Maryland Department of Health
MD Board of Social Work Examiners

​​​​​​​​​​social work hands.png​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Board of Social Work Examiners

Welcome to the website for the MD Board of Social Work Examiners

​The Health Occupations Title 19 Social Work Practice Act exists because the MD General Assembly finds that the profession of Social Work profoundly affects the lives, health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state. ​

​

Social Work Compact​​

31 states have enacted legislation​ to join the Social Work Licensure Compact. Maryland's legislation ​sponsored by NASW-MD was signed by Governor Moore on April 8, 2025.   As a reminder, The Council of State Governments (CSG) partnered with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to support the mobility of licensed social workers through the development of this compact. This additional licensing pathway will facilitate multistate practice among member states and reduce the barriers to license portability.  The implementation phase is well underway.  Please check the Board's website or the Compact website for updates.  ​

​Social Work Licensure Compact Website

​​​​​​License Verification

​Licensees can now print a verification of their license directly from the Board Website.  See link below your license on the verification webpage.

Screenshot_verification.png​​​​How Do I Become Licensed in Maryland? 

  • Start here:  Licensing Webpage​
  • Applications are online:
  • ​BSW and MSW official transcripts can be sent electronically to [email protected].  BSW and MSW programs must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education - CSWE.  No other undergraduate or graduate degrees are eligible for Social Work licensure.
  • When in their last semester, BSW and MSW students can apply to take the Bachelors or Masters examination.  Just answer YES to being in last semester on the application.
  • Please read all instructions carefully.  Mail all required documentation in one envelope.   
  • Keep your online application # and passcode together.  All required items are mandatory unless otherwise indicated.  
  • The Board is mandated to process an application within 60 days once an application is complete. Omissions may result in delays or deficiencies for your application.
  • Get to know the social wor​k statute and regulations.  Click this link to reach the Statute and Regulation webpage.   Statutes & Regulations.   For regulations online, go to BSWE COMAR on​line

Maryland Department of Health 2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order

From Meg Sullivan, MD, MPH Deputy Secretary, Public Health Services Administration:

 Standing Order on COVID vaccines​​

MD Responds

The Maryland Board of Social Work encourages you to become a member of MD Responds. Administered by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Office of Preparedness and Response (OPR), MD Responds is the primary resource for emergency public health and medical volunteers for the State of Maryland.

For more information, please visit the: MD Responds

To volunteer for the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps, please register using this link Register

Veterans Auto & Education Improvement Act of 2022 (PL 117-333)​

If an applicant does not have a Social Security Number

​Others

​

​Co​ntact US​

Board of Social Work Examiners
4201 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: 410-764-4788
Fax: 410-358-2469
Toll Free: 1-877-526-2541
TDD: 1-800-542-4964
[email protected]

For Technical Assistance: ​[email protected]​​

Technical Support FAQs​