Online Social Work Programs in Maryland
Social workers strengthen communities by helping underserved and vulnerable populations. They may work with individual clients or with groups of people, policymakers, or community organizations.
Candidates seeking social work jobs in Maryland enjoy strong job prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) listed the average salary of a general social worker in Maryland in 2018 as almost $68,000. Additionally, Maryland hosts the third-highest concentration of healthcare social workers in the nation, and the BLS projects social work jobs around the country to grow 16% by 2026.
Social workers enjoy diverse career options. The BLS lists child, family, and school social workers; healthcare social workers; and mental health and substance abuse social workers as some of the most common. In Maryland, child, family, and school social workers earn an average of $59,280; healthcare social workers earn an average of $58,350; and mental health social workers earn an average of $53,780.
Social Work Programs by Degree Level
Online Master’s in Social Work Programs
Education and Licensure Requirements for Social Workers in Maryland
The Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE) licenses social workers and clinical social workers. The state offers four license types: licensed bachelor social worker (LBSW), licensed master social worker (LMSW), licensed certified social worker (LCSW), and licensed certified social worker-clinical (LCSW-C).
Education Requirements
The BSWE requires LBSW candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or an equivalent organization approved by the CSWE. LMSW candidates need a CSWE-accredited master’s degree.
LCSW-C candidates need a CSWE-accredited master’s degree, including 12 academic credits in clinical coursework. They must also demonstrate two years of supervised experience working as a licensed social worker. They need at least 3,000 hours of supervision, 1,500 of which must include face-to-face client contact.
Exam Application Process and Requirements
Only applicants with completed degrees or who are in their final semester can apply for licensure. To sit for licensure examinations, applicants need permission from the BSWE. Once approved, candidates register for the appropriate exam through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).
The examination fee for the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s exams is $230. The exam fee for both the advanced generalist and clinical exams is $260. The BSWE requires additional licensing fees for all candidates, including a $100 application processing fee and a $75 initial licensing fee.
Applicants for the LCSW need at least two years of social work experience under the supervision of a LCSW or LCSW-C. Similarly, LCSW-C candidates need two years of clinical social work experience under the supervision of a LCSW-C.
Continuing Education and Licensure Renewal
Social workers must renew their licenses every two years. It costs $100 to renew the LBSW, $200 to renew the LMSW, and $275 to renew the LCSW and LCSW-C. LMSW, LCSW, and LCSW-C licensees must complete 40 continuing education hours within the two-year period, while LBSW licensees must complete 30.
Featured Online Programs
Why Choose an Online Social Work Program in Maryland?
Online programs offer students the flexibility to balance school with work and family obligations. Many social work programs require in-person internships, which online students can typically complete at an approved site near their home. Costs vary by school, program, and degree. Online students often save on some of the expenses that on-campus students incur, such as housing and commuting costs.
Ranking Methodology
Here is our list of online social work degree programs in Maryland as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. We cover online bachelor’s in social work, online master’s in social work, and online doctorate in social work programs. All programs are regionally and CSWE accredited, and all are available entirely online.
Online Social Work Programs in Maryland
Salisbury University
Located in Salisbury, Maryland, SU’s School of Social Work began in 1974. Today, the department offers a dual-degree program with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, satellite programs in California and Maryland, and an online master of social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
SU’s School of Social Work provides student-centered cohort learning for degree candidates entering graduate social work programs in Maryland. The social work department also supports the profession’s core values, including human rights and social justice.
SU’s Online Master of Social Work Degree
- Concentrations: The program offers an advanced direct practice specialization.
- Credits and Courses: 62 credits or 32 credits with advanced standing.
- Completion Time: Three years or 17 months with advanced standing. Learners begin the program in the fall in a 20-student cohort model.
- Field Education: Distance learners must work with the online field director to secure field placement.
- Other Requirements: Students must complete a mandatory online orientation by mid-August.
- Exam Preparation: SU offers exam study guides for purchase.
- Transfer Policies: Transfer students must hold 24 or more transferable credits and a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
- Online Student Support: Services for distance learners include library resources, technical support, and access to academic advisors.
- Cost: $765/credit regardless of residency.
- Admission Requirements: Current full-time residents of Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or a minimum of 24 credit hours. SU does not require GRE or MAT scores.
Salisbury University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Salisbury University’s online social work programs are CSWE-accredited.
