Regular License : Level D - LICSW License in West Virginia

West Virginia did not return a direct match in the COS regulatory database for a standardized social work license, resulting in lower confidence for this entry. However, West Virginia does license social workers through the Board of Social Work, offering Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW), Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) credentials. The LICSW requires an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program, the ASWB Clinical exam, and at least two years of supervised clinical experience. West Virginia faces some of the nation's most acute behavioral health workforce shortages. The opioid crisis has devastated many communities, creating urgent demand for clinical social workers in substance abuse treatment and trauma-informed care. The state's rural, mountainous geography compounds workforce challenges. West Virginia University and Marshall University produce social work graduates, but retention is challenging. West Virginia has explored the Social Work Licensure Compact to improve workforce access.