Licensed Social Worker License in Mississippi

Mississippi licenses social workers through the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists, offering Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credentials. Each level requires the appropriate ASWB exam and degree from a CSWE-accredited program. The LCSW requires an MSW plus two years of supervised clinical experience. Continuing education is required for biennial renewal. Mississippi faces some of the nation's most acute social work workforce shortages, particularly in the Mississippi Delta and rural communities, where poverty rates are among the highest in the country. The opioid crisis and mental health service gaps have increased demand for clinical social workers. Jackson State University and the University of Southern Mississippi produce social work graduates, but many leave the state for higher-paying positions elsewhere. Mississippi has explored the Social Work Licensure Compact to help address workforce shortages. Background checks are required for all applicants.