Become a Social Worker in Michigan 

Michigan has navigated major public challenges over the past decade, including Detroit’s 2013 bankruptcy and the Flint water crisis that began in 2014, but it remains a place many social workers choose for its diverse communities, strong local institutions, and wide range of service needs. The Detroit–Warren–Dearborn metro area is one of Michigan’s largest employment hubs and supports a substantial number of social work roles, including positions focused on children and families as well as behavioral health and substance use. Smaller Michigan metros can also have above-average concentrations of certain social work positions depending on local employers and community needs, so it can be helpful to compare both large and smaller regions when researching job opportunities. 

Sponsored Online Social Work Programs

University of Denver

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

The University of Denver’s Online MSW Program is delivered by its top-ranked school of social work and offers two programs. Students can earn their degree in as few as 12 months for the Online Advanced-Standing MSW or 27 months for the Online MSW.

Syracuse University

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

Syracuse University’s online Master of Social Work program does not require GRE scores to apply and is focused on preparing social workers who embrace technology as an important part of the future of the profession. Traditional and Advanced Standing tracks are available.

Simmons University

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

Aspiring direct practitioners can earn their MSW online from Simmons University in as few as 9 months. GRE scores are not required, and the program offers full-time, part-time, accelerated, and advanced standing tracks.

Howard University

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

The online Master of Social Work program from Howard University School of Social Work prepares students for advanced direct or macro practice in culturally diverse communities. Two concentrations available: Direct Practice and Community, Administration, and Policy Practice. No GRE. Complete in as few as 12 months.

Hawaii Pacific University

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Master of Social Work

The online Master of Social Work prepares aspiring social work leaders to develop a multicultural social work practice, advocate for social and economic justice, and empower diverse communities affected by systemic inequities within civilian and military-focused areas. 

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Common steps to Become a Michigan Social Worker

Social work licensure and technician registration in Michigan are handled through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL), and the Michigan Board of Social Work. Michigan offers multiple pathways, including social work licenses, Limited Bachelor’s Social Worker (LLBSW), Bachelor’s Social Worker (LBSW), Limited Master’s Social Worker (LLMSW), and Master’s Social Worker (LMSW), as well as social service technician registrations (Limited SST and SST). Michigan LMSWs can hold a Clinical designation, a Macro designation, or both, reflecting different scopes of practice based on education, supervised experience, and examination. 

Information below was retrieved January 2026 and is only meant to be a high-level overview. Requirements may change, always check with the state licensing board for complete and up to date information.

Below, we list the common steps to become a Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW). It is the highest designation in the state, issued by the Michigan Board of Social Work.

1. Complete a CSWE-Accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) 

To become a full master’s level social worker in Michigan, you must have completed a master’s degree in social work from a program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

2. Complete Post-Graduate, Supervised Social Work Experience

Michigan requires LMSW applicants to complete 4,000 hours of post-degree supervised social work experience over at least 2 years. If you complete these hours in Michigan, you must hold an active Limited Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LLMSW) credential while accruing your supervised experience. Your hours must align with the designation(s) you’re pursuing: Clinical, Macro, or both.

3. Apply for and Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Exam

After your supervised experience is completed and verified, Michigan will authorize you to take the appropriate ASWB exam. You must pass the ASWB Clinical exam for the Clinical designation or the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam for the Macro designation (or both, if you are pursuing both designations).

4. Submit Required Application Materials

Submit your application, fee, and required documentation through Michigan LARA’s online system. Michigan also requires a criminal background check (fingerprinting) for most applicants; fingerprint instructions are typically issued after your application and fee are received.

Social Work Degree Programs in Michigan 

Michigan has a wide range of social work programs, including CSWE-accredited options at the BSW and MSW levels, as well as programs that may be in candidacy or pre-candidacy status. Because accreditation and program status can change, the most reliable way to confirm whether a specific Michigan program is currently accredited (or in candidacy/pre-candidacy) is to check the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs.

It’s also helpful to understand how education connects to licensure: Michigan’s LMSW license can carry a Clinical designation, a Macro designation, or both, but those designations are determined through Michigan’s supervised-experience and exam requirements, not simply by choosing a concentration in an MSW program.

Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Michigan

Many Michigan MSW programs offer an advanced standing option for applicants who already hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, which can shorten time-to-degree. Schools may also offer concentrations or focus areas (for example, school social work or community practice), so it’s worth comparing curricula and field placement opportunities on each program’s website and confirming accreditation status in the CSWE directory. 

Online MSW Programs in Michigan

Several Michigan universities offer online or hybrid MSW formats designed for working students, though availability and format can vary by school and may change over time. To verify that an online or hybrid option is connected to a CSWE-accredited MSW program (or a program in candidacy/pre-candidacy), confirm the program in the CSWE directory and then review the school’s delivery-format details directly. 

Social Work Licenses in Michigan

Michigan’s social work licenses are structured so that at each level, a limited level precedes it during which an individual accrues field experience hours. Information below was retrieved from Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) – Michigan Board of Social Work.

