How to Get Your LCSW License in Delaware (2026)

How to Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Delaware

Delaware is the second-smallest state in the US, but its behavioral health workforce needs are substantial, particularly in New Castle County (Wilmington metro), and in the more rural southern counties of Kent and Sussex. Delaware's LCSW Compact membership and proximity to major metro areas (Philadelphia, Baltimore) make it a strategic state for multistate practitioners.

Step 1: Complete Your MSW Degree

An MSW from a CSWE-accredited program is required. Delaware does not have its own MSW program, most Delaware practitioners earn their degrees at neighboring institutions:

• Widener University (Chester, PA), popular choice for Delaware residents
• Temple University (Philadelphia)
• University of Maryland School of Social Work (Baltimore)
• Rutgers University (NJ)
• Stockton University (NJ)

Many candidates complete online CSWE-accredited programs and maintain Delaware residency. Your MSW clinical concentration should include practicum in direct service settings and coursework in diagnosis, treatment modalities, and ethics.

Step 2: Accumulate Supervised Clinical Hours

Delaware requires 3,000 post-MSW supervised clinical hours over a minimum of two years. Requirements include:

• Supervision by an active Delaware LCSW (or equivalent board-approved credential)
• At least 100 hours of individual supervision (ratio approximately 1 hour per 30 hours of clinical work)
• Hours must be in direct clinical service, assessment, diagnosis, individual or group therapy, treatment planning

Delaware's behavioral health system includes Connections CSP (now Wellpath), Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, and the state-operated Delaware Psychiatric Center in New Castle, all common settings for accumulating supervised hours.

Step 3: Pass the ASWB Clinical Exam

Delaware requires the ASWB Clinical Examination:

• 170 questions, 150 scored
• 4-hour time limit
• Fee: approximately $260 to ASWB
• Pearson VUE testing centers in Wilmington and surrounding areas (also accessible from Philadelphia metro)

Given Delaware's small size, many candidates find it convenient to test at Philadelphia-area Pearson VUE centers. Schedule 4-6 weeks in advance, particularly during peak testing periods.

Step 4: Submit Your Application to the Delaware Board

LCSW applications go to the Delaware Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners, which operates under the Division of Professional Regulation.

Application requirements:

• Completed LCSW application form
• Official MSW transcripts
• Supervisor verification of hours (on board-approved forms)
• ASWB Clinical exam scores
• Application fee: approximately $135
• Criminal history background check

Processing times are typically 4-8 weeks. Delaware is a compact member of the LCSW Compact, meaning that once licensed in Delaware you can apply for privileges to practice in other compact states without full separate licensure. For telehealth practitioners serving clients across the mid-Atlantic region, this is a significant benefit.

Continuing Education Requirements

Delaware LCSWs complete 40 hours of CE every two years:

• Ethics training is required (verify specific hour requirements with the current board rules)
• CE must come from board-approved providers
• Online CE is widely accepted

The 40-hour requirement is among the higher CE mandates nationally. NASW-Delaware and regional providers offer programming relevant to Delaware's population, including content on opioid use disorder, a priority issue in Delaware.

Delaware LCSW Salary Ranges

Delaware's proximity to Philadelphia and Baltimore means salaries are competitive with those regional markets, though cost of living is somewhat lower than those major metros.

Typical salary ranges by setting:

• Community mental health and substance use treatment: $56,000-$72,000
• ChristianaCare (hospital system): $65,000-$82,000
• Bayhealth Medical Center (central/southern DE): $60,000-$78,000
• VA Wilmington: $65,000-$85,000 (GS pay scale)
• Private practice: $65,000-$95,000+
• School-based mental health: $54,000-$70,000

Wilmington and northern New Castle County have the highest salaries; Sussex County (Rehoboth, Lewes, Georgetown) has lower wages but growing demand driven by retiree population growth.

Top Employers for Clinical Social Workers in Delaware

• ChristianaCare, largest health system in Delaware; major behavioral health employer in Wilmington
• Bayhealth Medical Center, serves Kent and Sussex Counties (Dover and Milford)
• Beebe Healthcare, Sussex County coastal Delaware
• Nemours Children's Health, pediatric behavioral health with Delaware operations
• Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), state agency employment
• Connections CSP (Wellpath), community behavioral health statewide
• Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, Wilmington-based substance use and mental health
• VA Medical Center Wilmington, federal employment
• Easter Seals Delaware, disability and behavioral health services