Education

• All candidates for an Associate Social Worker license in California must have a minimum of a master's degree in social work. The degree can come from any school with region accreditation in California or the rest of the United States. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences requires applicants for the Associate Social Worker license to provide a copy of their college transcript for verification purposes. The transcript must come directly from the issuing college or university in a sealed envelope.
  
  

Application

• All prospective Associate Social Worker licensees in California must complete an application, which is available for download from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences' website. Along with the application, candidates must enclose a 2-inch by 2-inch photograph of themselves. All applicants must also pay a fee, the amount of which was $75 as of June 2011. The board states that it can take up to 60 days to process applications and issue Associate Social Worker licenses.
  
  

Other Requirements

• Applicants for an Associate Social Worker license in California must undergo a criminal background check. The background check requires candidates to visit a state-approved LiveScan center for electronic fingerprinting. Anyone with a history of felony or some misdemeanor convictions may be ineligible for licensing. Once issued, the Associate Social Worker license remains valid for one year. Associates must submit a renewal application annually to maintain their licenses. The application is available from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences' website and required the payment of a fee of $75 as of June 2011.
  
  

Full License

• To gain a full licensed social worker credential, Associate Social Workers must complete 3,200 hours of supervised work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, candidates must show proof of 104 hours of supervision or coaching from a licensed social worker. Applicants then apply to take the state licensing examination by completing an application available on the California Board of Behavioral Sciences' website. The exam has two parts: a written multiple choice section on social work theory and practice, and a case study section, in which candidates make decisions about treatment plans based on hypothetical cases.