What Education and Training is Needed for a Social Worker Career?

<h3 id="section---SocialWorkerOverview">Social Worker Overview</h3> <p>Social workers help people struggling with emotional problems, traumatic histories, or criminal records to regain stability in their personal and professional lives. Social workers accomplish this by providing individual counseling; coordinating with a team of other professionals (including psychologists, educators, and potential employers); and advocating for patients at the city, state, and national levels. Whether social workers specialize in family counseling or public service, they follow similar career paths. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisFieldOfStudy">Important Facts About This Field of Study</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Prerequisites</b></td><td>High school diploma for bachelor's programs. A bachelor's degree in any field is required to enter master's programs.</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td>Many schools offer online coursework with in-person fieldwork requirements</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Possible Careers</b></td><td>Child and family social worker, healthcare social worker, substance abuse social worker</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Continuing Education</b></td><td> Voluntary certifications for professional enrichment are available through organizations such as the National Association of Social Workers</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2021)</b></td><td> $50,390 (<i>for social workers</i>)*</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</b></td><td> 9% (<i>for social workers</i>)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---BaccalaureateDegree">Baccalaureate Degree</h3> <p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, <i>www.bls.gov</i>), a bachelor's degree in social work or a closely related field is the minimum educational requirement for a career as a social worker. Look for programs that have been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Social work programs usually include both coursework and fieldwork so that students can gain hands-on experience before starting their careers. Social work majors learn about psychology, psychological disorders, and mental health policy. Additionally, they acquire skills in communication, advocacy, and administration. For example, the curriculum of social work programs like the one at University of California-Berkeley includes fieldwork and coursework in: </p> <ul><li>Social Welfare Policy </li><li>Social Work as a Profession </li><li>Practice in Social Work </li><li>Current Topics in Social Welfare </li></ul><h3 id="section---GraduateDegree">Graduate Degree</h3> <p>A bachelor's degree may be enough to start gaining experience in the field, but according to the BLS, a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is needed to work as a clinical social worker. The master's degree allows students to specialize in the type of social work they intend to practice, such as child, family, and school social work; medical and public health social work; or mental health and substance abuse social work. While completing MSW programs, candidates gain skills in individual counseling and learn about social work administration and policy-making. These programs typically take two years to complete. </p> <h3 id="section---LicensureAndCertification">Licensure and Certification</h3> <p>Obtaining licensure is the final step that's required for a job as a social worker. Each state has different requirements for licensure, but a standard rule of thumb is that a minimum of a bachelor's degree and two years worth of supervised experience are needed. In addition to state licensure, various types of certification are available.</p>