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LicenseReciprocity

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

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners ↗

Yes, by endorsement. The Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners issues Maryland's clinical-level social work license to social workers already licensed at the clinical level elsewhere, verifying your license and accepting your ASWB score rather than retesting you. Fee: $100 ($100 application processing fee (COMAR 10.42.05.02; paid online by Visa or Mastercard only), then a $75 initial license fee once approved. CHRC fingerprinting: $51.25 at state-operated centers or $30 plus the provider's fee at private providers.). Processing: ~9 weeks (The Board's July 2026 endorsement guide says it has 60 days to review a completed application after all documents arrive (about 8.6 weeks). Once approved and the $75 fee is paid, the license is usually issued within 7 business days.). Maryland 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.

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Verdict

SW Compact enacted — not yet issuing

Maryland's legislature has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, and you may see Maryland 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 Maryland. 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.

Maryland's clinical-level license is the LCSW-C (Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical); the other tiers are the LBSW and LMSW, and the old LCSW (non-clinical) has not been offered since 2024-01-01. The Board says it has no reciprocity with any state and 'there is no transfer of licenses'; out-of-state licensees apply for Licensure by Endorsement under COMAR 10.42.01.11 at the same level they hold. Applicants with more than 5 years of clinical practice (Health Occ. §19-302.1: 1,000+ compensated practice hours a year for 5 of the preceding 10 years) skip the coursework and supervision comparison; those with less must show 12 clinical credits and 2 years/3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience supervised by a licensed clinical social worker (supervision by psychologists, counselors or other non-social-work licensees is not accepted). Maryland has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but it is not yet issuing multistate licenses, so endorsement is the only route in.

Maryland requirements at a glance

Out-of-state social work license transfer requirements for Maryland, verified 2026-09-27
ExamThe ASWB exam is not retaken; request that ASWB send your Clinical Score Report to Maryland. Maryland's clinical license (LCSW-C) is based on the ASWB Clinical exam; Maryland no longer issues the LCSW (its Advanced Generalist-based license), so do not apply for it when seeking clinical endorsement. No Maryland jurisprudence exam is required.
Additional requirements
  • Choose the correct LCSW-C by Endorsement application: over 5 years (5 of the past 10 years at 1,000+ practice hours per year under a clinical license) or under 5 years of clinical licensure
  • Complete a Maryland/FBI Criminal History Records Check (out-of-state applicants can request a fingerprint card)
  • Request an ASWB Clinical score report and have your official master's transcript emailed to the Board
  • Under 5 years: document 12 academic credits of clinical coursework and 3,000 hours over 2-6 years of supervised clinical experience on Maryland's Supervision Verification Form
  • Over 5 years: mail Employment Certification Forms and a resume documenting post-licensure clinical practice
Fees$100 ($100 application processing fee (COMAR 10.42.05.02; paid online by Visa or Mastercard only), then a $75 initial license fee once approved. CHRC fingerprinting: $51.25 at state-operated centers or $30 plus the provider's fee at private providers.)
Processing time~9 weeks (The Board's July 2026 endorsement guide says it has 60 days to review a completed application after all documents arrive (about 8.6 weeks). Once approved and the $75 fee is paid, the license is usually issued within 7 business days.)

Step by step

  1. Confirm Maryland's current requirements on the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners website — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Choose the correct LCSW-C by Endorsement application: over 5 years (5 of the past 10 years at 1,000+ practice hours per year under a clinical license) or under 5 years of clinical licensure.
  5. Complete a Maryland/FBI Criminal History Records Check (out-of-state applicants can request a fingerprint card).
  6. Request an ASWB Clinical score report and have your official master's transcript emailed to the Board.
  7. Under 5 years: document 12 academic credits of clinical coursework and 3,000 hours over 2-6 years of supervised clinical experience on Maryland's Supervision Verification Form.
  8. Over 5 years: mail Employment Certification Forms and a resume documenting post-licensure clinical practice.
  9. Pay the fees ($100 ($100 application processing fee (COMAR 10.42.05.02; paid online by Visa or Mastercard only), then a $75 initial license fee once approved. CHRC fingerprinting: $51.25 at state-operated centers or $30 plus the provider's fee at private providers.)) and allow ~9 weeks (The Board's July 2026 endorsement guide says it has 60 days to review a completed application after all documents arrive (about 8.6 weeks). Once approved and the $75 fee is paid, the license is usually issued within 7 business days.).

Official links

Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners ↗Maryland application ↗License verification ↗Social Work Licensure Compact ↗

Coming from a specific state?

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

Alabama → MarylandAlaska → MarylandArizona → MarylandArkansas → MarylandCalifornia → MarylandColorado → MarylandConnecticut → MarylandDelaware → MarylandFlorida → MarylandGeorgia → MarylandIllinois → MarylandIowa → MarylandKansas → MarylandKentucky → MarylandLouisiana → MarylandMaine → MarylandMichigan → MarylandMinnesota → MarylandMississippi → MarylandMissouri → Maryland
All 39 origin states
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Nearby states

Social Work license transfer into the states bordering Maryland:

Maryland for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my social work license transfer to Maryland?

Yes, by endorsement. The Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners issues Maryland's clinical-level social work license to social workers already licensed at the clinical level elsewhere, verifying your license and accepting your ASWB score rather than retesting you. Fee: $100 ($100 application processing fee (COMAR 10.42.05.02; paid online by Visa or Mastercard only), then a $75 initial license fee once approved. CHRC fingerprinting: $51.25 at state-operated centers or $30 plus the provider's fee at private providers.). Processing: ~9 weeks (The Board's July 2026 endorsement guide says it has 60 days to review a completed application after all documents arrive (about 8.6 weeks). Once approved and the $75 fee is paid, the license is usually issued within 7 business days.). Maryland 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.

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

The ASWB exam is not retaken; request that ASWB send your Clinical Score Report to Maryland. Maryland's clinical license (LCSW-C) is based on the ASWB Clinical exam; Maryland no longer issues the LCSW (its Advanced Generalist-based license), so do not apply for it when seeking clinical endorsement. No Maryland 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 Maryland clinical social work license cost for an out-of-state applicant?

$100 ($100 application processing fee (COMAR 10.42.05.02; paid online by Visa or Mastercard only), then a $75 initial license fee once approved. CHRC fingerprinting: $51.25 at state-operated centers or $30 plus the provider's fee at private providers.)

How long does the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners take?

~9 weeks (The Board's July 2026 endorsement guide says it has 60 days to review a completed application after all documents arrive (about 8.6 weeks). Once approved and the $75 fee is paid, the license is usually issued within 7 business days.)

Is Maryland in the Social Work Licensure Compact?

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

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 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]