Authority, credentials, and scope
Regulator, governing authority, credential names, regulated titles, scope boundaries, exemptions, and prohibited activities.
Certification and license split
Published research · ConfirmedCSW, CMSW, and CSWM are nonclinical certification routes, while LCSWA and LCSW are the clinical license routes.
- Applies to
- Use for CSW, CMSW, CSWM, LCSWA, LCSW research in NC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Application and practice status
Application, education, examination, background check, fees, temporary authority, endorsement, and supervised versus independent practice.
Independent clinical practice
Published research · ConfirmedIndependent clinical social work requires the LCSW credential; LCSWA practice remains supervised.
- Applies to
- Use for CSW, CMSW, CSWM, LCSWA, LCSW research in NC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Supervision and workforce evidence
Supervisor qualifications, written agreements, settings, hours, reporting, license verification, and hiring or credentialing evidence.
Associate supervision record
Published research · ConfirmedLCSWA experience and supervision must follow the Board process, including qualifying supervision and documented clinical practice.
- Applies to
- Use for CSW, CMSW, CSWM, LCSWA, LCSW research in NC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Cross-border and practice structure
Telehealth location rules, registration, compact privileges, ownership, entity naming, fee sharing, and multidisciplinary practice.
Social Work Compact transition
Enacted, not operational · ConfirmedNorth Carolina enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact in Session Law 2025-7, but enactment alone does not authorize multistate practice before the compact system issues the applicable authority.
- Applies to
- Use for CSW, CMSW, CSWM, LCSWA, LCSW research in NC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- 2025-06-13
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Client-facing operations and records
Disclosure, consent, telehealth, emergencies, advertising, confidentiality, access, retention, minors, subpoenas, closure, fees, billing, and termination.
Board entity registration
Published research · ConfirmedAn LCSW professional corporation or PLLC may require Board registration and must satisfy profession-specific ownership and naming rules in addition to Secretary of State formation.
- Applies to
- Use for CSW, CMSW, CSWM, LCSWA, LCSW research in NC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Maintenance, complaints, and monitoring
Renewal, continuing education, audits, inactive status, reinstatement, complaints, discipline, effective dates, exclusions, and unresolved interpretations.
Certification and license split
Published research · ConfirmedCSW, CMSW, and CSWM are nonclinical certification routes, while LCSWA and LCSW are the clinical license routes.
- Applies to
- Use for CSW, CMSW, CSWM, LCSWA, LCSW research in NC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11