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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Licensing in Nebraska

Review current requirements, exam details, renewal cycle, and salary outlook for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Nebraska, including See agency and board contact links.

Last verified: Feb 21, 2026

Current

Application Fee

See agency

Exam Requirement

State-approved exam

Renewal Cycle

See board renewal rules

Licensing Blueprint for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Nebraska

Estimated timeline: 1-19 years

Core Requirements

  1. 1

    Have either:

  2. 2

    Graduated with a master's or doctoral degree from an educational program which is accredited, at the time of graduation or within four years after graduation, by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or the Council on Social Work Education;

  3. 3

    Graduated with a master's or doctoral degree from an educational program deemed by the board to be equivalent in didactic content and supervised clinical experience to an accredited program;

  4. 4

    Either:

  5. 5

    Is licensed as a licensed mental health practitioner;

  6. 6

    is licensed as a provisional mental health practitioner and has satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the board pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 38-2122;

  7. 7

    All of the following:

  8. 8

    Have received a master's degree, a doctoral degree, or the equivalent of a master's degree, as determined by the board, that consists of course work and training which was primarily therapeutic mental health in content and included a practicum or internship and was from an approved educational program.

    • Practicums or internships completed after September 1, 1995, must include a minimum of 300 clock hours of direct client contact under the supervision of a qualified physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed mental health practitioner;
  9. 9

    Have successfully completed 3,000 hours of supervised experience in mental health practice of which 1,500 hours were in direct client contact in a setting where mental health services were being offered and the remaining 1,500 hours included, but were not limited to, review of client records, case conferences, direct observation, and video observation.

    • For purposes of this subdivision, supervised means monitored by a qualified physician, a licensed clinical psychologist, or a certified master social worker, certified professional counselor, or marriage and family therapist qualified for certification on September 1, 1994, for any hours completed before such date or by a qualified physician, a psychologist licensed to engage in the practice of psychology, or a licensed mental health practitioner for any hours completed after such date, including evaluative face-to-face contact for a minimum of one hour per week.
    • Such 3,000 hours must be accumulated after completion of the master's degree, doctoral degree, or equivalent of the master's degree;
  10. 10

    Have satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the board.

    • An individual who by reason of educational background is eligible for certification as a certified master social worker, a certified professional counselor, or a certified marriage and family therapist shall take and pass a certification examination approved by the board before becoming licensed as a mental health practitioner.
  11. 11

    Have either: A. Graduated with a master's or doctoral degree from an educational program which is accredited, at the time of graduation or within four years after graduation, by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or the Council on Social Work Education

    • -OR- B. Graduated with a master's or doctoral degree from an educational program deemed by the board to be equivalent in didactic content and supervised clinical experience to an accredited program
    • 2. Either: A. Is licensed as a licensed mental health practitioner
    • -OR- B. is licensed as a provisional mental health practitioner and has satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the board pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 38-2122
    • 3. Either: A.Has 3,000 hours of experience supervised by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed independent mental health practitioner, one-half of which is comprised of experience with clients diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category
    • -OR- B. All of the following: (a) Graduated from an educational program which does not meet the requirements of subdivision A of this subsection
    • (b) Is licensed as a licensed mental health practitioner, or is licensed as a provisional mental health practitioner and has satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the board pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 38-2122
    • (c) Has 7,000 hours of experience obtained in a period of not less than ten years and supervised by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed independent mental health practitioner, one-half of which is comprised of experience with clients diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category. The experience required under this section shall be documented in a reasonable form and manner as prescribed by the board, which may consist of sworn statements from the applicant and his or her employe
  12. 12

    License Type: Stand-alone license.

  13. 13

    A.Has 3,000 hours of experience supervised by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed independent mental health practitioner, one-half of which is comprised of experience with clients diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category;

  14. 14

    (b) Is licensed as a licensed mental health practitioner, or is licensed as a provisional mental health practitioner and has satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the board pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 38-2122;

  15. 15

    (c) Has 7,000 hours of experience obtained in a period of not less than ten years and supervised by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed independent mental health practitioner, one-half of which is comprised of experience with clients diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category.

