Board of Social Workers

Licenses and regulates those qualified to engage in the practice of social work in Tennessee.

About  the Board of Social Workers

The Board of Social Worker Licensure was created in 1984 by an act of the State Legislature. This Board is charged with the responsibilities of governing the practice of social work, safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans, by requiring that all those who practice social work within this state be qualified. The Board interprets the laws, rules, and regulations to determine the appropriate standards of practice in an effort to ensure the highest degree of professional conduct. The Board is authorized to issue licenses qualified candidates who have completed appropriate education and successfully completed required examinations. The Board is also responsible for the investigation of alleged violations of the Practice Act and rules, and is responsible for the discipline of licensees who are found guilty of such violation.

The administrative staff of the Division of Health Related Boards supports the Board by issuing licenses to those qualified candidates who have graduated from approved schools and who have completed appropriate post graduate work. Social workers may be licensed by either examination or endorsement from other states. Renewal notices are mailed from Board’s administrative office approximately forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration of the license to the current address on record. For those licensees who have "opted in," an email will be sent to the email address on file approximately seventy (70) days prior to the expiration date of the license.  This is the only reminder a licensee shall receive. Licensees are responsible for renewing their license on time and keeping the Board apprised of current information. Licenses can be renewed on-line seventy (70) days prior to expiration at https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/.  Click on "renew license" and follow the prompts.  Failure to renew by the expiration date may result in a fine.

All members of the Board are appointed by the Governor and serve five (5) year terms. The eleven (11) member Board consists of three (3) clinical social workers, three (3) advanced practice social workers, two (2) licensed masters social workers, two (2) baccalaureate social workers, and one (1) consumer who is not directly or indirectly engaged in the social work profession. The Board meets as needed throughout the year. A quorum of six (6) or more members is required to conduct business. The meetings are open to the public.

Licensure Scam Alert

The Department of Health has been made aware that some licensees of a few different health licensure boards have received fraudulent communications from individuals claiming to be from those licensee’s licensing boards. The communications, often by phone, may threaten arrest or license suspension, demand personal information, or require payment of fines.  Some of them have been accompanied by fraudulent letters claiming to suspend the license. Please note: 

  • Phone calls may “spoof” or appear to be from the boards’ number;
  • If you need to verify the identity of a TN board investigator, call (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov.
  • The health-related board investigators will never demand that you provide personally identifying information, such as a social security number, date of birth, or bank or credit card account numbers over the phone;
  • These types of licensing scams are a problem nationwide.

 If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:

  • If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:
  • Report the communication to the Internet Crime Complaint Center Internet Crime Complaint Center at using the code "TDHHPBSCAM2026".  This will allow law enforcement to link these scams for improved investigation.
  • Complainants can alternatively call the Fusion Center Tipline (800TBIFIND) or submit a tip online at TBI but the IC3 is preferred.

·         Notify the Department of Health at (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov

  • The Federal Trade Commission also accepts reports about “Imposter Scams” online or at 1-877-382-4357.

Contact

Contact the Board of Social Workers

615-741-5735 local or 1-800-778-4123 nationwide
Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243

Applying for Licensure

Licensure Information

When completing the application process below, you will be required to submit an official transcript from the institution where you completed your education. The transcript must be mailed directly from the educational institution to the board office located at 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243 or emailed directly to our office at Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov.

Effective immediately, anyone coming in person to complete their application, speak to an administrator, or paying a fee will be required to have an appointment. This will ensure excellent customer service. To schedule an appointment please email Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov. An administrator will contact you with a date and time. 

Applications

Applying for initial licensure from your professional licensing board has become a bit easier. The Department of Health has been working on an online application process that will allow all health care professionals to apply online for an initial license and complete (and update as necessary) a practitioner profile mandatory for certain professions. The process is user friendly and convenient and even allows you to pay for your initial application utilizing a credit card, debit card or e-check. You will also be able to upload many of the documents required to complete your initial application!  Please go to the initial application link below to begin the online process.

For mailing documents please send to: Board of Social Workers; 665 Mainstream Dr.; Nashville TN 37243.

Continuing Education

All licensed social workers are required to complete continuing education in the two calendar years prior to the year in which a license is set to expire and the licensee renews. You do not submit your hours at the time of renewal but maintain your records for four years and provide proof of hours upon request from the Department. All licensees may use CE Broker to assist in tracking their continuing education hours. 

Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site. If a licensee is non-compliant in their continuing education requirements they may be subject to the Board's Continuing Education Policy.

Acceptable Continuing Education

Per Board Policy, the Board interprets synchronous continuing education to qualify as in-person learning. Synchronous continuing education is hereby defined as learning which occurs in real-time and permits the attendee to engage virtually.

The Board allows in-person learning and multi-media learning. Multi-media learning may include courses utilizing The Internet, Closed circuit television, Satellite broadcast, Correspondence courses, Videotapes, CD-ROM, DVD, Teleconferencing, Videoconferencing or Distance learning. A maximum of two-thirds (2/3) of a licensee’s credit hours may be taken via multi-media courses during a calendar year.

The Board  does not pre-approve continuing education courses.  Board Rule 1365-01-.09(7) outlines different types of acceptable social work continuing education permitted by rule.

Social Work Continuing Education is considered to be continuing education oriented toward enhancing an individual’s social work knowledge base and service delivery skills in the applicable areas of social work planning, administration, education, research, and direct service with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Social Work Ethics Continuing Education is considered to be continuing education oriented toward awareness of professional ethics and the statutes and rules governing the practice of social work in Tennessee.

Clock Hour – A clock hour represents actual time in continuing education activity. (Providers who measure continuing education activities in “continuing education units” shall define CEU in clock hours.)

Required Continuing Education

Licensees who hold more than one (1) category of licensure to practice social work must separately satisfy the continuing education requirements for each level of licensure.

All licensees must complete a minimum two (2) hour Board approved training program relative to suicide prevention at least once every four (4) years.

Suicide prevention continuing education (CE) must be provided by:

(1) An approved professional association; or

(2) A course approved by a social worker related credentialing association; or

(3) Any other acceptable CE course concerning suicide prevention.

New Licensees

1. Are not required to complete a training program on suicide prevention for two (2) years after the date of initial licensure, if the applicant can demonstrate successful completion of a two (2) hour academic training program that meets criteria established by the Board and that was completed no more than two (2) years prior to the application for initial licensure.

2. Licensed baccalaureate social workers and licensed master social worker applicants shall be considered to have sufficient preparatory education to be substituted for the required hours of continuing education for the remainder of the calendar year in which the education requirements were completed.

Requirements for licensed baccalaureate social worker:

  • Eighteen (18) clock hours every two (2) calendar years.
  • Six (6) of the eighteen (18) hours shall be in social work ethics.
  • One (1) of the eighteen (18) hours shall be specific to Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 63-23-101, et seq., and the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure.

Requirements for licensed master's social worker:

  • Twenty-four (24) clock hours every two (2) calendar years.
  • Six (6) of the twenty-four (24) hours shall be in social work ethics.
  • One (1) of the twenty-four (24) hours shall be specific to Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 63-23-101, et seq., and the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure.

Requirements for licensed advanced practice social worker and licensed clinical social worker:

  • Thirty (30) clock hours every two (2) calendar years.
  • Six (6) of the thirty (30) hours shall be in social work ethics.
  • One (1) of the thirty (30) hours shall be specific to Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 63-23-101, et seq., and the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure.

Waiver of Continuing Education

The Board may grant a waiver to any licensee of the need to certify attendance and completion of the required hours of continuing education, if it can be shown to the Board that the failure to comply was not attributable to or was beyond the physical capabilities of the individual, i.e., disability, residence abroad, military service, or other reasonable cause. Such requests for waiver must be accompanied by written documentation acceptable to the Board. Licensees should submit a request to waive their hours prior to the end of the cycle in which the hours should have been completed.

Educational Programs

Baccalaureate Accredited Programs

Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN 37044
Phone: 931-221-7504
Fax: 931-221-6440
Website: www.apsu.edu/socialwork/
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Belmont University
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-460-5540
Fax: 615-460-6944
Website: www.belmont.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Reserve University
11235 Bellflower Road
Cleveland, OH
Phone: 216-368-2256
Website: http://msass.case.edu/
Accreditation Status: Accredited

East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN 37614
Phone: 423-439-6010
Fax: 423-439-6010
Website: www.etsu.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN 38340
Phone: 731-989-6641
Fax: 731-989-6065
Website: www.fhu.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

