How to Get Your LBSW License in Texas
Want to get your LBSW license in Texas? The state’s 254 counties and large population create a huge demand for licensed social workers. The Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) ranks as the first step among five social work license levels available.
A social work license shows employers and clients that you have the right training and education to handle the work. Texas provides three main types of licenses: LBSW, LMSW, and LCSW. Your LBSW license will give you the skills to help clients in generalist non-clinical settings. This makes it a perfect starting point for your career in social work.
The license requires a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program. You must also pass the Texas Social Work Jurisprudence exam that tests your knowledge of laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines. Licensed social workers need 30 clock hours of continuing education to keep their credentials valid at renewal time.
This piece will guide you through every step to get your LBSW license in Texas. We’ll cover everything from education requirements to exam prep and application steps. Let’s start your journey to become a licensed social worker!
What is a LBSW License in Texas?
The Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) designation opens the door to Texas’ social work profession. This license gives you the legal authority to practice generalist social work under specific state regulations.
Definition and scope of LBSW
Texas defines an LBSW as “a person who holds a baccalaureate social worker license issued under this chapter”. Your license lets you apply social work theory, knowledge, methods, and ethics to improve how individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities function.
Your LBSW license in Texas lets you perform these generalist social work activities:
- Interviewing and assessment
- Planning and intervention
- Case management and mediation
- Supportive counseling
- Direct practice and problem solving
- Information and referral services
- Advocacy and community organization
- Program development and implementation
In spite of that, your practice scope has limits. You must work in an agency setting or under an agency contract unless you get Independent Practice Recognition (IPR). Your practice also stays limited to non-clinical social work services.
Where LBSWs can work
An LBSW license qualifies you for many positions in different settings. Your skills are especially valuable when you support social service initiatives and policies.
Texas LBSWs often work in:
Child and family services agencies as case managers who advocate for vulnerable youth. Community outreach programs need LBSW assistants to coordinate local support efforts. Mental health facilities look for LBSW specialists to provide essential support services. Residential facilities hire counselors to help clients adapt to communal living environments.
The LBSW credential creates opportunities for professional growth while you gain hands-on experience. Advanced degrees open doors to higher-level roles, but your LBSW builds a strong foundation for career growth.
Difference between LBSW and other licenses
The LBSW is different from other Texas social work licenses in its scope, education requirements, and independence level. Each license builds on the previous one with specific boundaries.
Texas structures social work licensing in tiers. The LBSW comes first, then the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and finally the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). The LBSW needs only a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
LMSWs can do some clinical work with supervision, but your LBSW restricts you to non-clinical services. LCSWs practice clinical work independently, while LBSWs stick to non-clinical work without extra recognition.
Texas offers a unique option – the Independent Practice Recognition for LBSWs (LBSW-IPR). This recognition lets you provide non-clinical social work services independently, work under contract, bill directly for services, and get reimbursements from third parties. It expands your career options beyond agencies while you retain control over practice boundaries.
Step 1: Meet the Education Requirements
Your path to getting an LBSW license starts with the right education. The Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners has set clear requirements you need to meet before applying for licensure.
Earn a CSWE-accredited BSW degree
Getting your LBSW license in Texas requires a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a program with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation. This isn’t flexible – your degree must come from a CSWE-accredited program or one that’s working toward CSWE accreditation.
Texas makes this easier with 53 social work programs that have CSWE accreditation. These programs prepare you for general social work practice and give you skills to help improve people’s, families’, and communities’ well-being.
Your BSW program helps you build:
- Knowledge of social work theory and methods
- Professional ethics and integrity
- Skills to work with diverse populations
- Knowledge of how to help people through life challenges and changes
A BSW qualifies you to start entry-level social work practice and apply for state licensure. This degree also builds a strong base if you plan to pursue graduate social work (MSW) studies later.
Understand field placement expectations
Classroom learning is just the start – field placement plays a crucial role in your BSW program. The core team of educators see field education as social work education’s most vital part because it gives you intensive professional training and direct experience.
Texas BSW students need up to 500 hours of hands-on experience. Some programs split this into 450 total hours – 225 hours each semester of your senior year. Others might schedule it as one block of 400-480 hours in a single semester.
You’ll need professional liability insurance at the $1 million/$3 million level before starting field education. Most Texas programs also expect you to complete your field hours during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) when supervisors are available.
Field placement gives you several benefits:
- Application of theory and integration of knowledge
- Development of practical skills for generalist social work
- Increased self-awareness and professional comportment
- Exposure to actual service delivery to clients
The process begins the semester before your field education, with information sessions, paperwork, and pre-placement interviews. Most programs arrange placements through partner agencies rather than letting students find their own internships.
Note that field education works as a supervised experience. Your BSW internship’s field instructor should have a BSW from an accredited school and at least two years of post-graduate experience or an MSSW.
A CSWE-accredited degree and completed field placement requirements create the educational foundation you need for your LBSW licensure application.
Step 2: Pass the Texas Jurisprudence Exam
The Texas Jurisprudence Examination stands between you and your LBSW license after completing your BSW degree. This test ensures you know the legal and ethical guidelines that shape social work practice in Texas.
What the exam covers
The Texas Social Work Jurisprudence Examination has 126 questions that test your knowledge of state regulations and ethical standards. This test differs from the ASWB exam. You won’t find clinical questions here – instead, you’ll need to know:
- The Social Work Practice Act
- Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners rules
- Other applicable laws and regulations
The exam tests your knowledge of Texas-specific guidelines rather than practical skills. Many applicants find it easier than other parts of the licensing process[111]. You’ll get a certificate worth 3 continuing education credits after passing, but these credits won’t count toward your initial license.
