Transfer Your Social Work License to Montana: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) ↗
Yes, by endorsement. The Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) issues Montana'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: $200 ($200 application fee per the Board's LCSW checklist (updated 02/16/23). The current fee rule itself could not be retrieved on 2026-09-27, so recheck on the online application. Fingerprint check fees are paid separately (amount not stated).). Processing: No processing time is published in the materials reviewed.. Montana has not enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact.
Moving to Montana from a specific state?
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Montana has not enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, which matters less than it sounds: the compact is not issuing licenses anywhere yet, so every social worker moving to any state follows that state's own licensing process, here the one below.
Montana's clinical-level license is the LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker); other tiers are the LBSW and LMSW, each with a 'candidate' license for those still completing supervision. The Board's July 2025 checklist gives out-of-state LCSWs these routes: (2) an equivalent out-of-state license from a state with substantially equivalent standards; (3) a license from a state with lesser education standards, plus a master's of at least 48 semester credits and 5 years of post-degree experience plus 3,000 supervised hours; (4) other non-equivalent licenses at the Board's discretion. A June 2026 proposed rule (MAR 2026-512) would restate that experience alternative as 10,000 hours; that was still a proposal when checked. Montana has NOT enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, and the compact is not issuing multistate licenses anywhere yet.
Montana requirements at a glance
| Exam | The ASWB exam is not retaken; ASWB sends proof of passage directly to the department. Montana's approved LCSW exam is the ASWB Clinical exam (ARM 24.219.502; a pending 2026 rule proposal keeps the Clinical exam for LCSW). Out-of-state licensees must have passed that exam. No Montana jurisprudence exam is listed. |
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| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $200 ($200 application fee per the Board's LCSW checklist (updated 02/16/23). The current fee rule itself could not be retrieved on 2026-09-27, so recheck on the online application. Fingerprint check fees are paid separately (amount not stated).) |
| Processing time | No processing time is published in the materials reviewed. |
Step by step
- Confirm Montana's current requirements on the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current, active LCSW in good standing from a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent licensing requirements.
- Show supervised post-degree work meeting ARM 24.219.504 (3,000 hours over at least 24 months); your state's documentation of those hours is accepted.
- Have ASWB send proof of passing the ASWB Clinical exam directly to the department.
- Submit fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for a fingerprint and background check.
- Have every state where you hold or held any professional license send official verification.
- Pay the fees ($200 ($200 application fee per the Board's LCSW checklist (updated 02/16/23). The current fee rule itself could not be retrieved on 2026-09-27, so recheck on the online application. Fingerprint check fees are paid separately (amount not stated).)) and allow No processing time is published in the materials reviewed..
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Montana:
Nearby states
Social Work license transfer into the states bordering Montana:
Montana for other professions
- Nursing in Montana
- Cosmetology / Barber in Montana
- Real Estate in Montana
- Contractor in Montana
- Teaching in Montana
- CPA / Accounting in Montana
- Electrician in Montana
- Plumber in Montana
- Engineering in Montana
- Pharmacy in Montana
- Physical Therapy in Montana
- Psychology in Montana
- Counseling in Montana
- Occupational Therapy in Montana
Frequently asked questions
Does my social work license transfer to Montana?
Yes, by endorsement. The Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) issues Montana'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: $200 ($200 application fee per the Board's LCSW checklist (updated 02/16/23). The current fee rule itself could not be retrieved on 2026-09-27, so recheck on the online application. Fingerprint check fees are paid separately (amount not stated).). Processing: No processing time is published in the materials reviewed.. Montana has not enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact.
Do I have to retake the ASWB exam to get licensed in Montana?
The ASWB exam is not retaken; ASWB sends proof of passage directly to the department. Montana's approved LCSW exam is the ASWB Clinical exam (ARM 24.219.502; a pending 2026 rule proposal keeps the Clinical exam for LCSW). Out-of-state licensees must have passed that exam. No Montana jurisprudence exam is listed. ASWB sends the score for $40 per transfer, requested in ASWBCentral, and delivery takes 7-10 business days.
How much does a Montana clinical social work license cost for an out-of-state applicant?
$200 ($200 application fee per the Board's LCSW checklist (updated 02/16/23). The current fee rule itself could not be retrieved on 2026-09-27, so recheck on the online application. Fingerprint check fees are paid separately (amount not stated).)
How long does the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) take?
No processing time is published in the materials reviewed.
Is Montana in the Social Work Licensure Compact?
No. Montana had not enacted it as of 2026-09-27. Endorsement through the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) is the route in.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- Montana Board of Behavioral Health — LCSW Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist (updated 02/16/23) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Montana Board of Behavioral Health — Licensure Checklist (last updated 7/17/2025), LCSW options 1-4 ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Montana Board of Behavioral Health — board home page (licensee lookup, apply links) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Montana Administrative Register Notice 2026-512.1 (June 19, 2026) — proposed Board of Behavioral Health rule changes ↗ (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
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