Alternate Pathways to Social Work Licensure: Montana & Minnesota

In 2024, both Montana and Minnesota created alternative routes to social work licensure aimed at reducing barriers for qualified professionals.

Montana’s 2024 LBSW/LMSW Legacy Clause allowed social work degree holders with at least 4,000 hours of prior professional experience to obtain their LBSW or LMSW without supervision hours or an exam. Established through HB 499 and implemented in early 2024, this one-time opportunity sunset on December 31, 2024. Click to read more about Montana's licensing requirements.

Minnesota’s Alternate Pathway, effective October 1, 2024, introduced a provisional license option that enables individuals with a CSWE-accredited social work degree to practice without taking the ASWB National Exam, expanding access to licensure while maintaining professional standards. Click to read more about Minnesota's licensing requirements.