Transfer Your Social Work License to Delaware: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation) ↗

A clinical social work license moves to Delaware through licensure by endorsement with the Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation): license verification, your ASWB score sent by score transfer, and Delaware's own checks. Expect $205 (LCSW license application fee per the Division of Professional Regulation fee schedule; non-refundable, payable only by card through DELPROS. Background check fees are extra. Renewal fees are announced at renewal.); processing The Board publishes no processing time for reciprocity applications.. Delaware has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but it was not issuing multistate licenses as of 2026-09-27, so the compact does not change this application.

Moving to Delaware from a specific state?

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Verdict

SW Compact enacted — not yet issuing

Delaware's legislature has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, and you may see Delaware described as a compact state. In practice that means nothing yet. No multistate license has been issued anywhere, there is no application to file, and a license from another compact state gives you no right to practice in Delaware. Plan on the endorsement file below; the compact becomes relevant only once the commission launches, and its stated target for the data system that launch depends on is Spring 2027.

Delaware's clinical-level license is the LCSW. The other tiers are the bachelor's and master's social worker licenses. Reciprocity requires a current clinical license plus a passed ASWB exam. The Board then decides whether your state's standards are substantially similar; if not, five years of practice in the past seven qualifies you instead. Background checks done for other purposes are not accepted. Delaware has ENACTED the Social Work Licensure Compact, but the compact is not issuing multistate licenses yet, so reciprocity is the only route in.

Delaware requirements at a glance

Out-of-state social work license transfer requirements for Delaware, verified 2026-09-27
Exam	The ASWB exam is not retaken, but you must already have passed the national ASWB licensing exam and have ASWB send an official score verification directly to the Board through ASWB Score Transfer. No Delaware jurisprudence exam is required.
Additional requirements	Hold a current clinical social work license in another state, US territory or DC If your state's standards are not substantially similar to Delaware's, show at least five years of practice in the past seven Complete a State of Delaware and FBI criminal background check through the Division's process Have every jurisdiction where you hold or have held a social work license send verification directly to the Board Submit the Child Protection Registry Consent Form Apply online through DELPROS within six months of starting the application
Fees	$205 (LCSW license application fee per the Division of Professional Regulation fee schedule; non-refundable, payable only by card through DELPROS. Background check fees are extra. Renewal fees are announced at renewal.)
Processing time	The Board publishes no processing time for reciprocity applications.

Step by step

Confirm Delaware's current requirements on the Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation) website — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation) (application linked on this page).
Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
Hold a current clinical social work license in another state, US territory or DC.
If your state's standards are not substantially similar to Delaware's, show at least five years of practice in the past seven.
Complete a State of Delaware and FBI criminal background check through the Division's process.
Have every jurisdiction where you hold or have held a social work license send verification directly to the Board.
Submit the Child Protection Registry Consent Form.
Apply online through DELPROS within six months of starting the application.
Pay the fees ($205 (LCSW license application fee per the Division of Professional Regulation fee schedule; non-refundable, payable only by card through DELPROS. Background check fees are extra. Renewal fees are announced at renewal.)) and allow The Board publishes no processing time for reciprocity applications..

Official links

Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation) ↗Delaware application ↗License verification ↗Social Work Licensure Compact ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Delaware:

All 39 origin states

Nebraska → Delaware New Hampshire → Delaware New Jersey → Delaware New York → Delaware North Carolina → Delaware North Dakota → Delaware Ohio → Delaware Oklahoma → Delaware Pennsylvania → Delaware Rhode Island → Delaware South Dakota → Delaware Tennessee → Delaware Texas → Delaware Utah → Delaware Vermont → Delaware Virginia → Delaware Washington → Delaware West Virginia → Delaware Wisconsin → Delaware

Nearby states

Social Work license transfer into the states bordering Delaware:

Delaware for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my social work license transfer to Delaware?

Do I have to retake the ASWB exam to get licensed in Delaware?

The ASWB exam is not retaken, but you must already have passed the national ASWB licensing exam and have ASWB send an official score verification directly to the Board through ASWB Score Transfer. No Delaware jurisprudence exam is required. ASWB sends the score for $40 per transfer, requested in ASWBCentral, and delivery takes 7-10 business days.

How much does a Delaware clinical social work license cost for an out-of-state applicant?

$205 (LCSW license application fee per the Division of Professional Regulation fee schedule; non-refundable, payable only by card through DELPROS. Background check fees are extra. Renewal fees are announced at renewal.)

How long does the Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation) take?

The Board publishes no processing time for reciprocity applications.

Is Delaware in the Social Work Licensure Compact?

Delaware has enacted it, but the compact was not issuing multistate licenses anywhere as of 2026-09-27. No one can practice in Delaware on a compact license yet; endorsement through the Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation) is the route.

Sources

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

Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners — Clinical Social Worker Licensure ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
Delaware Board of Social Work Examiners — Fee Schedule ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
ASWB — Sending your exam results to another state or province ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
Social Work Licensure Compact — compact jurisdictions ↗ (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]