Transfer Your Social Work License to Hawaii: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program ↗
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.
Moving to Hawaii from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
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
| Exam | The 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. |
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| Additional requirements |
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| 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 time | The application form gives no processing time. |
Step by step
- Confirm Hawaii's current requirements on the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program website — rules change.
- 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).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a CSWE-accredited MSW (or accredited doctorate in social work), shown by an official transcript sent by the registrar.
- Document 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical experience over 2-5 years, or hold a QCSW, DCSW or BCD credential instead.
- Have your supervisor complete the notarized Verification of Supervised Clinical Social Work Experience form.
- Have every jurisdiction where you hold or held a license send verification of status and any discipline.
- Request an ASWB score transfer showing you passed the Clinical exam.
- Pay the 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).)) and allow The application form gives no processing time..
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Hawaii:
Hawaii for other professions
- Nursing in Hawaii
- Cosmetology / Barber in Hawaii
- Real Estate in Hawaii
- Contractor in Hawaii
- Teaching in Hawaii
- CPA / Accounting in Hawaii
- Electrician in Hawaii
- Plumber in Hawaii
- Engineering in Hawaii
- Pharmacy in Hawaii
- Physical Therapy in Hawaii
- Psychology in Hawaii
- Counseling in Hawaii
- Occupational Therapy in Hawaii
Frequently asked questions
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.
Do I have to retake the ASWB exam to get licensed in Hawaii?
The 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. ASWB sends the score for $40 per transfer, requested in ASWBCentral, and delivery takes 7-10 business days.
How much does a Hawaii clinical social work license cost for an out-of-state applicant?
$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).)
How long does the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing, Social Worker Program take?
The application form gives no processing time.
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.
- Hawaii DCCA PVL — Requirements & Instructions, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Application (LSW-09 0925) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Hawaii DCCA PVL — Social Worker Program ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- ASWB — Look up a license (board license-search directory) ↗ (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]