Overview of Social Worker Qualifications
| 7 Min Read
Do you want to empower individuals, groups, and families to improve their quality of life? Do you want to help shape public policies and advocate on behalf of the disadvantaged, underprivileged, and impoverished? Do you want to have a positive impact on your community and make the world a better place?
If you have the desire to help others, you already possess one of the major qualifications needed to be a social worker. But outside of being compassionate, empathetic, and socially aware, what qualifications are needed to get into this profession?
The first step is gaining the education required to become licensed as a social worker in your state. While social worker requirements vary across the U.S., a bachelor’s degree is the correct place to start for most. Keep reading to learn how to become a social worker.
Social Worker Education Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common minimum education requirement however, a degree in a related field such as psychology, sociology, and public health administration may also qualify you for some entry-level jobs in the field. Outside of entry-level positions, an advanced degree is the universal standard for advanced social work practice. Many states also require social workers to complete graduate education to become licensed.
Although there are many related graduate degree programs that can benefit would-be social workers, a master’s degree in social work (MSW) best prepares graduates for leadership and direct practice positions in professional social work settings. In fact, an MSW or a similar program is required to become a clinical social worker in most states.
When looking at an MSW program make sure it is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. CSWE-accredited online MSW programs meet extensive curriculum requirements and education standards. These standards are in place to ensure that graduates have the skills, competencies, and qualifications necessary to be effective social work practitioners.
Many online programs are CSWE-accredited and allow you to learn at your own pace while still gaining the experience you need in your state to become licensed. For example, in Our Lady of the Lake University’s MSW program, students partake in a fieldwork practicum to gain vital real-world skills and build upon strengths while becoming aware of areas for growth. You may also look for degree programs that offer certificates as part of the program so that you can gain specialized knowledge to help you on your career path.
Social Worker Licensing, Certification, and Registration
All states have licensing, certification, and/or registration requirements for social work practice. These requirements — education, supervised hours or full-time employment experience, examinations, and so on — vary by state, so check with the Board of Social Work Examiners where you live, or plan to work in the future. Depending on your state’s requirements, the licensing credential can be necessary to work at an agency. Even if it’s not required, it can broaden your employment opportunities. Licensed social workers lend credibility to the field and all who work within it, while simultaneously increasing their opportunities for growth and advancement.
States may also issue different licenses and specialty recognitions. The names of social work licenses differ by state, so ensure that you research which license is right for you. For example, the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners issues three social work licenses:
- Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Qualified licensees may also receive recognition for independent practice (Independent Practice Recognition, or IPR) of non-clinical social work or as an “Advanced Practitioner” of non-clinical social work services. These recognitions serve as professional distinctions and endorsements that can help social workers advance their careers.
Growing Your Social Work Career
After entering the field, there are three primary means for social workers to move forward in their career to advanced practice: education, credentialing, and experience.
Advanced Degree in Social Work
An MSW benefits social workers who wish to advance their careers and broaden their practice options. The value employers place on practitioners with this level of education is reflected in the salaries of MSWs compared to BSWs.
According to salary recommendations by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), social workers with an MSW degree should expect to earn between $10,000 and $15,000 more each year compared to social workers who do not. For example, the NASW recommends a mid-range salary of $61,875 for MSW graduates with 5-9 years of experience. The recommended salary for social workers with a bachelor’s degree and the same amount of experience is $45,994.
Professional Social Work Credentials
Professional credentials show that you have met the highest national standards of experience, advanced skill, ongoing professional development, and leadership. Credentialed social workers are highly sought after for having in-depth knowledge, proven work experience, and advanced social work competencies and skills.
In terms of career advancement, the NASW adds that “some employers seek out highly credentialed professionals to fill key leadership positions within their organizations/agencies and/or factor voluntary credentials in their salary scales.”
Professional credentials in social work include:
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (CHP-SW)
- Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (ACHP-SW)*
- Social Worker in Gerontology (SW-G)
- Advanced Social Worker in Gerontology (ASW-G)*
- Certified Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-CYFSW)
- Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-ACYFSW)*
- Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC)*
- Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM)
- Certified Advanced Social Worker Case Manager (C-ASWCM)*
- Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS)*
*Required Degree = Master of Social Work (MSW)
Specialized credentials can help you stand out for the variety of social work careers available.
Social Worker Careers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for social workers is expected to grow by 7% between 2022 and 2032, resulting in 53,800 new jobs. With a degree in social work, you can pursue an array of jobs. Below is a look at just a few.
Healthcare Social Workers
According to the BLS, healthcare social workers provide individuals and groups the psychosocial support needed when dealing with illness. They may advise caregivers, provide counseling for patients, or refer to other services. They often also help patients gain access to the healthcare they need despite common barriers.
In 2023, the mean annual wage for a healthcare social worker was $67,430, with the top 10% of earners making $97,790. The industries with the highest employment levels include hospitals, home health care services, individual and family services, nursing care facilities, and outpatient care centers.
Social and Community Service Managers
According to the BLS, social and community managers oversee programs and organizations that support public well-being. They often work with community members and stakeholders to identify needed services and then oversee the programs’ aspects.
The median annual wage for social and community service members was $74,240 in 2022. The field is expecting 9% growth, which will result in 16,200 new jobs between 2022 and 2032. Like healthcare social workers, social and community managers are often found in individual and family services and nursing care facilities. Many also work for the government or religious, civic, or grantmaking organizations.
Mental Health Social Workers
The BLS states that mental health social workers treat individuals struggling with mental, emotional, or substance use problems. They often provide individual and group therapy, as well as case management, crisis intervention, and advocacy.
Their mean annual wage was $63,870 in 2023, with the top 10% of earners making over $100,000. They primarily work in outpatient care centers, individual and family services, and health practitioner offices. Some work for the government or in mental health facilities.
Some other titles held by social workers include:
- Marriage/Family Therapist
- Child, Family, and School Social Worker
- Program/Clinical Director
- Policy/Advocacy Social Worker
- Evaluation and Research Case Manager
- Human Services Worker
- Outpatient Health Specialist
- Public Health Manager
Enter one of these impactful and in-demand careers by gaining the social worker educational requirements you need to begin.
Earn Your Social Work Degree Online
Our Lady of the Lake University’s CSWE-accredited MSW program will give you the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to become an effective social work practitioner. Our Lady of the Lake University offers an MSW Concentration track for those with a Bachelor of Social Work and an MSW Foundation track for those with a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Our online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is a good first step for those launching a career. We help you get local fieldwork placement and allow you to transfer up to 72 credits into the program. The program allows you to enhance your degree with certificates, including the Administration and Leadership Certificate (ALC), the Dismantling Oppression Certificate (DOC), and the Violence Prevention and Intervention Certificate (VPI).
Request more information online or call 855-275-1082 to learn more about these programs.