LMSW, Supervisee in Social Work and LCSW compared
Virginia has three credentials on this path, not two. The one most people leave out is the Supervisee in Social Work, a registration rather than a license, and it is the one that lets a new MSW provide clinical services under an LCSW and count the hours.
| LMSW | Supervisee in Social Work | LCSW | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A license (18VAC140-20-51) | A Registration of Supervision approved by the Board (18VAC140-20-50 A) | A license (18VAC140-20-40) |
| Clinical social work services | Board describes the LMSW as "non-clinical, generalist services" | Yes, under Board-approved supervision (LCSW Handbook s. 3) | Yes, at the autonomous level (18VAC140-20-37) |
| Independent practice | No (18VAC140-20-37) | No; may not directly bill or represent themselves as independent (18VAC140-20-50 D 1) | Yes (18VAC140-20-37) |
| Hours toward the LCSW | Holding the LMSW does not count hours | Yes, after written Board approval (18VAC140-20-50 A) | Not applicable |
| Exam | ASWB Masters (18VAC140-20-70 A 3) | None to register | ASWB Clinical (18VAC140-20-70 A 1) |
| Fee to apply | $115 | $50 | $165 |
| Renewal | June 30 each year, $65; 15 CE hours documented in even years | Does not renew; approval allows 4 years to complete supervision | June 30 each year, $90; 30 CE hours documented in even years |
| Active in Virginia (June 30, 2026) | 1,763 | 3,383 | 14,407 |
Fees: 18VAC140-20-30. Renewal and CE: 18VAC140-20-100, -105. Four-year window: LCSW Licensure Process Handbook, revised 09/2024, s. 2. Counts: DHP Healthcare Workforce Data Center, Current Count of Licenses, Q4 FY2026.
What a Virginia LMSW can do
Two sources describe the LMSW, and they are worded differently. The Code of Virginia defines a master's social worker as a person who "engages in the practice of social work and provides non-clinical, generalist services, staff supervision and management, and clinical services under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker" (Code of Virginia § 54.1-3700). The Board of Social Work's own description leaves out the clinical part: the LMSW "provides non-clinical, generalist services, including staff supervision and management" (Board of Social Work, LMSW applicant page; LMSW Licensure Process Handbook, revised 09/2024).
The rules add two limits. "LBSWs and LMSWs may practice in exempt practice settings under appropriate supervision," and "only licensed clinical social workers may practice at the autonomous level" (18VAC140-20-37). The same section places licensed baccalaureate social workers (LBSWs) under the supervision of a master's social worker.
Read together, the Board treats the Virginia LMSW as the license for non-clinical, generalist work and for staff supervision and management. For clinical work, it points you to a different filing.
Working under an LCSW: what actually counts
The statute's definition quoted above mentions clinical services under an LCSW. For work that counts toward the LCSW, Virginia routes that supervised clinical work through Registration of Supervision instead. The Board's LMSW page says so directly: "This license type is not a prerequisite for LCSW licensure. If you wish to begin supervised experience and count hours toward LCSW licensure, please submit the Application for Initial Registration of Supervision."
The LCSW Licensure Process Handbook (revised 09/2024, s. 3) is just as direct about clinical services: "In order to provide clinical social work services, individuals must be: a. Be licensed as an LCSW in Virginia, or b. Hold an active supervisee in social work registration, and continue to meet all the supervision requirements of 18VAC140-20-50 until they are licensed."
As a registered Supervisee in Social Work you use that title in all written communications, you may not directly bill for services or represent yourself as an independent practitioner, and clients are told in writing that you are supervised, with your supervisor's name, professional address and telephone number (18VAC140-20-50 D 1 to D 3). The details are in Registration of Supervision in Virginia.
Government and nonprofit jobs: the licensure exemption
Virginia's social work licensure requirements do not apply to some settings at all. Among the exemptions in Code of Virginia § 54.1-3701 are "persons employed as salaried employees or volunteers of the federal government, the Commonwealth, a locality, or of any agency established or funded, in whole or part, by any such governmental entity or of a private, nonprofit organization or agency sponsored or funded, in whole or part, by a community-based citizen group or organization."
The exemption has two limits worth knowing. It stops at private practice: "Any person who, in addition to the above-enumerated employment, engages in an independent private practice shall not be exempt from the requirements for licensure" (Code of Virginia § 54.1-3701). And it does not change the hours rule. Supervised experience in an exempt job still counts toward the LCSW only after the Board approves your Registration of Supervision (18VAC140-20-50 A).
Title protection applies either way: it is unlawful for anyone not licensed under the chapter to use the title "Social Worker" in writing or advertising in connection with their practice unless they also use clarifying initials for a social work degree (Code of Virginia § 54.1-3709).
How to get a Virginia LMSW
The steps come from the LMSW Licensure Process Handbook (revised 09/2024). You graduate with an MSW from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (18VAC140-20-60). You submit the online LMSW by Examination application with the $115 fee (18VAC140-20-30), an official transcript sent directly by your school, and an NPDB self-query no more than 30 days old. When the file is complete, the Board emails an approval to test that "will allow you 2 years to pass the exam."
The exam is the ASWB Masters Level examination (18VAC140-20-70 A 3). "If you fail the examination, you must wait 90 days before taking the exam again," and the Handbook notes that the regulations "do not grant the Board authority to approve examination extensions." If you have not passed within the two years, you reapply under the regulations in effect at that time (18VAC140-20-70 B).
The LMSW renews on or before June 30 each year for $65. Continuing education is 15 contact hours, at least 3 of them in ethics, standards of practice or Virginia social work law, documented before the renewal in even years (18VAC140-20-100, -105 A). The full calendar is in Virginia license renewal and CE requirements.
