Tennessee Social Work Licensure FAQ

No. You do not need to call the Board of Social Workers to receive permission before taking the exam.

However, you must complete the application process with the Tennessee Board of Social Workers first. Once your application has been approved, you will receive information about registering for the ASWB exam.

You must apply for licensure with the Tennessee Board of Social Workers first.

After your application has been approved, you may register with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to take the required examination.

Yes. All applicants are required to complete the Declaration of Citizenship form, including individuals who were born in the United States.

You must also submit one supporting document, such as:

• Copy of your driver’s license
• Copy of your birth certificate
• Copy of your passport

The required photo does not need to be an official passport photo.

You may submit a photo that follows passport-style guidelines, including:

• Headshot format
• Facing forward
• Clear view of your face
• Recent photo

A photo taken with your phone is acceptable as long as it meets these requirements.

Yes. You must remain under supervision until you are fully licensed.

Continuing supervision helps ensure that you are practicing within your current scope of practice and meeting Tennessee licensure requirements.

It is also important to continue documenting your supervision hours. Keeping records may be helpful if:

• Your hours begin to age or approach expiration
• Some submitted hours are not approved
• You do not pass the exam after all attempts and must reapply after your approval period expires

To provide clinical supervision for social workers pursuing advanced licensure in Tennessee, a supervisor must meet the requirements established by the Tennessee Board of Social Workers.

Generally, a clinical supervisor must:

• Hold an active Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license.
• Have been licensed as an LCSW for at least three years before providing supervision.
• Complete the required supervision training outlined by the Board, including continuing education related to social work supervision and Tennessee licensure rules.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of supervision provided, including supervision records and verification of supervised experience.

You do not send CE certificates with your renewal application.

You should keep your continuing education documentation for four years. The Board may request documentation during an audit, and you will need to provide certificates if selected.

Yes, you may obtain clinical hours in a private practice setting; however, there are requirements.

You must be employed by the practice. You cannot work as an independent contractor while obtaining clinical hours toward your advanced license.

This is generally not permitted for obtaining supervised clinical experience toward licensure.

Because employment classification can involve legal and labor considerations, individuals with questions about contractor status should consult with a qualified labor attorney.

For official application requirements, forms, and updates, visit the Tennessee Department of Health – Board of Social Workers.

The Tennessee Social Work Licensure Board has issued two policy statements that clarify that up to 100% of individual supervision may be completed via synchronous teleconferencing and up to 100% of continuing education may be completed through synchronous continuing education, where learning occurs in real time and attendees can engage virtually with the presenter.

NASW-TN appreciates the Board’s action and encourages Tennessee social workers to review these statements to ensure they are following current policies. The Individual Supervision via Telehealth Policy also updates information included in the 2022 summary of changes.

Acceptable Continuing Education Policy
Individual Supervision via Telehealth Policy