Message From the Executive Director

The LMSW vs. The LCSW

The Reality, the Perception, and the Challenge

         A reason for pursuing social work licensing was to recognize in law the value of  social work education to provide competent services.  Licensing may have achieved this.  Paradoxically, it may also be having somewhat of the opposite effect.  Here is why.

         State law created the LMSW and the LCSW.  The LCSW is basically the same as the LMSW, but it essentially permits the practitioner to do psychotherapy and to render a diagnosis. Given the breadth of social work, these functions are most relevant in certain areas of the profession, in particular, mental health.  But in mental health today, these functions are only a portion of what social workers do in service delivery programs.

The Historic Meaning Behind the LMSW

         The LMSW reflects a level of professional social work that historically evolved during the 20th century into a potent form of practice, almost unique in its effectiveness with people facing a wide array of daunting challenges.  At NASW-NYC we have put a microscope to what social workers actually do through the convening of focus groups of professionals in health care, child welfare, addictions, aging, the world of work, and public schools.  Social workers in homeless services will be convened in the fall. 

         In each group we heard stories that demonstrated breathtaking accomplishments in the face of the most difficult situations, involving life and death, sometimes when others had failed to make a difference. 

         What was especially evident in the focus groups was the importance of professional social workers doing comprehensive psychosocial assessments, developing trust, and providing both counseling and social work case management.  These potent functions are  some of the central elements of LMSW practice.LMSW practice includes case work, group work, counseling, case management, community organizing, advocacy, research, administration, consultation, policy and planning.

         When NASW-NYC set out to work on the development of social work licensing, we agreed to support the passage of a law that included the LCSW.  Forty-six states already had a clinical license, and there was a strong case to be made for having one in New York.  NASW-NYC, however, was especially interested in assuring that we would have a broader license for all graduates at the masters level, setting standards for social workers who are employed in programs designed to take on society’s toughest problems.

         The legislature seemed to be more interested in creating the LCSW because it wanted to regulate psychotherapy.  NASW-NYC insisted that there also be the LMSW and set out to convince policy makers as to why this was essential.  As a result, we have these two licenses.

         A number of things have happened following the legal enactment of licensing last fall, and they pose a serious challenge for schools of social work, practitioners, and the programs that employ them.

The Desire for the LCSW: Creating a New Trend in the Labor Force

         For practitioners, especially recent graduates, there is an enormous desire to get the LCSW, even in cases where doing diagnoses and psychotherapy are not primarily what they have come into the profession to do.  As it is often expressed, people want to keep their “options open”. 

         One reason for this is that there is a perception that LCSW’s will command more money in the market place.  This may be correct in many instances, but not necessarily so.  Other factors relate to salary level, including the type of setting and whether or not the setting is unionized.  Another reason many social workers want the LCSW is to go into private practice, at least on a part-time basis.  Given relatively low salaries, part-time private practice has long been a way to supplement one’s income.

         Regardless of why the LCSW is being pursued, there are several developments  being experienced in the field right now that are cause for concern.  If these are trends in the making, the profession needs to be aware of them and to consider whether any action is needed.

                  First, we are hearing of students turning down feild placements because they want to keep their “options open” in terms of obtaining the LCSW.  Students did not want to be in a placement that did not appear to set them on a path toward the LCSW, even though field
placement is not directly related to qualifying