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

Updated · Data verified · source: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program ↗
Generated from a source-cited dataset with AI-assisted research; facts checked against official sources · How these pages are made

Does my social work license transfer to Hawaii?

Hawaii offers no endorsement route for an out-of-state clinical social worker, so you apply to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program as a new applicant and are measured against Hawaii's full requirements. Your ASWB score still counts. Fee: $298–$478 (Paid with the application by applicants who already passed the exam, depending on the year of the triennium: $478 in year 1, $388 in year 2, $298 in year 3. Each total includes the $60 non-refundable application fee, the $195 license fee, a Compliance Resolution Fund charge and a pro-rated renewal (LCSW application form LSW-09 0925).). Processing: The application form gives no processing time. Hawaii has not enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact.

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Verdict

Full re-application required

Outside the Social Work Licensure Compact, Hawaii will keep licensing incoming social workers only through its own process even after the compact launches, unless its legislature acts. For a move now, that makes no difference, since no state is issuing compact licenses.

Because Hawaii has no endorsement path, the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program will review your degree, exam and supervised experience against its own standard as though you were applying for the first time. Start early.

Hawaii's clinical-level license is the LCSW; the other tiers are the LBSW and LSW. Hawaii's LCSW application has no endorsement or reciprocity path. An out-of-state licensee meets the same requirements as a new applicant, except that a previously passed ASWB Clinical exam is accepted by score transfer. The 3,000-hour supervised experience must be re-documented on Hawaii's notarized supervisor form; alternatively, a NASW QCSW or DCSW or an ABE BCD credential substitutes for it. Hawaii has NOT enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact.

Hawaii requirements at a glance

Out-of-state social work license transfer requirements for Hawaii, verified 2026-09-27
ExamThe ASWB exam is not retaken: applicants who already passed the ASWB Clinical exam (or level 'C' before 1990) have ASWB send official score verification through ASWB Score Transfer. No Hawaii jurisprudence exam is required. Hawaii has no separate endorsement route; out-of-state licensees use the standard LCSW application.
Fees$298–$478 (Paid with the application by applicants who already passed the exam, depending on the year of the triennium: $478 in year 1, $388 in year 2, $298 in year 3. Each total includes the $60 non-refundable application fee, the $195 license fee, a Compliance Resolution Fund charge and a pro-rated renewal (LCSW application form LSW-09 0925).)
Processing timeThe application form gives no processing time

Step by step

  1. Confirm Hawaii's current requirements on the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program website — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Hold a CSWE-accredited MSW (or accredited doctorate in social work), shown by an official transcript sent by the registrar.
  5. Document 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical experience over 2-5 years, or hold a QCSW, DCSW or BCD credential instead.
  6. Have your supervisor complete the notarized Verification of Supervised Clinical Social Work Experience form.
  7. Have every jurisdiction where you hold or held a license send verification of status and any discipline.
  8. Request an ASWB score transfer showing you passed the Clinical exam.
  9. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program ↗Hawaii application ↗License verification ↗

Hawaii for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Is Hawaii in the Social Work Licensure Compact?

No. Hawaii had not enacted it as of 2026-09-27. A full new-applicant application to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program is the route in.

Sources

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

Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27

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