Exam and processing details

  • passed an examination approved by the board pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 38-2122;

Continuing education and program notes

  • certified master social worker, certified professional counselor, or marriage and family therapist qualified for certification on September 1, 1994, for any hours completed before su

Application Snapshot

  1. Licensing Authority

    Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services • Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services • Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services

  2. Current Filing Fee

    See agency

  3. Renewal Cycle

    See board renewal rules

  4. Salary Position

    $45,120 median (25% below national)

  5. State Salary Rank

    #43 of 50 states

Step-by-Step Process (6)

  1. 1. Confirm eligibility prerequisites (Have satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the board. An individual who by reason of educational background is eligible for ce...).
  2. 2. Complete required education or training (Graduated with a master's or doctoral degree from an educational program which is accredited, at the time of graduation or within four ye...).
  3. 3. Document required supervised experience (Graduated with a master's or doctoral degree from an educational program deemed by the board to be equivalent in didactic content and sup...).
  4. 4. Pass required examination steps: passed an examination approved by the board pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 38-2122;.
  5. 5. Prepare supporting documentation (Have satisfactorily passed an examination approved by the board. An individual who by reason of educational background is eligible for ce...).
  6. 6. Submit the application to Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services~Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services~Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services and monitor board communications.

Salary Insights in Nebraska

With a median salary of $45,120, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workerss in Nebraska earn 25% below the national median of $60,060. Nebraska ranks #43 among 50 states. The typical licensing timeline is 1-19 years.

State Hiring Climate (QCEW)

Rising

QoQ Employment Change

+2.2%

Average Weekly Wage

$1,157

Median annual salary

$45,120

Hourly estimate

$21.69
25% below national median

Difference: -$14,940

Percentile Distribution

Annual compensation
  • P1010th percentile$36,730
  • P2525th percentile$41,480
  • P50Median$45,120
  • P7575th percentile$57,450
  • P9090th percentile$62,870

State vs National Median

State: $45,120
National: $60,060

Total employment: 800 | Annual openings: N/A

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary Ranking

#43 of 50 statesfor Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers median salary
RankStateMedian Salary
#1New York$80,230
#2Connecticut$78,820
#3Minnesota$77,100
#4California$75,320
#5Oregon$71,830

Nearby States Comparison

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers licensing across the region
StateMedian SalaryEducationExamTimeline
Nebraska$45,120Varies by state boardState-approved exam1-19 years
South Dakota$49,560Varies by state boardState-approved examVaries by board
Iowa$50,340Degree requiredThird-party exam requiredVaries by board
Missouri$46,250Degree requiredThird-party exam requiredVaries by board
Kansas$56,110Degree requiredThird-party exam requiredVaries by board
Colorado$65,080Degree requiredThird-party exam requiredVaries by board
Wyoming$42,220Specific course requiredThird-party exam requiredVaries by board

License by Endorsement

Transfer requirements are state-specific. Use this quick matrix as a planning signal, then verify final endorsement rules with each board.

StateReciprocity ScoreTierNotes
Nebraska78HighBoard-specific review required.
South Dakota78HighBoard-specific review required.
Iowa50LowState-specific exam conditions may apply. Documented experience may be required.
Missouri56MediumState-specific exam conditions may apply. Documented experience may be required.
Kansas50LowState-specific exam conditions may apply. Documented experience may be required.
Colorado56MediumState-specific exam conditions may apply. Documented experience may be required.
  • License status indicator: Active.
  • Reciprocity and transfer rules vary by state board. Verify directly with the agency.

Official Licensing Agency

Official website verified

Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services • Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services • Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services

P.O. Box 94986, 301 Centennial Mall S, Lincoln, NE, 68509

Phone: 4022242117

Related Careers in Nebraska

ProfessionMedian SalaryEducationTimeline
Acupuncturist$78,140Varies by state board1-19 years
Anesthesiologist$389,480Varies by state board1-10 years
Athletic Trainer$57,430Varies by state board1-2 years
Audiologist$85,820Varies by state boardVaries by board

FAQ

How long does it take to become a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Nebraska?

Most applicants finish the licensing path in about 1-19 years, but timing can change based on education track, exam scheduling, and board processing.

What is the typical Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Nebraska?

The median annual salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workerss in Nebraska is $45,120. Salaries range from $36,730 (10th percentile) to $62,870 (90th percentile).

How does the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Nebraska compare to the national average?

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workerss in Nebraska earn 25% below the national median of $60,060, with a state median of $45,120.

How many Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workerss work in Nebraska?

Nebraska employs approximately 800 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workerss according to BLS data.

Can I transfer my Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers license to Nebraska from another state?

Transfer requirements vary by board. License status indicator: Active. Reciprocity and transfer rules vary by state board. Verify directly with the agency.

Who is the licensing agency for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workerss in Nebraska?

The licensing agency is Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services / Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services / Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services. Review agency details at https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/professions-and-occupations.aspx.

How often do you renew a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers license in Nebraska?

Current guidance indicates a renewal cycle of See board renewal rules.