North Carolina Social Work Data Snapshot 2024

Mar 25, 2026

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) in North Carolina are trained to provide mental health therapy, clinical assessments, and treatment planning for individuals, families, and groups facing emotional, behavioral, and psychological challenges. LCSWs and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associates (LCSWAs) are licensed and regulated by the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board (NCSWCLB). As of 2024, there were 13,945 licensed Master’s-level social workers in active practice in North Carolina, resulting in a statewide rate of 12.70 per 10,000 population.

Supply

13,945

Total Licensed Social Workers

Active practice

9,830

LCSWs

Licensed Clinical Social Workers

4,115

LCSWAs

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associates

The average rate for social workers in-state was 12.7 per 10,000 population.

Social workers were 45.3% of the entire graduate‑level clinician workforce across North Carolina.

LCSW: 31.9%
LCSWA: 13.4%

Pie chart displaying the percent makeup of the NC graduate-level clinician workforce by profession type in 2024

Distribution

County-level map of North Carolina showing the rate of licensed social workers per 10,000 population where the counties are shaded according to 7 categories of different rate ranges in 2024

Bar chart displaying the proportion of the North Carolina Social Workers who practice in metro or nonmetropolitan counties by type - Licensed Clinician Social Workers and Licensed Clinician Social Worker Assistants. LCSWs make up 67% of Social workers in metropolitan counties and 61% of social workers in non-metropolitan counties

Demographics

Pie chart displaying what proportion of North Carolina Social Workers are male and female in 2024. 85.6% of social workers identified as female in 2024.

85.6% of social workers identified as female in 2024

Years in Practice: LCSWs

Average number of years: 9.7
Deviation from the average (SD): 8.6 years
Minimum/Maximum years in Practice (Range): 0 – 38
63% licensed 10 years or less

Key Takeaways

Metro counties had nearly double the rate of LCSWs vs nonmetro areas: 9.95 vs 4.98 per 10k.
The state average was 12.7 social workers per 10,000 population, with wide variability across counties.
Two counties had a rate of 0 social workers per 10,000 population.
Two counties had rates higher than 31 social workers per 10,000 population.
There were 2:1 LCSWs to LCSWAs in North Carolina.

Note: Data for Social Workers by sex are from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). All Other Graduate-Level Clinicians include: Licensed Psychologists, Licensed Psychological Associates, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associates, Pastoral Counselors, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors, and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associates. Figure data can be found here

Suggested Citation: Lombardi BM, Headley J, Jimenez MP; Keesler R, Akue-ka AJB; Gregory R; Galloway E; Zerden LD; Fraher E. North Carolina Mental Health & Substance Use Services Workforce Data Snapshot 2024: Social Work (Licensed Clinical Social Workers & Associates). Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy. Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. March 25, 2026.

Funding & Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS). The information, content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by DMHDDSUS.