Social Work Degrees

Improved Essays
Laura: Can I get a Job as a Social Worker with a Bachelor's degree?
Web designer web designer web designer
In short, it is very possible to obtain full-time employment as a social worker with just a bachelor’s degree. Keep reading to learn more about the education and licensing requirements to become a licensed social worker.
What are the Education Requirements to Become a Social Worker?
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social workers must have at least a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field. A bachelor’s degree in social work degree will provide the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to work in an entry-level social service related position. These jobs will generally involve positions that require both field and office work. For example, a common entry-level job is a social worker assistant, who spends more time in the field with clients, while the social worker spends more time dealing with the juvenile courts and case management. Therefore, a bachelor’s degree will open the door for potential career and academic advancement to obtaining a master’s degree in social work (MSW). Most advanced social work positions require an MSW through an academic program that is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). However, each state has their own certification requirements for social workers who work directly with clients or in clinic-based organizations.
…show more content…
The ASWB is a private organization that works directly with state social work regulatory boards and universities to provide certification licenses and training program. The ASWB helps oversee the four different kinds of social work licenses: bachelors, masters, advanced generalist and clinical. Almost all state social work regulatory boards require that the student gradate from a program that is accredited through the Council on Social Work Education

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    A social worker, or case worker, is someone who has a sort of passion or drive for helping people. Not just anyone can take on this career, the job demands a special type of person with certain qualities fit for situations that will be thrown at hand. Social workers work with a broad spectrum of individuals, whether it’s the elderly, children, the homeless, drug/alcohol abusers, or people with learning and physical disabilities. Case workers aid and support them through difficult times and ensure that these vulnerable people are safeguarded from harm. Social workers are an essential part of our society, they have a wide range of skills to implement a variety of social issues.…

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A master degree in social work will help me to promote human and community well-being. A master degree will also help me to prevent the conditions that limit human rights and the enhancement of better lives for the all population Positive social change becomes a reality when an individual adheres to mutual social work core values: values of social justice, honesty, respect, reliability, trust, competency, and above all the recognition of the significance of human relationship for a healthy life. I believe that if an individual adheres to these set values then with no doubt, the individual will become an effective social worker. My personal implementation of these core values has allowed my success in interactions with core-workers and above all my…

    • 1396 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The MSW program would add qualities and strengths that would allow me to work on behalf of those who need of health care, protection, education, and counseling. The knowledge and skills that I am expecting to gain from the MSW program is helping individuals to empower themselves to reach the goal that is needed to change in their lives. Although I am finishing my degree in BSW , I feel that my educational path is not…

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Communication is key in the social work profession, however, so is effective listening and understanding of multicultural perspectives. Therefore, graduates from these specific concentrations will have the skills to listen, understand and communicate in ways that will empower clients to deal with issues in their…

    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Licensed Social Worker (LSW) is the license granted to a baccalaureate social worker who has completed a post-baccalaureate supervised work experience requirement; LSX is the conditional license one works under while one is meeting requirements for LSW. The higher levels require a graduate degree. Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) is a non-clinical license, granted to master’s degree holders. LMSW-CC is a conditional clinical license, granted to master’s graduates who are doing clinical work under supervision. An LMSW-CC is on a path to the highest level of licensing: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It also offers the student to observe a social worker as they counsel a family and interact with the law enforcement agents. Internships are normally required for those who are going into social work. Every state varies when it comes to the state licensure exam of a social worker. A licensed social worker is more than often essential for an advancement in the career, but every state has its own requirements for a child protective service worker. In some states a basic license may be a prerequisite for employment at some…

    • 657 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Social Work Case Study

