Online Social Work Programs in New Hampshire
Prospective social worker should consider pursuing a career in New Hampshire. A high demand for social workers in the state exists due to a growing opioid crisis. A report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that New Hampshire ranks fifth in the nation for opioid-related drug deaths. The state has started combating the issue by reducing caseloads for social workers and increasing hiring.
A social work career in New Hampshire offers numerous professional advantages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that mental health and substance abuse counselors in the central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area make a mean annual wage of $67,070, much higher than the national average of $49,630. Projections Central projects a 17% growth rate for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the state by 2026.
Social Work Programs by Degree Level
Online Bachelor’s in Social Work Programs
Education and Licensure Requirements for Social Workers in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice oversees social work licensure. One form of social work licensure exists in the state: licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). The board also offers licensure for related fields, such as mental health counseling, pastoral psychology, and family and marriage therapy.
Education Requirements
New Hampshire’s Board of Mental Health Practice maintains typical education standards for licensed clinical social workers. Prospective licensees must earn a master’s or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program before applying for licensure. Currently, the University of New Hampshire offers the state’s only accredited MSW program. Non-licensed social workers do not need a specific degree to work in the state, though many employers prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s from a CSWE-accredited program.
Exam Application Process and Requirements
Prior to taking the ASWB exam and gaining licensure, candidates need an MSW or DSW and 2,000 hours of post-graduate experience completed within 2-4 years of graduation, including 100 hours supervised by a LICSW. Before beginning the supervised experience, candidates must submit a supervision agreement form and pay a $25 fee. After completing education and experience requirements, prospective licensees submit an exam request form to the board for permission to take the clinical ASWB exam.
Students can take the exam at any Pearson VUE center in the state. Candidates get four hours to complete the online exam. The clinical ASWB exam costs $260. After passing the exam, candidates must submit an application for licensure, including three references, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, a criminal background check, and a $150 fee. Candidates then pay the board a $135 fee to receive the license.
Continuing Education and Licensure Renewal
Licensees must renew every two years. Renewal costs $270. The board requires licensees to accumulate at least 40 continuing education hours within the two-year period. At least 30 hours must come from Category A work, which includes board-approved workshops and seminars, graduate coursework, and scholarly work in peer-reviewed publications. Six of these hours must cover ethics.
Category B work includes any continuing education activities. Typically, the board accepts continuing education opportunities approved by national organizations, such as the NASW or AAMFT. The board also permits up to 20 continuing education hours of home study.
Featured Online Programs
Why Choose an Online Social Work Program in New Hampshire?
Pursuing a social work degree online offers several advantages. Online learners can access coursework at their convenience, allowing them to balance their studies with work and family obligations. Online social work programs usually allow out-of-state students to complete clinical hours at a location near them.
Additionally, online social work programs in New Hampshire are relatively affordable. Online learners typically save on many of the expenses that on-campus students incur, such as housing and commuting costs. Graduates can also anticipate higher-than-average salaries. Statewide, mental health social workers make $57,110 annually healthcare social workers make $64,570 child, family, and school social workers make $52,920.
Ranking Methodology
Here is our list of online social work degree programs in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
Based in Durham, the University of New Hampshire’s School of Social Work offers both bachelor’s and master’s programs in the field. The school currently offers its bachelor’s program on campus and the master’s program both online and on campus. The department’s programs use the EPAS 4.0 Explicit Curriculum, with a large percentage of online students achieving the advanced generalist benchmark. The department stands out for its anti-racism statement, which affirms and resolves a public position against racism.
UNH Online’s Master of Social Work
- Credits and Courses: Each student must complete 62 credits over the course of 20 classes before graduating.
- Completion Time: A full-time student can typically complete the program in 28 months. UNH does not list completion times for part-time students. The university delivers all of the program’s coursework asynchronously.
- Field Education: The curriculum includes a four-part field internship at a placement site in each student’s nearby community. Each enrollee can also complete an integrative seminar course during this internship.
- Other Requirements: The curriculum also includes a three-part practice course that includes practice in small groups and community organizations, clinical assessment and intervention, and community and administrative practice.
- Online Student Support: Online students at UNH receive access to student success coaches, academic advising, an online writing lab, library services, and UNH’s Career and Professional Success (CaPS) department.
- Cost: $770/credit in-state; $845/credit out-of-state.
- Admission Requirements: Each applicant must possess a “broad liberal arts” bachelor’s degree, and submit evidence of significant volunteer experience, three letters of recommendation, essays, and a resume. No GRE or MAT scores are required.
The University of New Hampshire is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The University of New Hampshire’s online social work programs are CSWE-accredited.
