School Social Work Licensure Program

The State of Tennessee School Social Work Licensure Program at the University of Tennessee, College of Social Work, is available to currently enrolled Bachelor’s and Master’s-level students and persons who currently hold either a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in Social Work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This licensure program in school social work equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to practice in school settings throughout Tennessee.

The College of Social Work, in collaboration with the University of Tennessee College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, will certify applicants for the State of Tennessee School Social Work License after they satisfactorily complete the requirements detailed in the application packet.

For more information about School Social Work – and precisely, what you can do with School Social Work licensure – see “What do school social workers do?”

How to Apply

Application Process

Each of the following items is needed as part of your application for the School Social Work Licensure Program:

Degree and Academic Documentation

Evidence of graduation from a CSWE-accredited Social Work Program by providing one OFFICIAL transcript of ALL academic work (graduate and undergraduate, including community college transcripts). Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the institution to the School Social Work Coordinator. Electronic transcripts will not be accepted.

Experience and Documentation

Experience and Documentation can be met in one of three ways:

1. Evidence of a minimum of two years of direct social work practice with children and families after receiving an MSSW or BSSW degree.
2. Have had a K-12 school social work field placement in an MSSW or BSSW program (minimum of 400 clock hours required). You must submit your field practicum time sheet with your application.
3. Have been employed as a school social worker or have provided social work services in an educational setting for a minimum of six months following receipt of MSSW or BSSW degree. We must receive a letter directly from your supervisor with a description of duties, length of employment, and an evaluation of your performance in this setting.

Employment Reference

A letter of reference from current or most recent social work employer in the area of children and families on company letterhead.

Applications

Download the UTCSW School Social Work Application

School Social Work Documentation

Official transcript verifying completion of a course in school social work (include the course syllabus if the course is taken anywhere other than UT). The course must have been completed within the past five years and passed with a grade of C or higher.

Application Fee

$100 Application Fee can be paid by credit card (Discover, Visa, Mastercard).

Register for the program

Background Check

A background check is required as part of the licensure application process. After submission of your application, you will be contacted with instructions for completing the background check.

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Praxis Exam

Please note: At this time the state of Tennessee no longer offers the School Social Work section of the Praxis exam. If that exam is reinstated these requirements will be updated to include a Praxis score.