How to register and prepare
Here’s how you can register:
- Head to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council website (https://www.bhec.texas.gov/texas-state-board-of-social-worker-examiners/jurisprudence-examination/)
- Click the link to reach the third-party exam vendor
- Pay $39.00 for the exam fee
The exam works as an “open-book” test. You can look up answers as you work through each question. You’ll need to get each answer right before moving to the next question, which means everyone passes eventually.
Most people finish the exam in about two hours, though there’s no time limit. The process helps you learn about legal requirements and professional standards for Texas social workers.
Your completion certificate becomes a vital part of your license application. Note that the certificate stays valid for six months from its issue date—submit your application within this window. Take the exam when you’re ready to send in your complete application package.
One more thing: you must complete this exam before taking the ASWB Bachelor’s Exam[111]. Plan your timeline with this requirement in mind.
The jurisprudence examination marks a straightforward milestone on your journey to becoming a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker in Texas. With some preparation, you’ll get through it smoothly.
Step 3: Apply for the LBSW License
You’ve completed your education and received your Jurisprudence Exam certificate. The next significant phase involves applying for your LBSW license through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC). This process needs attention to detail and proper documentation.
Filling out Form A
The first step requires creating an account on the BHEC’s Online License System portal. The easy-to-use portal lets you complete your application electronically. After logging in:
- Select “New Application” for Licensed Bachelor of Social Work (LBSW)
- Complete Form A with your personal information, education details, and professional background
- Verify all information for accuracy before submission
Your email address should remain accessible long-term. Students who use school-assigned addresses often miss important communications after graduation.
Submitting required documents
A complete LBSW application needs these essential documents:
- Proof of Jurisprudence Exam completion (valid for only six months)
- Official BSW transcript from your CSWE-accredited program (sent directly from your university)
- Copy of government-issued photo identification
- National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query report
- Examination Security Information Form (Form VII)
- Social Work Employment History Form (Form I)
- Verification of licensure from other states (if applicable)
The system sends email instructions to complete the required fingerprinting process for your background check. Staff reviews applications within six weeks of receipt in order of submission. They will contact you about any missing or incomplete items.
Paying the application fee
The current LBSW application fee totals $109.00, which includes:
- Base fee: $100.00
- Processing fee: $4.00
- Administration fee: $5.00
Veterans should submit their DD214 form to qualify for a fee waiver and accelerated application processing. Your application needs payment at submission – applications without payment expire after 30 days.
The system sends an automatic confirmation email after payment. You cannot modify your application directly after this point – send additional materials by mail or email.
Note that frequent questions about application status slow down processing times for everyone. The best results come from waiting the full six-week review period before checking your status.
Step 4: Take and Pass the ASWB Bachelor’s Exam
The final step to get your LBSW license comes after your application’s approval. You’ll need to take and pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelor’s Exam. This standardized test shows if you’re ready to work as a new social worker.
Registering for the ASWB exam
The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council will send you an approval letter. You should register for the ASWB exam right away. The registration process has these steps:
- Contact ASWB directly via their website or phone
- Pay the examination fee of $230
- Schedule your test date at a Pearson VUE testing center
Your exam authorization lasts 90 days after registration. You’ll need to pay another fee and get board approval if you need more time.
Exam format and tips
The ASWB Bachelor’s Exam gives you 170 multiple-choice questions. Only 150 questions count toward your score, while 20 are pretest questions that don’t affect it. You’ll have four hours to finish this detailed test that covers:
- Human development and behavior
- Assessment and intervention planning
- Professional relationships, values, and ethics
- Direct and indirect practice
To prepare well:
- Use official ASWB materials because third-party resources often have mistakes
- Practice sample questions to get familiar with the test format
- Learn to apply social work principles to real situations
- Go through basic statistical concepts and research methods
Make sure to arrive 30 minutes early on test day with two valid IDs. The testing room doesn’t allow personal items, so pack light.
What happens after you pass
You’ll see your unofficial results right after finishing. The Texas board usually gets official scores within two weeks. Your LBSW license will be issued automatically after you pass.
Note that you must renew your license every two years. Each renewal needs 30 hours of continuing education. If you don’t pass, you can take the exam again after 90 days by submitting a new request and fee.
Start Your Journey Today
Getting your LBSW license in Texas will create great opportunities in your social work career. The process needs several carefully planned steps. Your dedication will help you earn a credential that confirms your professional abilities to employers and clients.
The path from education to examination might look challenging at first. Breaking it down makes everything more manageable. You’ll need to earn your BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, pass the Texas Jurisprudence Exam, submit a complete application, and clear the ASWB Bachelor’s Exam.
Your LBSW works as both a professional milestone and a stepping stone. Many social workers start with this license and advance to LMSW or LCSW credentials as their careers grow. You can expand your practice options beyond agency settings by pursuing Independent Practice Recognition while staying at the LBSW level.
Professional standards don’t stop with licensure. You must renew your license every two years and complete 30 hours of continuing education. This keeps you updated with best practices and new knowledge that benefits you and the communities you serve.
Social work needs dedicated practitioners throughout Texas. Your choice to pursue licensure shows your commitment to ethical practice and professional growth. This detailed guide gives you a clear path to become a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker in Texas.