Become a Social Worker in Hawaii
Table of Contents
- Hawaii Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Hawaii Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
- Hawaii Baccalaureate Social Worker (BSW)
- Hawaii Social Work Salary
- Hawaii Social Work Scholarships
Disclaimer: Due to the rapidly changing nature of social work regulations, for the most up-to-date information on becoming a social worker in Hawaii, contact the Hawaii Social Work Licensing Board.
Hawaii law recognizes three classes of social workers: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and Baccalaureate Social Worker (BSW). The requirements are as follows:
Sponsored Online Social Work Programs
- Join the #16 ranked Howard University School of Social Work1
- Four program tracks: Advanced Standing, Accelerated, Full Time and Extended
- Research-driven faculty dedicated to making an impact on social problems
- Prepares you to apply social work skills across practice settings
- Four areas of focus: Individuals and Families, Organizations and Community, Evaluation, and Policy Practice and Advocacy
- Three certificates: Trauma Practice, Mental Health Practice or Practice with Groups and Families.
- Four program tracks: Advanced Standing, Accelerated, Full Time and Extended
- Three academic departments: Adult Mental Health and Wellness; Children, Youth – and Families; and Social Change and Innovation
- Features field education in or near students’ own communities.
- Traditional and Advanced Standing tracks
- Concentrate your degree in integrated practice or clinical practice
- Ethically integrates faith and social work practice
- Specialize in clinical practice or community practice
- CWRU’s Mandel School is a top-10 ranked graduate school of social work (2019).1
- Three paths of study are available to prepare social work leaders to work in clinical or community practice.
Hawaii LCSW
Hawaii LCSW Education Requirement: Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited college or university or a doctorate from a college or university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or a comparable regional accreditation body
Hawaii LCSW Exam: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Level Examination
Field Requirement: 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical social work experience in an agency setting. The 3,000 hours of clinical social work experience must be completed in no fewer than two years and in no more than five years; should include at least 2,000 hours of assessment, clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy; no more than 900 hours of client-centered advocacy, consultation and evaluation; at least 100 hours of direct face-to-face supervision OR possess a qualified clinical social worker (QCSW) or a diplomat in clinical social work (DCSW) credential issued by NASW or a board-certified diplomat (BCD) credential issued by the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work.
Fee: $478 application fee if applying in the first year of the three-year renewal cycle, $388 if applying in the second year (two years before renewal), and $298 if applying in the third year (one year away from renewal); $260 examination fee
Additional Information: None
Endorsement: Available upon board approval
License Renewal: Renewal is required every three years with 15 hours of qualifying continuing education (first time licensee is exempt from the continuing education requirement for the first license renewal).
Hawaii LSW
Hawaii LSW Education Requirement: Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited college or university or a doctorate degree from a college or university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or a comparable regional accreditation body
Hawaii LSW Exam: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s Level, Advanced Generalist or Clinical Examination
Field Requirement: None
Fee: $374 application fee if applying in the first year of the three-year renewal cycle, $300 if applying in the second year (two years before renewal), and $226 if applying in the third year (one year away from renewal); $230 for Masters Level ASWB examination fee; $260 for Advanced Generalist or Clinical ASWB examination fee
Additional Information: None
Endorsement: Available upon board approval
License Renewal: Renewal is required every three years with 15 hours of qualifying continuing education (first time licensee is exempt from the continuing education requirement for the first license renewal), and rotating fees of $62 and $31.
Hawaii BSW
Hawaii BSW Education Requirement: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited college or university
Hawaii BSW Exam: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelor’s Level Exam
Field Requirement: None
Fee: $281 application fee if applying in the first year of the three-year renewal cycle, $222 if applying in the second year (two years before renewal), and $163 if applying in the third year (one year away from renewal); $230 ASWB examination fee
Additional Information: None
Endorsement: Available upon board approval
License Renewal: Renewal is required every three years with 15 hours of qualifying continuing education, (first time licensee is exempt from the continuing education requirement for the first license renewal), and rotating fees of $32 and $16.
In order to become a licensed social work practitioner in Hawaii, you will need to complete prerequisite coursework, examination requirements, and, in some cases, supervised work requirements. Also, certain levels of social work in Hawaii can only be reached after completing an on-campus or online MSW program. We are committed to keeping updated information on Hawaii social work licensure policies available to you.
Disclaimer: There may be additional methods of certification that have not been covered here. Please contact your state social work licensing department for more information.
Hawaii Social Work Salary
| Hawaii Social Work Career | Average Social Worker Salary |
|---|---|
| Child, Family and School Social Workers | $55,940 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $61,880 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $72,290 |
| All Other Social Workers | $74,290 |
| Salary Increase from BSW to MSW | +$9,000 |
Disclaimer: Social Worker Salary information is taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Information about social worker salaries in Hawaii is subject to change. Please confirm salary information with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. Last updated: 08/26/2018.
Hawaii Social Work Scholarships
Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP)
Type: Scholarship
Amount: Full Tuition
Description: NHHSP is a federally funded, all-inclusive, service-oriented scholarship program for scholars of native Hawaiian descent who are being educated in the health care field. Recipients are obligated to serve full-time in medically unserved or underserved areas in Hawai’i for a minimum of two years but not more than four years (depending on length of time of scholarship support)
Hawai’i Community Foundation Scholarships
Type: Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Description: Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s scholarship program consists of more than 160 scholarship funds established by generous individuals, families, businesses or organizations to assist Hawai‘i’s residents in obtaining a college education. Some of the funds are part of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and some represent private foundations that have asked Hawai‘I Community Foundation to administer their scholarships. Students apply to the program by completing one application and, if eligible, can be awarded from one or more of these funds.
Additional scholarship information is available on the national page of social work scholarships.
Sponsored Online Social Work Programs
- Join the #16 ranked Howard University School of Social Work1
- Four program tracks: Advanced Standing, Accelerated, Full Time and Extended
- Research-driven faculty dedicated to making an impact on social problems
- Prepares you to apply social work skills across practice settings
- Four areas of focus: Individuals and Families, Organizations and Community, Evaluation, and Policy Practice and Advocacy
- Three certificates: Trauma Practice, Mental Health Practice or Practice with Groups and Families.
- Four program tracks: Advanced Standing, Accelerated, Full Time and Extended
- Three academic departments: Adult Mental Health and Wellness; Children, Youth – and Families; and Social Change and Innovation
- Features field education in or near students’ own communities.
- Traditional and Advanced Standing tracks
- Concentrate your degree in integrated practice or clinical practice
- Ethically integrates faith and social work practice
- Specialize in clinical practice or community practice
- CWRU’s Mandel School is a top-10 ranked graduate school of social work (2019).1
- Three paths of study are available to prepare social work leaders to work in clinical or community practice.
Licensure information including requirements, renewals, and fees were retrieved as of August 2018. Information may have changed since, check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.