Social Work Licensure Compact in Virginia:
What You Need to Know
Virginia's passage of the Social Work Licensure Compact is a major milestone for the profession, expanding future opportunities for license portability, telehealth, and workforce mobility. While the Compact is now active at the national level, it is not yet available for use by individual social workers. Virginia was one of the first states to enact the Compact, demonstrating the Commonwealth's commitment to improving access to care while maintaining strong public protections through state licensure.
What the Compact Does
The Social Work Licensure Compact creates a pathway for eligible social workers to obtain a multistate license, allowing them to practice across participating Compact states without applying for separate licenses in each state. The Compact is designed to:
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Increase access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
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Support continuity of care for clients who relocate or receive services across state lines.
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Expand opportunities for telehealth practice.
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Improve workforce mobility while preserving each state's authority over licensure and public protection.
Current National Status
The Compact reached activation status in April 2024 after the required number of states enacted the legislation. Since then:
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The Social Work Compact Commission has been established and convened.
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Rulemaking, bylaws, and governance structures are actively being developed.
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Work is underway to build a shared data system for licensure verification and disciplinary reporting across participating states.
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Additional states continue to join the Compact.
Although Virginia and many other states have enacted the Compact, multistate licenses are not yet being issued.
When Will It Be Available?
The implementation process is still underway. The Social Work Compact Commission continues to finalize rules, technology systems, fee structures, and administrative processes needed before applications can open.
Current guidance indicates that multistate licenses are expected to become available once implementation is complete, with current estimates suggesting applications may open within the next 9–12 months.
What This Means for You Right Now
At this stage, there are no changes to your current Virginia license or practice requirements.
You must continue to:
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Maintain your Virginia social work license in good standing.
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Follow Virginia's existing licensure and renewal requirements.
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Hold the appropriate license in any state where you practice.
You cannot yet use the Compact to practice across state lines.
Who Will Be Eligible?
While final rules are still being adopted, eligibility is expected to generally include:
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Holding (or being eligible for) an active, unencumbered license in your home state.
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Meeting education requirements.
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Passing the required qualifying national licensing examination.
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Completing the required FBI criminal background check.
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Applying for and receiving a multistate license through the Compact system.
Importantly, the Compact does not replace state licensure. Instead, it creates an additional multistate practice privilege connected to your home state license.
Key Implementation Steps Still in Progress
Before social workers can begin applying for multistate licenses, the Social Work Compact Commission must:
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Finalize Compact rules and fee structures.
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Complete the centralized data system for license verification and discipline tracking.
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Develop the multistate application and approval process.
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Finalize administrative procedures for participating states.
These activities are actively underway at the national level.
What to Expect Next
As implementation continues, social workers can expect:
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Clear guidance on how to apply for a multistate license.
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Information regarding fees and application timelines.
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Identification of participating states where multistate practice will be authorized.
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Ongoing updates from the Social Work Compact Commission, the Virginia Board of Social Work, and NASW Virginia.
How NASW Virginia Is Supporting This Work
NASW Virginia will continue to monitor national implementation closely and provide timely updates as new information becomes available.
The chapter will also continue to advocate for an ethical, accessible, and efficient Compact framework while supporting members in preparing for participation once multistate license applications become available.
Learn More
For the latest information on implementation, eligibility requirements, participating states, frequently asked questions, and updates, visit the official Social Work Licensure Compact website: SWCompact.org
You can also find Virginia-specific information through the Virginia Board of Social Work. NASW Virginia will continue to share updates as additional guidance becomes available from the Social Work Compact Commission and the Virginia Board of Social Work.