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

Updated · Data verified · source: Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) ↗
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 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.

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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

Out-of-state social work license transfer requirements for Montana, verified 2026-09-27
ExamThe 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.
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 timeNo processing time is published in the materials reviewed

Step by step

  1. Confirm Montana's current requirements on the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) website — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Hold a current, active LCSW in good standing from a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent licensing requirements.
  5. 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.
  6. Have ASWB send proof of passing the ASWB Clinical exam directly to the department.
  7. Submit fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice for a fingerprint and background check.
  8. Have every state where you hold or held any professional license send official verification.
  9. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor & Industry) ↗Montana application ↗License verification ↗

Nearby states

Social Work license transfer into the states bordering Montana:

Montana for other professions

Frequently asked questions

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.

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

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