Limited Social Service Technician (L-SST) 

  • Education/Work Requirements: Two years of college in any field from a regionally accredited university, and must be currently employed or offered employment in a human, social services or social work environment.
  • Field Requirements: None to obtain; LSST is used to accrue supervised experience toward full SST registration.
  • Exam: N/A

Social Service Technician (SST) 

  • Education/Work Requirements: SST is a registration (not a license). To qualify, you must meet one of the following: (1) earn an associate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program; or (2) be currently employed in a social or human services setting and complete at least 2,000 hours of supervised social work experience over at least one year; or (3) be currently employed in social or human services and complete two years of college that include at least four courses related to human services needs.
  • Field Requirements: If qualifying through the experience route, you must document 2,000 supervised hours over at least one year; otherwise, no additional field hours are required to obtain SST beyond any required employment verification.
  • Exam: N/A

Limited Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker (L-LBSW) 

  • Education Requirements: A limited bachelor’s social work license is issued for the purpose of accumulating the supervised experience required for full LBSW licensure. To qualify, you must have completed the educational requirements for bachelor-level social work licensure (i.e., a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program).
  • Field Requirements: None to obtain; LLBSW is the credential you hold while you earn the required supervised experience toward full LBSW licensure.
  • Exam: N/A (the ASWB Bachelor’s exam is required for the full LBSW, not the limited license). 

Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker (LBSW)

  • Education Requirements: A bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
  • Field Requirements: 4,000 hours of supervised post-bachelor’s experience completed over at least a two-year period. If the experience is earned in Michigan, it must be earned while holding an active Limited Bachelor’s Social Worker (LLBSW) license.
  • Exam: ASWB Bachelor’s exam 
  • License Renewal: Michigan full social work licenses are valid for 3 years from the date of issuance (not tied to a single statewide April 30 date). Licenses are typically eligible for renewal 90 days before the listed expiration date.

Limited Licensed Master Social Worker (L-LMSW / LLMSW)

  • Education Requirements: A master’s or doctoral degree at a CSWE-accredited program.
  • Field Requirements: None to obtain; the LLMSW is the credential you hold while completing the required post-degree supervised experience toward full LMSW licensure (Clinical, Macro, or both, depending on the designation you’re pursuing).
  • Exam: N/A (the ASWB exam is required for the full LMSW, not the limited license).

Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW) 

  • Education Requirements: A master’s (or doctoral) degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
  • Field Requirements: 4,000 hours of post-master’s supervised social work experience completed over at least a two-year period. If the experience is gained in Michigan, you must hold an active Limited LMSW (LLMSW) while accruing the hours, and the setting must align with your designation (Clinical, Macro, or both).
  • Exam: Pass the ASWB exam that matches your designation—ASWB Clinical for the Clinical designation or ASWB Advanced Generalist for the Macro designation (or both, if applicable). Michigan verifies completion of the required 4,000 hours before authorizing exam eligibility.

Learn more about an LMSW License. 

L-LMSW or LMSW Specialty Designations

  • To add an additional LMSW specialty designation (e.g., adding Clinical to a Macro license or adding Macro to a Clinical license), you must have either an active license in the other specialty designation or an active Limited LMSW (LLMSW). You must then complete 2,000 additional hours of post-degree social work experience in the second specialty area over at least one year, including at least 50 hours of supervisory review, and meet any exam/application requirements for the added designation.

Social Work Salaries for Michigan

Michigan Social Work CareersNumber of Social Workers in MichiganAnnual Mean Social Work Wage
Child, Family and School Social Workers
15,690
$60,580
Healthcare Social Workers
5,110
$68,340
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
5,130
$62,220
Social Workers, All Other
1,900
$67,130
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
610
$80,400

Information on the above social work salaries in Michigan was retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Michigan in January 2026.

Learn more about different social work salaries.

Michigan Social Worker Scholarships 

There are many opportunities to gain financial support for your social work degree in Michigan. Social work scholarships, grants and fellowships may help support your career pathway. Make a point of searching for scholarship possibilities with local and state agencies, your library’s reference section, community organizations, faith-based organizations and professional associations affiliated with social work. Here are some places to start:

Michigan Social Worker Organizations 

Michigan students and social workers will find many organizations available. Here are some primary ones:

FAQs

Does Michigan offer social work license reciprocity?

Michigan doesn’t have simple “reciprocity”; instead, out-of-state applicants typically pursue LMSW licensure by endorsement through LARA by submitting license verification, required education documentation, and requesting an official ASWB score transfer. Depending on how long you’ve been licensed/practicing, Michigan may require proof of supervised experience (often 4,000 post-degree hours for applicants licensed less than 10 years), while those with 10+ years of master’s-level practice may be presumed to meet experience requirements under state rules.

What are the social work continuing education (CE) requirements in Michigan?

Michigan social workers renew a full license every three years (based on the expiration date on the license) and must complete at least 45 hours of board-approved continuing education during the renewal cycle, including 5 hours in ethics, 2 hours in pain and pain symptom management, and at least 2 hours in human trafficking. In addition, Michigan requires implicit bias training every renewal cycle (for a 3-year cycle, 3 total hours), and licensees should retain documentation in case of an audit. 

How do I verify a social worker license in Michigan?

To verify a social worker license (or registration) in Michigan, use LARA’s online Verify a License search tool (MiPLUS) and search by name, license type, or license number.

Information last updated in January 2026.