King University
School of Behavioral and Health Sciences
1350 King College Road
Bristol, TN 37620
432-652-4714
http://www.king.edu/academics/programs/social-work.aspx
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN 37752
Phone: 423-869-6323
Fax: 423-869-6455
Website: http://www.lmunet.edu/academics/undergraduate/baccalaureate-degrees
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN 37204
Phone: 615-279-5702
Fax: 615-269-1830
Website: www.lipscomb.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Phone: 615-898-2868
Fax: 615-898-5428
Website: www.mtsu.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN 37315
Phone: 423-236-2630
Fax: 423-236-1768
Website: swfs.southern.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN 37209
Phone: 615-963-7668
Fax: 615-963-7669
Website: www.TnState.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Union University
Jackson, TN 38305
Phone: 731-661-5397
Fax: 731-661-5566
Website: www.uu.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

University of Memphis
Memphis, TN 38152
Phone: 901-678-2615
Fax: 901-678-2981
Website: www.memphis.edu/socialwork/
Accreditation Status: Accredited

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Phone: 423-425-4266
Fax: 423-425-5564
Website: www.utc.edu/socialwork
Accreditation Status: Accredited

University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: 865-974-3176
Fax: 865-974-4803
Website: www.csw.utk.edu/
Accreditation Status: Accredited

University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN 38238
Phone: 731-587-7513
Fax: 731-587-7751
Website: www.utm.edu
Accreditation Status: Accredited

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

8am-4:pm central standard time.

The administrators can be reached at 615-741-5735 or by email Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov.

It is much faster to complete the application electronically. Please click onto the following hyperlink. https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/healthprofessional-boards/sw-board/sw-board/applications.html

If you have previously created an account in this licensure system, but cannot recall your Username and/or password, please click the appropriate Forgot Password or Forgot User ID link to recover your account credentials.
If you have forgotten or do know the email address used to create your account, you can contact the board administrators at 615-741-5735 local or 800-778-4123 nationwide, or email Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov to update or retrieve your email address.

A provider must be licensed in the state of Tennessee to provide treatment to a client in Tennessee or operated in a free clinic environment.

Unless in a free clinic environment, the provider must be licensed in Tennessee, and the client must be in Tennessee.

Many times, this is confused with the Application, but it is a different document that can be found at the following hyperlink https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do

The OCA number is required for your Criminal Background Check and can be found at the following hyperlink https://www.tn.gov/health/health-professionals/criminalbackground-check/oca-codes.html. Please find your profession and use the number next to that profession. Then, contact Identogo for status updates.

After you create an account, please remember what User ID and Password that you used so you can access the system in the future.
There is a “Forgot Password” and “Forgot User ID” function if needed. Please try this before calling the board administrative office.
Change Of Address, includes email addresses.
Change your name with the Change of Name application. You must attach your marriage certificate or divorce decree.
Request a duplicate wall license or renewal certificate.
We cannot accept debit/credit cards over the phone or in the office. Payment is accepted online by debit/credit card or by e-check. The address in the licensure system must
match the address on the debit/credit card or you will get an error message and the renewal won’t be completed.

For this online system, only one account can be created for a professional license. Once an account is created that links a professional license, the person creating the account will have
access based on the id and password used to establish the account. If done by a third party, the licensee, without knowledge of the user id and password, will not be able to manage their
professional license using this online system. During business hours, you can contact your board to disassociate your license from an online account established by a third party. However, weekends and holidays may be particularly problematic if you do not know the account details to manage your license through this online system. We do not advise management of your professional license by a third party. The law requires a licensee to maintain current information with their licensure board. Failure to do so could result in a disciplinary action by the board.

You will be sent a letter of approval to sit for the ASWB exam, this letter will explain how to register/schedule your exam.

If the state requesting the verification has an official form they want completed, complete your data (with your signature and date) first. Then, the form can be emailed or sent U.S. mail. The form will be sent to the address listed on the form. If there is no form, we can send our standard license verification to the designated address as shown on your request. You may email your request to Unit1hrb.health@tn.gov

Policies, Rules, & Statutes

Policies

Rules

Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Tennessee Board of Social Workers

Click here for the Social Workers Code of Ethics

Statutes

Statutes are proposed and made law by the Tennessee State General Assembly (Legislature). The Board, following specific notice requirements and hearings, adopts rules. Both have the force of law and may be used in the regulation of a profession. The statutes pertaining to this Board are found at T.C.A. 63-1 (Division of Health Related Boards) and T.C.A. 63-23 (Social Workers).

Click Here to review the Tennessee Code Annotated. (This link will take you to a website that is not maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health).

This Page Last Updated: March 30, 2026 at 2:55 PM