Board of Social Work Examiners

FAQs

Application Fees

Fees associated with applications are determined by the division and are subject to change. The most current fees are listed within each application listed HERE.

Selecting an Application

Alaska social work license applications are divided by "exam" or by "credentials." Here's how to determine which application you need:

Do you hold an equivalent license in another state? Have you passed the ASWB exam (bachelor's, master's, or clinical) at the level for which you are applying?

If yes to both - apply "by Credentials" For all other applicants, apply "by Exam."

Submitting an Application

Applications may be completed online or downloaded and mailed to the licensing office. You may submit supporting documentation before or after submitting your application.
Note: documentation becomes "stale" after 12 months. The board may request that you renew or re-do forms that become stale.

Current License Processing Time

The duration of the license process can vary depending on the applicant and their diligence in submitting the required forms as complete and correct. Once the application and all supporting documentation is reviewed by the licensing examiner and the packet is determined complete, it will be forwarded to the board for review. Should the application contain professional fitness items for review, the application will not be complete until the investigative review has concluded.

The Board of Social Work reviews applications via an online platform twice a month and during regularly scheduled board meetings. An applicant will be notified of the board’s decision upon receiving a quorum of votes. If a board member requests to discuss an application with the rest of the board, that application will be tabled until the next scheduled board meeting and the applicant notified.

Applicants are advised to expect a minimum of 6 weeks to process an application with no guarantee that the application will be completed in this timeframe.

About the Application by Credentials

Each of our social work applications by credentials requires an equivalent license from another jurisdiction. To determine equivalency, compare the requirements for licensure from your current state/jurisdiction to the requirements in Alaska Social Work Statutes and Regulations.

For example, the requirements for an Alaskan LCSW include (but are not limited to): A Masters or Doctorate degree in Social Work from a CSWE accredited university A minimum of two (2) years of postgraduate clinical social work full-time employment (or 3,000 hours of part-time employment) under the supervision of an LCSW, PsyD, or psychiatrist. 100 hours of face-to-face supervision with your clinical supervisor.

License Verification

In order to fulfill the requirements for license verification, request that each state/jurisdiction where you hold/have ever held a social work license send primary source verification of your license directly to SocialWorkExaminers@Alaska.Gov or mail to P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811

For states that provide primary source license verification online, you may email SocialWorkExaminers@Alaska.Gov and request that your license verification be retrieved online. In your email, indicate which state(s) to pull from online.

ASWB Exam Fees

ASWB determines the cost of their exams. These fees are not covered by your application or licensing fees.
Note: Examination fees may change. Check ASWB’s website to verify: www.aswb.org

Exam Location

ASWB (testing centers set up through PSI) has testing sites throughout the country. After you obtain approval from the Board of Social Work, while registering for the exam, PSI will direct you to the nearest testing center. If there are no locations near you PSI has the option to make special arrangements – however, this is determined on a case by case basis by ASWB.

Failing the Exam and Retaking it after 90 Days

If you fail the exam, you may re-test as many times as needed.
Reminder:
Your exam approval from the board will expire one year after the approval is granted. The ASWB makes candidates wait 90 days before being able to re-test. You are required to pay the exam fee each time you attempt the exam.

Practice Exams and Test Preparation Tools

ASWB offers a one-time online practice exam which is available to purchase on their website only after receiving your approval from the Board of Social Work Examiners to sit for the exam.

Registering for the Exam

After the Board of Social Work has approved your application by examination, ASWB will reach out to you via email with information on how to register for the exam. ASWB's email will include an approval code that you will need when creating an account with PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com/aswb/auth/register

Scheduling the Exam without Board Approval

The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) requires approval from a social work board prior to registering for an exam at any level.

Timeframe to Take the Exam after Board Approval

The Board of Social Work grants one-year approvals to sit for the exam. If you are unsuccessful in your attempts to pass the ASWB exam within one year, you may request an examination extension. Submit a request for an extension of your exam approval to the board in writing (mail or email). Exam extension requests are reviewed and voted on using the same online system as applications.

Transferring Scores

You may request a score transfer at products.aswb.org/scoretransfers
Note: Score transfers are only required for applicants applying by credentials who have passed the exam elsewhere within two years of applying for licensure in Alaska.

Actions to Take if Supervisor Doesn’t Recommend You

If a supervisor states that they do not recommend you, the hours of supervision and time period of employment still count toward licensure.

