How to become a Social Worker
Depending on the field of operation, there are numerous educational paths to becoming a social worker. To work as a social worker, the following may be required of you:
- Earn a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field such as sociology or psychology. Students are required to complete administered fieldwork or an internship.
- Earn a master's degree in social work if you are going for clinical positions.
- Complete two years of administered training and experience after earning a master's degree. This is required for clinical social workers.
- Get a certification for nonclinical social workers from the state where you want to work.
How to become: Mental Health Technician · Case Manager · Licensed Clinical Social Worker · Counselor · Therapist
These qualifications are required: Teaching Certification · First Aid Certification · LICSW
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What skills help Social Workers find jobs?
- Acute care
- Addiction counseling
- Analysis skills
- Behavioral health
- Bilingual
- Care plans
- Case management
- Childcare
- Communication skills
- Computer literacy
- Computer skills
- Discharge planning
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Career progression for Social Worker
Education levels for Social Workers
| required level of education | percent of job openings |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 45.7% |
| Master's degree | 38.1% |
| Associate's degree | 9.0% |
| High school diploma or GED | 6.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.9% |
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Expected salary by experience
| Years of experience | Annual salary in USD |
|---|---|
| 0 - 4 | $37,400 |
| 4 - 8 | $44,600 |
| 8 - 12 | $49,200 |
| 12 - 16 | $50,000 |
| 16 - 20 | $49,600 |
| 20 - 24 | $48,700 |
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Common qualifications for Social Workers
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Common questions about career advices for a Social Worker
What other jobs can social workers do?
Jobs with similar duties to social workers include:
- Health Educators and Community Health Workers
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- School and Career Counselors
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
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Can you become a social worker without a degree?
No, prospective social workers must obtain at least a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field such as psychology or sociology to meet educational requirements.
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How do you become a social worker?
Social workers must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work. They can then obtain state licensure and other relevant certifications.
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