According to some reports, despite his rabbinic leadership he did not hold semikhah until late in life, when he had to apply for a passport and needed formal semichah in order to honestly enter "rabbi" as his occupation. He then received his semikhah by telegraph from Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski of Wilna.Yissocher Frand, Listen To Your Messages, p.89 According to another report, though, he received semikhah much earlier, at age 17.בן 14 עתר: תנו לי להיות רב
