How to resume a lapsed social worker license
To resume a social worker license that has lapsed, you will need to contact your state's licensing board, pay a reinstatement fee, and often complete continuing education hours that accumulated during the time your license was inactive. The exact steps depend on how long your license has been expired and which state issued it — some states let you reinstate within a set window (often two to five years) with minimal requirements, while others treat a very old lapse as a new licensure process.
The fastest path is to call your state licensing board directly and ask whether your license qualifies for reinstatement or whether you need to reapply from the start. Most boards have a reinstatement process that is faster and cheaper than a full new process, but only if you act within their timeframe.
Key Takeaways
- Contact your state's social work licensing board first — they will tell you whether reinstatement is available or whether you must reapply, and this answer depends on how long your license has been expired.
- Reinstatement typically requires paying a fee (usually $100 to $400), submitting a reinstatement form, and completing continuing education hours that you missed while inactive.
- Some states require a background check or proof of current employment before reinstatement, so ask what documents the board needs before you gather them.
- The reinstatement process usually takes two to six weeks after the board receives your complete process, though this varies by state.
Locate your state licensing board and check reinstatement rules
Each state licenses social workers separately, so you must contact the board in the state where your license was issued. Search online for "[your state] social work licensing board" or "[your state] social work board of examiners" — the exact name varies. Most states have a website with a phone number and a downloadable reinstatement process.
When you call, tell the board staff member that your license has lapsed and ask three specific things: whether you are within the reinstatement window, what documents you need to submit, and how much the reinstatement fee is. Write down the answers and ask for an email address where you can send questions if you get stuck. Some boards will email you the reinstatement form right away; others will mail it or require you to read it from their website.
If your license expired more than five to ten years ago (the window varies by state), the board may tell you that reinstatement is no longer available and you must submit a new process instead. In that case, ask whether any of your previous education or experience counts toward the new process, because some states give partial credit.
Gather the documents the board requires
Most reinstatement applications ask for the same core items: your completed reinstatement form, proof of payment for the reinstatement fee, and documentation of continuing education hours. Some states also require a criminal background check (which you may need to order yourself), proof of current employment or a letter explaining why you are not currently working, and a statement explaining why your license lapsed.
Continuing education requirements are the most common sticking point. Most states require social workers to complete a set number of hours each year or licensing period — often 20 to 40 hours per year, depending on your license type (LCSW, LMSW, or LSWA). If your license has been inactive for three years, you may owe 60 to 120 hours. Ask the board exactly how many hours you owe and whether they accept online courses, in-person workshops, or both. Many boards accept courses from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) or other accredited providers.
If you do not have documentation of past continuing education, ask whether the board will accept a letter from your employer or a school where you worked stating the types of training you received. Some boards are flexible about this; others require official certificates from the course provider.
Complete continuing education if required
Before you submit your reinstatement process, you will likely need to finish any continuing education hours the board requires. Search for "social work continuing education [your state]" to find approved providers. Many offer online courses that you can complete in a few days, and most cost $10 to $30 per hour of credit.
When you enroll in a course, make sure the provider is approved by your state board — the provider's website should say this clearly, or you can call the board to confirm. After you complete the course, the provider will send you a certificate showing the date, number of hours, and topic. Keep this certificate; you will need to attach it to your reinstatement process or provide it when the board asks.
Some states allow you to submit your reinstatement process before you have finished all continuing education, as long as you commit to finishing it by a important date (usually 30 to 90 days after reinstatement). Ask the board whether this is an option in your state, because it can speed up the process.
Submit your reinstatement process and pay the fee
Once you have gathered all required documents, submit them to the board using the method they specify — usually by mail, email, or an online portal. Include the reinstatement form, proof of continuing education, and any other documents the board requested. Pay the reinstatement fee at the same time, either by check, credit card, or online payment, depending on what the board accepts.
Keep a copy of everything you submit and note the date you sent it. If the board has an online portal, take a screenshot showing that your process was received. If you are mailing documents, use certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of delivery.
The board will contact you if anything is missing from your process. This usually happens within one to two weeks. If you do not hear from them after three weeks, call to confirm they received your materials.
Wait for approval and receive your reinstated license
After the board approves your reinstatement, they will issue a new license certificate or send you a letter confirming that your license is active again. The time this takes varies — some states process reinstatements in two weeks, others take six weeks or longer. Ask the board for an estimated timeline when you submit your process.
Once your license is reinstated, you can begin working as a social worker in your state again. Some employers may ask to see your license certificate, so keep it in a safe place. Many states also allow you to look up your license status on the board's website using your name or license number, which you can share with employers as proof.
If you plan to work in a different state than where your license was issued, you will need to go through that state's licensure process separately — most states do not automatically recognize licenses from other states, though some have reciprocity agreements that make the process faster.
What to do if reinstatement is not available
If your license has been expired too long and the board tells you that reinstatement is not available, you will need to submit a new process. This is more expensive and time-consuming than reinstatement, but you may not have to repeat all your education requirements.
Ask the board whether any of your previous coursework, supervised practice hours, or exam scores still count toward a new license. Some states give credit for education completed within the past 5 to 10 years, even if your license expired. If you have to retake the licensing exam, ask whether you can use study materials from your original preparation or whether the exam has changed significantly.
The new process process usually takes two to four months from start to finish, including exam scheduling and results. Budget for process fees (typically $200 to $500), exam fees (usually $100 to $300), and any required background checks or fingerprinting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to reinstate my license before I have to reapply?
This varies by state. Most states allow reinstatement within two to five years of expiration, but some extend this to ten years. A few states have no time limit for reinstatement. Call your state board to find out the specific window for your license.
Do I have to be employed to reinstate my license?
Most states do not require you to be currently employed to reinstate your license, but some ask you to explain why your license lapsed and whether you plan to work. A few states require proof of a job offer or current employment. Ask your board what they need before you submit your process.
Can I work as a social worker while my reinstatement is being processed?
No. You cannot legally work under a lapsed license. You must wait until the board approves your reinstatement and issues a new license. Some employers will hire you conditionally and let you start work once your license is active, but this is not may provide.
What if I completed continuing education in another state — will my state board accept it?
Many states accept continuing education from other states as long as the course was approved by an accredited provider like NASW. Call your board and describe the courses you took — they can tell you whether those hours will count toward your reinstatement requirement.
Do I have to retake the social work licensing exam to reinstate?
No. Reinstatement does not require you to retake the exam. You only take the exam again if the board tells you that reinstatement is not available and you must submit a new process instead.