How To Become a Mental Health Social Worker

Mental health social workers must complete several requirements in order to work in the field. These usually include a master's degree in social work and a social work license.

Mental health social workers are social workers who work with patients who have behavioral health, mental health, or substance abuse problems. They can work in a variety of settings.

Most of the time, you'll need a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree to become a mental health social worker, and you will also need a license. Below, we break down what you need to know about how to become a mental health social worker.

Steps for Becoming a Mental Health Social Worker

To become a mental health social worker, you'll need to earn at least a bachelor's degree, and in many cases, a master's degree. Depending on your state, you may also need a license.

We've provided a step-by-step guide for becoming a mental health social worker below.

1. Find Out Which Major Is Best for You

If you are not planning to pursue a master's degree in social work, then you'll need to earn a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or an online BSW degree. Most states will allow you to work as a non-clinical social worker with this degree.

If you plan to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, you can earn a BSW first, or earn a degree in another field. Some common majors that prepare students for MSW programs include:

If your goal is to become a licensed clinical mental health social worker, an undergraduate degree in psychology or counseling is a good option before moving to a Master of Social Work program.

2. Find the Right School for Your Major

There are no BSW programs that are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) that offer a specialty in mental health, but there are many colleges and universities that offer CSWE-accredited bachelor's degree programs. These include:

Ohio State University
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
University of Texas, Austin
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin, Madison

Some colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in social work online, and many offer dual or accelerated bachelor's to master's programs.

3. Obtain a Bachelor's Degree

Once you've chosen your school, applied, and been accepted, you'll need to complete your bachelor's degree program. Typically, a bachelor's degree takes four years to earn, but some schools offer an accelerated plan.

In your bachelor's degree program, you'll start by completing your general education courses, and then move on to the courses in your major. In a BSW or similar program, you may be required to complete fieldwork as well.

Although there are no accredited BSW programs with a mental health concentration, many programs give students a certain amount of elective courses. Students wanting to pursue a career in mental health can use these electives for mental-health-focused courses.

4. Earn Mental Health Social Worker Licensure

In many states, even non-clinical social workers must obtain a license to practice social work. State licensure requirements vary, but you can learn more about what your state requires at the Association of Social Work Boards website.

Licensure requirements typically require a bachelor's degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. You may also be required to have a certain number of clinical hours or years of experience. An exam may be required as well.

5. Gain Experience Working with Psychiatric Patients

If a bachelor's degree is the highest degree you plan to earn, you can start working with psychiatric patients right away, although this likely will not be in a clinical setting. You'll likely start in entry-level roles.

While some master's programs will allow you to begin right away, others may require you to have a certain amount of hours of work in a social work setting.

6. Consider Earning a Master of Social Work

To work in clinical practice, you'll need to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program. This is a graduate degree that can take one to two years to complete depending on the program and your previous education and experience.

Some schools offer online MSW programs. Many offer MSW degrees with a concentration in mental health social work.

Once you've earned your Master of Social Work and completed the necessary clinical hours and exams required by your state, you'll be able to obtain your certified social worker license.

After becoming a licensed clinical mental health social worker, you may have to meet continuing education requirements, which may mean taking additional courses or attending conferences.

What Is a Mental Health Social Worker?

A mental health social worker is someone who works with patients with mental health issues and provides mental health services. They may also provide crisis intervention and case management depending on their clients' needs.

Responsibilities of a Mental Health Social Worker

While the responsibilities of a mental health social worker may vary depending on the employer and clients, general responsibilities include:

perform intake assessments on new clients to determine client needs
develop treatment plans and recommend coping strategies
provide psychotherapy services
work with clients to improve well-being
connect clients with community resources to help with their mental heath or mental illness

Skills Required of a Mental Health Social Worker

Mental health social workers need several skills to help them in their social work careers. These include:

communication skills
compassion and empathy
interpersonal skills
organizational skills
problem-solving skills

Benefits of Being a Mental Health Social Worker

The largest benefit of being a mental health social worker is your ability to make a difference in someone's life. Mental health social workers help those with addiction, mental health, and behavioral health problems, advocating for their well-being.

Another benefit is that the job of a mental health social worker has several options. You can work in several different settings and find one that works best for your schedule and personal life.

Other Career Paths for Mental Health Social Workers

While most people with degrees in mental health social work go on to be mental health and substance abuse social workers, there are a few careers in related fields they can do as well. These include:

FAQs About Mental Health Social Workers

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about mental health social workers. Be sure to think about the pros and cons of being a social worker as well.

Is It Difficult To Be a Mental Health Social Worker?

It can be difficult to be a mental health social worker. First, it usually requires a master's degree, which involves several years of schooling and experience.

The job itself can also be difficult. It requires immense compassion for people struggling with mental illness and addiction, and this amount of compassion can lead to burnout.

Where Do Mental Health Social Workers Work?

Mental health social workers may work in government or nonprofit settings that offer mental health services. These may include:

addiction treatment centers
healthcare facilities
outpatient care facilities
social services

Some mental health social workers may also work in private practice, although this is less common.

How Do You Maintain Mental Health Social Worker Licensure?

The requirements to maintain your licensed clinical social worker status may vary by state but often require completing continuing education hours. This can often be done by taking courses or attending conferences or seminars.