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

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: West Virginia Board of Social Work ↗

West Virginia does not transfer your license as-is, but you do not start over: the West Virginia Board of Social Work grants its clinical-level social work license by endorsement, crediting your existing ASWB pass. Fee: $90 (The Board's active fee rule (25CSR3, eff. 2022-07-01) sets $90 to issue a regular LICSW biennial license and lists no separate application fee; the LICSW application form states no fee. Renewal is $76 biennially. An amended fee rule is marked 'In Progress' at the Secretary of State.). Processing: The Board publishes no processing time.. West Virginia is a Social Work Licensure Compact state on paper only: nothing was being issued as of 2026-09-27, and endorsement through the West Virginia Board of Social Work is the route in.

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Verdict

SW Compact enacted — not yet issuing

Being a compact state has not changed how West Virginia licenses incoming social workers. The Social Work Licensure Compact is law here but was not issuing multistate licenses as of 2026-09-27, so the West Virginia Board of Social Work handles every out-of-state applicant through the steps below. If you expect to work across state lines later, a West Virginia license will be a sensible base once the compact is running; the commission's stated target for its data system is Spring 2027.

West Virginia's clinical license is the LICSW (Level D, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker). Level C 'LCSW' in West Virginia means Licensed CERTIFIED Social Worker, a non-clinical tier based on the Advanced Generalist exam, so do not confuse it with an out-of-state LCSW. Levels A (LSW) and B (LGSW) sit below. An out-of-state applicant needs a CSWE-accredited MSW (or a PhD/DSW), completed supervised practice, and a pass on the ASWB Clinical exam. The universal-licensure statute cited by aggregators was not verified from an official source and is not relied on here. West Virginia ENACTED the Social Work Licensure Compact (SB 703, 2026-06-09), but the compact is not issuing multistate licenses yet.

West Virginia requirements at a glance

Out-of-state social work license transfer requirements for West Virginia, verified 2026-09-27
Exam	The ASWB exam is not retaken: an out-of-state applicant must have passed the ASWB Clinical exam and have ASWB send the official score report. West Virginia's LICSW application requires no state jurisprudence exam.
Additional requirements	Mail the paper LICSW application to the Board (applications may not be faxed or emailed) Have ASWB send your passing Clinical exam score report directly Submit a copy of each other-state license with verification of standing (web verification accepted) Unless you have been licensed at the clinical level for 10 or more years, document 2 years and 3,000 hours of practice with 100 hours of face-to-face supervision (your prior board's supervision paperwork or a board letter is accepted) Send an official MSW transcript (CSWE-accredited) and a copy of your driver's license or photo ID
Fees	$90 (The Board's active fee rule (25CSR3, eff. 2022-07-01) sets $90 to issue a regular LICSW biennial license and lists no separate application fee; the LICSW application form states no fee. Renewal is $76 biennially. An amended fee rule is marked 'In Progress' at the Secretary of State.)
Processing time	The Board publishes no processing time.

Step by step

Confirm West Virginia's current requirements on the West Virginia Board of Social Work website — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the West Virginia Board of Social Work (application linked on this page).
Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
Mail the paper LICSW application to the Board (applications may not be faxed or emailed).
Have ASWB send your passing Clinical exam score report directly.
Submit a copy of each other-state license with verification of standing (web verification accepted).
Unless you have been licensed at the clinical level for 10 or more years, document 2 years and 3,000 hours of practice with 100 hours of face-to-face supervision (your prior board's supervision paperwork or a board letter is accepted).
Send an official MSW transcript (CSWE-accredited) and a copy of your driver's license or photo ID.
Pay the fees ($90 (The Board's active fee rule (25CSR3, eff. 2022-07-01) sets $90 to issue a regular LICSW biennial license and lists no separate application fee; the LICSW application form states no fee. Renewal is $76 biennially. An amended fee rule is marked 'In Progress' at the Secretary of State.)) and allow The Board publishes no processing time..

Official links

West Virginia Board of Social Work ↗West Virginia application ↗License verification ↗Social Work Licensure Compact ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into West Virginia:

All 39 origin states

Missouri → West Virginia Nebraska → West Virginia New Hampshire → West Virginia New Jersey → West Virginia New York → West Virginia North Carolina → West Virginia North Dakota → West Virginia Ohio → West Virginia Oklahoma → West Virginia Pennsylvania → West Virginia Rhode Island → West Virginia South Dakota → West Virginia Tennessee → West Virginia Texas → West Virginia Utah → West Virginia Vermont → West Virginia Virginia → West Virginia Washington → West Virginia Wisconsin → West Virginia

Nearby states

Social Work license transfer into the states bordering West Virginia:

West Virginia for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my social work license transfer to West Virginia?

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

The ASWB exam is not retaken: an out-of-state applicant must have passed the ASWB Clinical exam and have ASWB send the official score report. West Virginia's LICSW application requires no state jurisprudence exam. ASWB sends the score for $40 per transfer, requested in ASWBCentral, and delivery takes 7-10 business days.

How much does a West Virginia clinical social work license cost for an out-of-state applicant?

$90 (The Board's active fee rule (25CSR3, eff. 2022-07-01) sets $90 to issue a regular LICSW biennial license and lists no separate application fee; the LICSW application form states no fee. Renewal is $76 biennially. An amended fee rule is marked 'In Progress' at the Secretary of State.)

How long does the West Virginia Board of Social Work take?

The Board publishes no processing time.

Is West Virginia in the Social Work Licensure Compact?

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

Sources

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

WV Board of Social Work — Level D LICSW (out-of-state applicants) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
WV Board of Social Work — Application for Licensed Independent Clinical Social Work License (rev. April 2021) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
WV Board of Social Work — Regular License levels ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
WV 25CSR3 Fee Schedule, eff. 2022-07-01 (Secretary of State) ↗ (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]