[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-329207-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-329207-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","how-to-apply-to-take-the-masters-license-exam-in-pennsylvania-step-by-step-guide","How to Apply to Take the Master’s License Exam in Pennsylvania - Step-by-Step Guide","","Step-by-step instructions for applying to take the Master’s licensing exam in Pennsylvania. Covers eligibility for the exam, how to create an account and submit the application through the PA Licensing System (PALS), which choices to make in the application prompts, and how to handle education verification requirements depending on program status. Explains the approval and authorization workflow with the PA State Board and ASWB, then outlines scheduling with PSI, accommodations timing, and key exam-day preparation and reminders, plus contact details for all relevant agencies.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/how-to-apply-to-take-the-masters-license-exam-in-pennsylvania-step-by-step-guide/329207/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/how-to-apply-to-take-the-masters-license-exam-in-pennsylvania-step-by-step-guide/329207.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Lute","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-07","2026-09-21",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",10,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"Who is eligible to take the master’s licensing exam in Pennsylvania?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Eligibility requires being in the final semester of a master’s or doctoral degree program, or holding a master’s or doctoral degree in social work.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What steps are required in the PA Licensing System (PALS)?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"First, create a PALS account, then start and submit the State Board application in PALS. Use the provided application checklist and follow the prompted selections for board/commission and license type.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What happens after you submit your PA application and how do you schedule the exam?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"After submission, wait for PA State Board approval, then register for the exam with ASWB and retain your Authorization to Test. After receiving that authorization, schedule with PSI Test Administration and wait for confirmation of your testing appointment within 24 hours.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},329207,1790498269,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,115,120,123,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":55,"slug":125},"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":96,"preview_page_count":4},137454149569,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","How to Apply to Take the Master’s License Exam in Pennsylvania  \nTo be eligible for the master’s licensing exam in PA, you must be in the final semester of a master’s or doctoral degree program or hold a master’s or doctoral degree in social work.  \nRecommendation: Review the ASWB Examination Guidebook.  \nStep One: Register/Create an Account in PA Licensing  System (PALS)  \nThe PALs system can be accessed from the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors site. All first-time applicants must start the application process by creating a PA Licensing System (PALS) account. Once you  \nhave a PALS account you can start  \nyour application.  \nStep Two: Start/Submit PA State Board Application in PALS  \nRecommendation: Print the Application Checklist that is available in PALS. The application checklist contains all required steps. If you are a current master’s student and applying for the LSW, you should select the following when prompted:  \nFor Board/Commission, select “State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors”  \nFor License Type, select “Social Worker”  \nOnce you provide information for the Criminal History Record Check and the National Practitioner Databank Report (Self Query), you should have the option to submit your application and pay the fee.  \nYou can continue to upload required documents after your application is submitted.  \nIf applying in your final semester of your program, print or save the Education Verification form (this form only becomes available after you apply) and send it to the Registrar’s Office.  \nBryn Mawr students can mail, e-mail ([registrar@brynmawr.edu](registrar@brynmawr.edu)), or hand deliver the form to the Registrar’s Office at Guild Hall, 101 N. Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. The Registrar will mail the form directly to the licensing board.  \nPost-Masters applicants will skip the Education Verification form and instead request from their college Registrar’s Office that an official graduate school transcript be sent to the PA State Board. BMC GSSWSR alums follow instructions on the BMC Registrar’s website.  \nWait for Approval: Once the PA State Board has approved your application, they will send you an approval letter with information about how to register for the exam with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) .  \nStep Three: Register for the exam with ASWB  \nFollow the instructions for how to register for the exam provided by the PA State Board in your approval letter.  \nWait for Authorization from ASWB: ASWB will send you an Authorization to Test via e-mail within two business days to the e-mail address you provided. Retain your Authorization to Test for future reference. If you do not receive your Authorization to Test, notify ASWB.  \nStep Four: Schedule your exam with PSI Test Administration  \nYou must first receive ASWB Authorization to Test before scheduling your exam with PSI.  \nASWB requires that you request and receive approval for testing accommodations before registering for your licensing exam. ( LINK to request nonstandard testing arrangements. ) There are no fixed administration dates.  \nWait for confirmation of your testing appointment. Confirmation should be received within 24 hours.  \nStep Five: Prepare for Exam Day  \nReview the ASWB Examination Guidebook!  \nConsider test preparation resources such as the Center for Professional Development’s License  Exam Prep workshop or the study guide available to current students through TriPod Library.  \nKnow where your Test Center is located and what to expect on check-in, ID, personal belongings, etc. (Information can be found in the ASWB Examination Guidebook)  \nReminders  \n(If you sit and pass the exam in your final semester) Once you graduate, it is your responsibility to request from the College Registrar that an official transcript be sent to the PA State Board. Your license will not be finalized until the official final transcr","cbCaia1Yk0UCPMLL","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaia1Yk0UCPMLL","pdf",239840,"English","# Eligibility and Preparation\n## Review the ASWB Examination Guidebook\n# PA Licensing System (PALS) Steps\n## Create a PALS Account\n## Submit the PA State Board Application\n## Education Verification and Transcripts\n# Approval, Authorization, and Scheduling\n## Wait for PA State Board Approval\n## Register with ASWB and Receive Authorization to Test\n## Schedule the Exam with PSI Test Administration\n# Exam-Day Preparation and Reminders\n## Test center, ID, belongings, and accommodations\n# Contact Information","[{\"question\":\"Who is eligible to take the master’s licensing exam in Pennsylvania?\",\"answer\":\"Eligibility requires being in the final semester of a master’s or doctoral degree program, or holding a master’s or doctoral degree in social work.\"},{\"question\":\"What steps are required in the PA Licensing System (PALS)?\",\"answer\":\"First, create a PALS account, then start and submit the State Board application in PALS. Use the provided application checklist and follow the prompted selections for board/commission and license type.\"},{\"question\":\"What happens after you submit your PA application and how do you schedule the exam?\",\"answer\":\"After submission, wait for PA State Board approval, then register for the exam with ASWB and retain your Authorization to Test. After receiving that authorization, schedule with PSI Test Administration and wait for confirmation of your testing appointment within 24 hours.\"}]","How to Apply to Take the Master’s License Exam in Pennsylvania - Step-by-Step Guide | PDF",1789983080]