oklahoma, rhode-island, south-dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west-virginia (SB 703, 2026-06-09) and wisconsin (2026-04-09). Because nothing is issuing, the compact's status is 'enacted_pending': the enacted states are listed as compact members (house convention, as for cosmetology) and 'member' here means ENACTED, not issuing. The Commission's July 2026 headline count of '35 states' also includes new-mexico (HB 50, 2026) and south-carolina (HB 4649), which enacted the compact WITH MATERIAL CHANGES; the Commission's own FAQ says such states 'may have to change something in their legislation before they can become part of the Compact' and its alphabetical member list excludes them, so they are encoded non-member. Legislation is pending (not enacted) in district-of-columbia (B26-0442), massachusetts (S 252) and pennsylvania (HB 554); all other jurisdictions have no active legislation. Until the compact is issuing, every interstate move for a social worker runs through the destination state's licensure-by-endorsement process. Always re-check https://swcompact.org/compact-map/ before relying on a state's status.
Primary state of residence: the rule that decides everything
Once it launches, the compact will run on the home-state model. Your multistate license will be issued by the member state where you have your primary residence, at the bachelor's, master's or clinical category, and it will be valid for practice in every other member state. You will keep up continuing education only for that home-state license. Where you live, not where you work, decides which state issues it.
To qualify you will need an active, unencumbered license (or eligibility for one) in a member home state, a pass on the ASWB exam for your category, which means the Clinical exam for a clinical multistate license, the supervised practice your home state requires for clinical licensure, a degree from an accredited social work program, and an FBI criminal background check run through the home state. The multistate license fee has not been set.
Why nothing is issuing yet: enactment only creates the commission. The compact hit its seven-state threshold when Kansas joined on April 12, 2024; the commission held its first meeting in September 2024 and its executive committee began meeting in February 2025. The commission still has to finish its rules and the shared data system that boards will use to issue and verify multistate licenses. Its July 2026 update estimated that system for Spring 2027 and described the whole implementation as taking roughly 18 to 24 months. Treat Spring 2027 as the commission's stated target; it has not announced a date on which applications open.
Moving scenarios
Moving between two states that have enacted the compact
Today this is an ordinary endorsement move: apply to the destination board, have ASWB send your score, and complete its background check and any state requirement. The compact becomes relevant only after launch, when your new home state could issue you a multistate license. Do not delay a move waiting for it; no launch date exists.
Moving into a compact state from a state outside it
Endorse into the new state the usual way. Once that state is your home state and the compact is issuing, your license there is what a multistate license would be based on, which makes an enacted state a reasonable base if you expect to work across state lines later. For now it buys you nothing extra.
Moving to or from New Mexico or South Carolina
Both states passed versions of the compact with material changes, and the commission's member list excludes them. The commission has said such states may need to amend their legislation before they can join. Treat them as outside the compact and plan on endorsement.
Seeing clients in another state before launch
The compact authorizes no cross-state practice today, in person or by telehealth. If you need to serve clients in another state now, the route is that state's own license by endorsement.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Social Work Licensure Compact active?
The Social Work Licensure Compact has been enacted in 33 states and passed its seven-state activation threshold in April 2024, but it is not issuing multistate licenses anywhere as of 2026-09-27. Until it does, a social worker moving between any two states applies to the destination board for licensure by endorsement.
Which states are in the Social Work Licensure Compact?
33 states had enacted it as of 2026-09-27: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Bills were pending, with nothing enacted, in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania. The live map is at https://swcompact.org/.
When will social workers be able to apply for a multistate license?
No date has been announced. The commission's July 2026 update estimated its data system would be complete in Spring 2027, and multistate licenses depend on that system. That is the commission's target rather than a commitment, so check https://swcompact.org/ before planning around it.
Can I practice in another compact state now?
No. No multistate license exists yet, so the compact authorizes no practice across state lines. Every social worker who needs to practice in another state, compact or not, needs that state's license, normally by endorsement.
What will a multistate license require?
An active, unencumbered license in a member home state where you live, the ASWB exam for your category (Clinical for the clinical category), your home state's supervised practice for clinical licensure, an accredited social work degree, and an FBI background check through the home state. Fees have not been set.
Why aren't New Mexico, South Carolina counted as compact states?
Both enacted the compact with material changes. The commission's member list excludes them, and its FAQ says such states may have to change their legislation before joining, so this site treats them as outside the compact.
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27
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