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages

    There are different levels of education that can be done: “bachelor’s programs prepare the generalist for casework’ (“Children” Social Work Licensure 1). Than “Master’s programs offer better preparation” (“Children” Social Work Licensure 1) that would be the second level of education. Another important piece of education that will have to be done is “Council on Social Work Education licensing requirement in most states” (“Children” Social Work Licensure 1). All of the education levels are helpful and will give me a better understanding of the job and help me be more prepared for my job. Me having the background of adoption and all of the different things that I have been through will help be be more understanding and I will be able to connect batter with the…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    requirements for obtaining licenses and this information can generally be found on the web. According to and to obtain the LBSW in New Mexico I would need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program, take the ASWB bachelor’s exam, and pay the application and testing fee (MSW Guide, n.d.). Once I obtained my license then I would be able to practice social work in New Mexico and would have to follow the guidelines set in place for all social workers. There are rules and guidelines that I would need to follow when practicing social work which are also covered in chapter three. These guidelines are established to ensure that a patient or client is treated with the respect that they deserve and that they are valued as individuals.…

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What it takes to be a social work A person that has experienced the“system” could be encouraged to be a social worker because they understand what “the system” is like. If recurring degrees, work conditions and how much being a social worker makes you should read on!The first thing you need to do to be a social worker is getting your bachelor's degree to earn your bachelor's degree you have to go to college for at least 2 years. During the first year, you learn the foundation of casework where you learned how to manage human behaviors, environment, professional, police and social work practice. The second year of college you get to experience different situations like child welfare, or the community, from there you would have to earn 900 hours…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Social workers that help with disabled people have many roles. They provide counseling, make sure that the client has stable housing and employment opportunities. These resources will help them if they choose this area of social work, they help assisted individuals with disabilities, provide them with information about benefits, make sure they understand their civil rights, ensuring their rights, and advocacy. Making sure that this is the career you want than studying and knowing this will help the student to have an understanding and the knowledge so that they will be able to help provide their client with the right information and make a better life for them. (University of New England) Benefits for People who are Sick or have a Disability Provided by the Citizens Information Board 2015 When people are sick or disabled they must be seen by a doctor.…

    • 1794 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    al., 2015). Many social workers do not understand the reasoning on why there is so much poverty or the economic injustices that are done to not only the impoverished but those who have degrees and cannot find work even after finishing their degrees. Education and Policy and Accrediation Standards (EPAS) require social work educators to prepare new professionals to “Work towards social and economic justice” (FREY ET AL.). Studies showed that many welfare receipents faced considerable barriers to attending literacy and training programs due lack of transportation, child care and work schedules among many other factors ( Wheeler & Dalton, 1998) as cited in FRET ET…

    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    They help their clients who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A social work is a career that focuses on individual welfare in a social setting and the welfare of society. Social workers support social justice and social changes on behalf of their clients. Clients can be individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are thoughtful to cultural and ethnic diversity and try to end discrimination, harassment, poverty, and other situation that deal with social discrimination.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    School Social Work

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages

    School social work is a field that addresses student's needs and to promote quality educational experiences. Children and adolescents are the primary clients helped by this field of practice. School social workers deal with community issues, crisis intervention, group treatment, child neglect and abuse identification and reporting, integration services to culturally and economically diverse populations, and education policy issues. School social work began during the school year of 1907 primarily in New York City, Boston, Chicago, New Haven and Connecticut. It was a profession that served as an advocate for new immigrants and welfare workers of equity and fairness for people of low socioeconomic class.…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Bracha Minsky SOS 190 Midterm The American social welfare system spends billions of dollars every year on its citizens. It has helped many Americans with food, shelter and education. Congress is constantly fighting over cutting costs or increasing the budget. The government sets these programs as temporary aid.…

    • 2069 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I have volunteer experiences which have left me exhausted, but that does not change my desire to pursue a Master of Social Work at the University of Utah. This is what attracts me, this is what fuels my desire. I know that I am one who can mentally, physically, and spiritually overcome the hard times in a social worker’s career. I know that I may not be able to change lives, but I can hold the knowledge and skill set that can empower people to change their own lives, their circumstances, choices, and their families. And attending the MSW program at the University of Utah is the first step in providing me with the resources to be the link which people…

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays