Do you have a passion for helping people? Do you want to be in a position to connect people with the services they need to improve their lives and the lives of their families? Then becoming a social worker might be the right career path for you. It involves getting a formal education and passing licensing requirements. If you become a clinical social worker, completing two years of training under direct supervision of a professional is required. The pay is good and the job outlook is favorable. If you’d like to know how to become a social worker, read on to learn more.
The Work Life of a Social Worker
Social workers spend their days helping people identify and address the problems in their daily lives. They evaluate a person’s needs, strengths, weaknesses and support systems to determine how to most effectively give them the help they need. Some of their responsibilities include referring clients to social services they qualify for, such as food stamps, healthcare and shelters. They advocate for their clients to ensure people in need are receiving the recognition and services they require. They maintain case files and follow up with clients to make sure the help provided is meeting the client’s needs.
Social workers also step in when there are crisis situations, such as child abuse, domestic abuse and mental health emergencies. They evaluate the situation, conduct interviews and work on a plan towards resolving the issue. This could mean recommending a child being put into foster care or connecting a domestic abuse victim with resources to get them shelter. It could also involve a family in regular counseling to get them on track to being a strong family unit.
Some social workers are involved in what is called macro social work. This aspect of social work involves working with policymakers and community leaders to improve the programs available to the public.
Clinical social workers (CSW), also called licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), have the authority to diagnose and treat mental and emotional conditions. They can conduct therapy sessions in one-on-one and group settings. They refer clients to other mental health care professionals and work together with doctors, counselors and psychologists to create a plan of care for their clients.
Social Work Careers
Social workers can work in a variety of capacities. For example, they can specialize in mental health and substance abuse, where they refer clients to programs that can help them cope with and manage issues with addiction and mental illness.
They can also work in the school systems, where they work alongside faculty, parents and students to develop a plan to deal with issues in the classroom. Some of these issues may include bullying, poor grades and poor self-esteem.
They may work in the healthcare system, where they help patients adjust to a health diagnosis and learn how to lead their lives while accommodating their illness. Social workers in this capacity may also advocate for their clients to the client’s doctor, helping the doctor realize the emotional and social impact a patient’s diagnosis may have on his or her life.
Social Workers can work with children and families. They intervene when there is a crisis at home, getting clients in touch with services such as shelters and stable housing. Some might work with the foster care system and adoption agencies. They also work to keep families in crisis together, often arranging for regular counseling so that a family in need is able to clear the hurdle they’re facing and remain intact.
There are many types of social work careers, all of which provide beneficial help to people in need.
How to Become a Social Worker
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common path to social work education is earning a bachelor’s degree in social work (BDSW). Although having a bachelor’s degree in a related field like sociology or psychology may also work for entry-level positions.
If you want to be a CSW, you’ll need to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) Brandman University points out that you don’t need to have a BDSW in order to pursue a master’s degree in this field. As long as you have a bachelor’s degree in a comparable area of study, like political science, sociology or economics, you can move forward. The MSW program generally takes two years to complete, although there are some accelerated programs that allow you to earn your degree in one year.
Social Work Licensure
Most states require social work licensure of non-clinical social workers, and all states require CSWs to be licensed. Contact your state’s licensing board for exact requirements pertaining to your job title.
To become licensed as a CSW, you must complete a two-year supervised internship after graduation. Once the two years are over, you must then pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Examination. According to SocialWorkLicensure.org, you must first apply to the regulatory board in your area to be approved to take the exam. Once approved, you then have to apply for the examination itself and pay the fee. As of 2021, the ASWB offers five exams at five different tiers, although not every state will offer all tests. At the time this article is being written, the fees range from $230 to $260 per exam, depending on the level you’re testing at.
Each test has 170 multiple choice questions. You’ll have four hours to complete the exam. Once you’re through, you’ll get an unofficial print-out of your score. It will be several weeks before the official copy reaches the regulatory board in your jurisdiction. If you passed, the board will contact you about getting your license. If you failed, you can retake the test after 90 days have passed.
Salary and Job Outlook
In 2019, the median annual income for social workers of all kinds was $50,470, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in the lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,000 a year, while those in the top 10 percent earned more than $82,000 a year. Your income will be impacted by how much experience you have, what area of expertise you work in and who you work for. Those employed by their local governments earned the highest on average while those who worked for individuals and families earned the lowest on average.
Overall job growth for social workers is projected to rise by 13 percent from 2019 to 2029. This increase is considered much faster than average by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. CSWs, who can diagnose conditions and offer treatment plans, will have more opportunities for expansion than those who only hold a bachelor’s degree. The area that should see the greatest growth is the substance abuse and mental health disorder field, as more people with addictions are being sent for therapeutic help instead of being sent to jail. Social workers in this field will see projected job openings rising by 17 percent.
Social Workers vs Counselors: How Do They Differ?
You aren’t alone if you’ve wondered what the difference is between social workers and counselors. In truth, the two occupations share many similarities, although there are a few distinct differences.
Both careers focus on helping others. Social workers can enter the field with a bachelor’s degree or press on for a master’s if they want to be CSWs. Licensed counselors need a master’s degree in counseling to become licensed. Both fields of study teach critical thinking and communication. Social work education focuses more on addiction disorders and social policies, while counseling education focuses more on human development and interpersonal growth.
During their careers, social workers will address a wide range of issues with their clients. They will also depend on locally and government funded social services to obtain goals. Counselors tend to focus on specific issues with a family, marriage or individual. They will work through therapy sessions to reach goals.
Income is also very similar. School counselors in 2019 earned a median annual income of $57,040, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; marriage counselors earned a median of $49,610 a year. Counselors in other fields earned $48,800 a year in 2019.