From MSW to LCSW in Virginia
- An MSW with a clinical course of study from a CSWE-accredited program, including a clinical practicum of at least 600 hours (18VAC140-20-49).
- Registration of Supervision: the form, a copy of your supervisory contract, an official transcript and the $50 fee, approved in writing by the Board before any hour counts (18VAC140-20-50 A, A 1).
- At least 3,000 hours of supervised post-master's experience, at least 1,380 of them face-to-face client contact, over no less than two nor more than four consecutive years (18VAC140-20-50 A 2).
- Supervision of 1 to 4 hours per 40 hours of work experience, at least 100 hours in total, no more than 50 of them in group (18VAC140-20-50 A 2).
- The LCSW by Examination application within two years of completing the supervised experience, then the ASWB Clinical exam after the Board's approval email (18VAC140-20-40 2; LCSW Licensure Process Handbook, revised 09/2024).
None of those steps asks for an LMSW. Each one is covered in Virginia LCSW requirements and Virginia LCSW supervision requirements.
Common mistakes about the LMSW in Virginia
Treating the LMSW as the first step to the LCSW
The Board says the LMSW "is not a prerequisite for LCSW licensure." The step that starts the LCSW clock is Registration of Supervision (18VAC140-20-50 A).
Counting clinical hours worked on an LMSW
Supervised experience without prior written Board approval is not accepted toward licensure, however clinical the work was (18VAC140-20-50 A).
Assuming an exempt job counts on its own
An exempt setting removes the licensure requirement for that job (Code of Virginia § 54.1-3701). It does not replace Registration of Supervision for LCSW hours.
Opening a private practice on an LMSW
Only licensed clinical social workers may practice at the autonomous level (18VAC140-20-37), and the licensure exemption does not cover independent private practice (Code of Virginia § 54.1-3701).
Letting the ASWB Masters approval lapse
The Board's approval allows two years to pass the exam, and the regulations give the Board no authority to extend it (LMSW Licensure Process Handbook, revised 09/2024).
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Related Virginia social work guides
Registration of Supervision in Virginia
The filing that starts the LCSW clock: what to submit, the four-year window and changing supervisors.
Virginia LCSW Requirements
3,000 supervised hours, 1,380 face-to-face, two to four consecutive years and the exam.
Virginia LCSW Supervision Requirements
The 1 to 4 per 40 rate, the group limit, supervisor training and the weekly log.
Virginia License Renewal and CE Requirements
June 30 renewals and CE hours for LMSWs, LCSWs and the counseling licenses.
How to Become a Therapist in Virginia
The LPC, LCSW and LMFT paths side by side.
All Virginia Guides
Every Virginia licensure guide HourJourney publishes.
FAQ: LMSW vs LCSW in Virginia
Can an LMSW provide therapy in Virginia?▾
Not on the strength of the LMSW alone. The Board of Social Work's LCSW Licensure Process Handbook (revised 09/2024) says that to provide clinical social work services a person must be licensed as an LCSW in Virginia or hold an active supervisee in social work registration. The Board describes the LMSW as a license for non-clinical, generalist services, including staff supervision and management. Some settings are exempt from licensure altogether under Code of Virginia § 54.1-3701.
Do you need an LMSW to become an LCSW in Virginia?▾
No. The Board of Social Work's LMSW page says: "This license type is not a prerequisite for LCSW licensure. If you wish to begin supervised experience and count hours toward LCSW licensure, please submit the Application for Initial Registration of Supervision." The step toward the LCSW is Registration of Supervision, which makes you a Supervisee in Social Work (18VAC140-20-50 A).
What is the difference between an LMSW and an LCSW in Virginia?▾
The LMSW is a master's-level license the Board describes as covering non-clinical, generalist services, including staff supervision and management. The LCSW is the clinical license: the statute defines a clinical social worker as qualified "at the autonomous practice level" to provide direct diagnostic, preventive and treatment services (Code of Virginia § 54.1-3700), and "only licensed clinical social workers may practice at the autonomous level" (18VAC140-20-37).
Can an LMSW work under an LCSW in Virginia?▾
The statute's definition of a master's social worker includes "clinical services under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker" (Code of Virginia § 54.1-3700). For supervised clinical work that counts toward the LCSW, the Board's route is Registration of Supervision: supervised post-master's experience without prior written Board approval "will not be accepted toward licensure" (18VAC140-20-50 A).
Do LMSW hours count toward the LCSW in Virginia?▾
Hours count toward the LCSW only under an approved Registration of Supervision. "Supervised post-master's degree experience without prior written board approval will not be accepted toward licensure" (18VAC140-20-50 A). Holding the LMSW does not start that clock; the Board's approval of the registration does.
Can an LMSW have a private practice in Virginia?▾
No. The rule says "only licensed clinical social workers may practice at the autonomous level" (18VAC140-20-37), and the licensure exemption for government and nonprofit employees does not cover anyone who "engages in an independent private practice" (Code of Virginia § 54.1-3701).
How do you get an LMSW in Virginia?▾
Graduate with an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program, submit the online LMSW by Examination application with the $115 fee, an official transcript sent by your school and an NPDB self-query, then pass the ASWB Masters exam. The Board's approval email gives you two years to pass (LMSW Licensure Process Handbook, revised 09/2024; 18VAC140-20-30, -60, -70).
Requirements verified against Code of Virginia Title 54.1, Chapter 37, Chapter 20 of the Board of Social Work's rules (18VAC140-20), and the Board's LMSW and LCSW Licensure Process Handbooks (revised 09/2024), current as of September 2026. Statutes, rules and fees can change. Confirm current requirements at the Virginia Board of Social Work before making decisions about your licensure path. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.