Combining Supervision Hours from Multiple Jobs

Clinical licensure requires a minimum of two years of postgraduate clinical social work employment under supervision. You may obtain these employment hours with one or more employers or supervisors.
Note: your supervision must span the entire two years of practice. Should you garner an excess of 3,000 hours prior to the two year minimum, you must continue with employment and supervision until you reach the two year minimum. See: AS 08.95.110(a)(2)

MFT and LPC for Clinical Supervision

Receiving postgraduate clinical social work supervision from a licensed marital and family therapist (LMFT) or licensed professional counselor (LPC) requires pre-approval before supervision takes place. You must submit the Alternate Supervision form (#08-4944), detailing a justifiable reason as to why a licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychologist or Psychiatrist wouldn’t be able to provide your supervision. The form/request must be voted on and approved by the board prior to counting supervision hours with the alternate supervisor. Any hours received prior to approval will not count towards licensure in accordance with 12 AAC 18.115(e).

Qualifying Clinical Supervision

Alaska regulations detail a variety of principles and methods that qualify as clinical social work. In AS 08.95.990 "clinical social work" is defined as "the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders and the use of techniques of applied psychotherapy of a nonmedical nature while practicing social work." 12 AAC 18.115 details required content areas for supervision (i.e. clinical skills, practice management skills, skills required for continuing competence, professional identity development, ethical practice, and legal and regulatory requirements).

Supervisor Job Changes During Supervision

Upon conclusion of your hours with any supervisor, complete the postgraduate clinical social work supervision form with your supervisor. If you would like to continue supervision with your supervisor who is now employed by a different agency, obtain a written release from your employer approving your supervision arrangement and submit this release with your completed supervision forms.

Professional Reference - Supervisor Requirements

When obtaining your three (3) professional references, the board requires references from your current and previous supervisor. These supervisors do not need to hold a license – they can be any individual who held a position above you in a supervision capacity while you were employed as a social worker. Your third professional reference must be a mental health practitioner outlined in the Social Work Statutes and Regulations under 12 AAC 18.130(b). Examples include:

Master's or doctorate degree social worker
Licensed psychological associate ro clinical psychologist
Licensed medical or osteopathic physician
Licensed APRN with a mental health specialty
Licensed registered nurse with a master's degree in psychiatric nursing
LMFT or LPC

Supervisor Providing Both Supervision and a Reference

Clinical level applicants only: The supervisor who signed off on your postgraduate clinical social work supervision form may also provide one of your three required professional references. Note, that supervisor must complete both the supervision form and a professional reference form.

Approved Continuing Education (CEs)

To be accepted by the board, continuing education courses must contribute to the professional competency of a social worker and be related to the skills and knowledge required to implement social work principles and methods. When determining whether a specific course qualifies for CE credit for renewal of your license, identify whether that course is

1) offered by a professional organization and
2) contributes to social work competence.

If you are unsure if a specific course satisfies 1 & 2 listed above, review 12 AAC 18.220 for more details.

Earning CE Credit for Instructing a Course

You may receive CEU credit the first time you teach the class or course for a maximum of 10 contact hours in accordance with 12 AAC 18.220(b)(8).

Limits on Daily Contact Hours

12 AAC 18.210(e) allows a maximum of 12 hours of continuing education per day. CE hours in excess of 12 in a single day will not be counted.

Maintaining CE Course Records and Certificates

Licensed social workers are required to maintain records for each continuing education course completed for at least three years, per 12 AAC 18.230. The board may request this documentation for audit purposes. You are not required to send us copies of your CE certificates when renewing your license unless you have been selected for an audit or are under a consent agreement. Each renewal period of licensees are randomly selected for audit. If audited, you will be required to send in copies of your documentation.

Proof of CEUs and Postgraduate Experience for Licensure by Credentials

When applying "by credentials" you can satisfy the continued competency requirements in one of two ways.

First, if you passed the ASWB exam (at the level for which you are applying) within two years of the date of your application, submit a score transfer request to ASWB requesting your scores be sent to Alaska.

Second, if you passed the exam more than two years prior to the date of your license application, you must submit verification of work experience and documentation of continuing education. Additional information and forms may be found in the specific application for the license for which you are applying.

Synchronous/Live CE Requirement

NEW (2024): All social workers are required to submit 10 hours of "live, live online, or synchronous" training courses for renewal. These 10 hours can pertain to any subcategory (i.e. substance-use education, teletherapy practice, cross-cultural education/Alaska Native related, suicide education or general continuing education).

Contacting a Board Member

Board members contacted individually cannot respond on behalf of the Board, as the entire Board must have all discussions on the record in scheduled meetings. If you were to contact all Board members, this could be seen as a violation of the Open Meetings Act by the Board members. The best option for submitting inquiries to the Board is to email the Division at: SocialWorkExaminers@Alaska.Gov

Clients in Alaska

To see a client who resides in Alaska, a social worker must hold an active license in Alaska. AS 08.95.100

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