Successes!

Our advocacy has seen two major successes in less than three years - lightning speed in government time. This is thanks to the dedication of our small-but-mighty grassroots organizing. Even with a $0 budget, we were able to overcome the objections of ASWB, an organization worth more than $40 million and a lobbying budget that makes our eyes water.

Success #1:

As of June 10, 2025, a non-exam pathway to LGSW licensure is law in Washington, DC!

You can read the details of the bill here. The social work language is on page 9. In plain English, the details are as follows:

If you're applying for your LGSW in DC for the first time, you’ll need:

A CSWE-accredited MSW
Application + fee
Criminal background check

That’s it. No exam.

Then, when you renew two years later, you’ll have two options:

Take and pass the Masters exam or
Submit proof of 1,500 hours of supervised work (roughly 9 months of full-time practice). These hours also count toward your LICSW clinical hours.

This will be a tremendous benefit to DC social workers and the clients who need them! It will also streamline the licensure process, allowing new MSW graduates to more quickly move into paid employment.

Success #2:

DC had unusually strict rules surrounding the practice of unlicensed MSWs. Effectively, any MSW was practicing "unlicensed social work" if they did not have a license - even if they were doing jobs that do not require a social work license. Given the bias of the exams, this led to many qualified BIPOC individuals being barred from employment in any social services in DC.

Thanks to our advocacy and the listening ear of Dr. Bennett, DC's Director of the Department of Health, this rule has now changed! As of July 2024, unlicensed MSWs are now allowed to work in non-clinical roles. This allows people to have income while they prepare to study for the exam, or take a pause on trying to pass it but still be able to afford a roof over their heads.

If you'd like to read the clarification from DC itself, the document is here.