Become a Social Worker: Education and Licensure Requirements
Written by Rebecca Munday | Edited by Diana Zaremba | Reviewed by Melissa Bronstein | Last Updated: April 2024
Since the practice of social work first began in 1898, social workers have addressed psychological and social problems for individuals and communities, bringing awareness to the needs of underserved populations.
Today, the practice continues to expand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the field of social work will have about 53,800 openings every year between 2022 and 2032. Learn more about becoming a social worker and help others with their psychosocial needs.
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What Is a Social Worker?
Social work focuses on improving the well-being of people and their communities and helping meet their needs, including housing, food, employment, mental health care, and childcare.
Social workers help individuals, families, and groups navigate issues and improve their lives. They assess clients’ needs, advocate for resources in the community, connect clients to resources, manage case files, and respond to crises. Social workers work with people from many backgrounds, including:
- Active military, veterans, and their families
- Older adults
- Children and families
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
- People with mental health and substance use conditions
- Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals
Employers in healthcare and the government hire most social workers. However, professionals work in various settings, such as private practice, correctional facilities, nonprofits, and education.
Steps to Become a Social Worker
Becoming a master’s level social worker takes 6-9 years. After completing your bachelor’s and master’s degrees, you must pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam, apply for a license, and gain experience. These steps vary based on what type of social work you choose and individual state licensure requirements.
1. Earn Your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree
You can enter your university’s social work program with a high school or GED diploma, a GPA that meets their requirements, and a clean academic record. A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) prepares you to enter a master’s in social work (MSW) program with advanced standing or get an entry-level position in social work. Coursework explores social welfare policy, research methods, and human behavior and the social environment.
2. Find an Entry-Level Job in Social Work
Finding an entry-level position in social work can help you continue working through your MSW degree so you can graduate with less debt. You can also get valuable experience with generalist social work as a case manager, care coordinator, policy analyst, or school social worker.
3. Earn Your Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree
Earning a master of social work (MSW) prepares you to apply for your licensed master social worker (LMSW), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), or your state’s equivalent credential and practice in most areas of social work.
An MSW builds upon your knowledge of social work policy, practicing social work, and human behavior and the social environment. MSW programs accept bachelor’s degrees in related fields, such as psychology, biology, and political science. A BSW allows you to complete your MSW in about half the time.
4. Complete Field Placement or Supervised Experience Requirements
You must complete at least one academic year, or 900 hours, of field placement to earn your MSW. BSW graduates need to complete at least 400 hours, according to the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).
Field placements provide experience in generalist social work, including case planning, interviewing, and maintaining case files. In most states, field placement does not meet the supervised experience you need to get your LCSW or any license that requires supervised experience post-degree.
5. Apply for Social Work Licensure
To apply for your social work license, you must complete the required education and experience, pass a background check, fill out an application, and pay the application fee. License requirements vary based on your state and license level. Note that license titles vary by state. Check with your state board for more information about requirements and to ensure you complete your application correctly.
- Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW): You can apply to be a licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW) or your state’s equivalent once you graduate with a BSW. This license makes you eligible to apply for entry-level positions, such as victim advocate and community support worker.
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): Becoming a licensed master social worker (LMSW), or your state’s equivalent, allows you to practice generalist social work in most settings at the macro and mezzo levels independently. You can practice micro or clinical social work under an LCSW’s supervision. You need an MSW and a passing score on the ASWB master’s exam to receive your LMSW.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): You must pass your ASWB clinical exam and complete between 1500 and 4000 hours of supervised experience in clinical social work to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or your state’s equivalent. An LCSW allows you to practice clinical social work, open your own practice, or independently work with people with mental health and substance use conditions.
6. Pass Your ASWB Exam
The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam tests your knowledge of social work practice. You must pass your ASWB exam before receiving state licensure. The exams for each level require knowledge in some of the same areas, such as human development, diversity, and behavior in the environment. The percentage of the exam dedicated to each area varies by license. Learn more about what each ASWB exam focuses on below.
- Bachelor’s Exam: Concepts of abuse and neglect, assessment, human development, diversity, and the behavior in the environment; professional relationships, values, and ethics; and interventions with clients and client systems
- Master’s Exam: Assessment and intervention planning, interventions with clients and client systems, human development, diversity, and the behavior in the environment; professional relationships, values, and ethics
- Advanced Generalist Exam: Interventions processes and techniques for use across systems; professional values and ethics; human development, diversity, and the behavior in the environment; interventions processes and techniques for use with larger systems
- Clinical Exam: Psychotherapy, clinical interventions, and case management; assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning; human development, diversity, and the behavior in the environment; professional values and ethics
7. Advance Your Career as a Social Worker
To advance your career, you must complete continuing education to renew your license every two years. However, beyond that, you can decide how you want to grow your career to match your goals and interests. Learn more about advancing your career with specialty certifications, an LCSW, and opening your own practice.
- Complete Continuing Education to Renew Your License: You need to complete 3-48 hours of continuing education, depending on your state and licensure type, every two years to renew your license. Many states require a certain amount of continuing education units specific to ethics, domestic or child abuse, and substance use.
- Earn Specialty Certifications from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW): The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) offers certifications in areas such as leadership, clinical practice, and case management. Earn a certification from NASW to show that you meet national standards in your area of expertise.
- Earn your LCSW and Open an Independent Practice: Once you earn your LCSW, you can open your own practice to practice generalist and clinical social work. Independent practice allows you more freedom to choose the population you serve, the people you work with, and the rates you charge.
What to Consider Before Becoming a Social Worker
Salary is one of many factors you should consider when becoming a social worker. Research scopes of practice, specialties, and license requirements to learn more about your desired career.
State License Requirements
Requirements for each license level are similar between states, but they are not the same. Many states allow you to transfer education and experience, even your ASWB exam scores, from another state. If you plan your education and experience around where you want to work, it will be easier and faster for you to get your license and start practicing.
Level of Social Work
Deciding which level of social work you want to practice helps you know which license and education requirements you need to work toward. You can get a job in macro social work as a policy analyst or community support worker with a BSW. However, if you want to work in micro social work, you need a clinical social work license to counsel individuals through trauma and mental health and substance use conditions.
Salary
Consider the average salary for social workers in your specialty and compare it to the cost of living in cities and states where you want to live. This will help you understand the purchasing power and standard of living you could have as a social worker. Use these calculations to narrow down the specialties and work settings that interest you most.
Scope of Practice
Deciding how much independence and responsibility you want in your scope of practice helps you choose between becoming an LMSW or an LCSW. LMSWs can only independently practice direct or generalist social work and connect people to resources. They may provide clinical social work but must do it under the supervision of an LCSW.
Clinical social workers practice clinical social work and direct social work. They provide psychotherapy and assess and diagnose mental health and substance use conditions.
Career Path and Specialization
Choosing a social work career path and specialty helps you narrow down the education and experience requirements you need to meet. If you want to work with children and families in individual and family services, you can get an entry-level position as a case manager with a BSW. However, if you want to counsel people who have mental health or substance use conditions, you need an LCSW to assess, diagnose, and treat your clients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Social Worker
A social worker is a trained professional who helps individuals, families, and groups with their psychosocial needs, such as mental health and substance use conditions, chronic medical conditions, crises, abuse, poverty, homelessness, and hunger. They identify people in need, maintain case files and records, connect individuals to resources, and provide psychotherapy.
Page last reviewed on April 8, 2024
