Social workers are found in nearly every part of community life, including schools, hospitals, prisons, domestic violence shelters, and childcare centers.
And the need for social workers is growing faster than many other professions nationwide, with employment projected to grow 9%, with the addition of 64,000 social workers by 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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In turn, that’s leading to a growing number of degree programs focused on social work. In fact, Fortune’s directory of accredited master’s of social work programs includes more than 150 online options.
“Social work is an incredibly rewarding field. It is also a really diverse field,” says Barbara S. Hiltz, director of MSW programs and clinical associate professor of social work at the University of Michigan. “Social workers work in settings like schools, therapy offices, nonprofits, and governmental organizations.”
How to become a social worker
A career as a social worker means prioritizing empathy, empowerment, and advocacy in your daily work with the people whose lives you touch. Depending on your career goals, there are different paths to take toward becoming a social worker. Here is a step-by-step guide of what it requires to work in this field.
1. Get a bachelor’s degree in social work
Getting a bachelor’s degree is a starting point in pursuing a career as a social worker. A bachelor’s degree in this field will set you up for entry-level positions in the field. It will allow you to pick up practical experience in the field and determine if social work is the right career for you.
A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) takes about four years and can get you an entry-level position. Most states require licensing to work as a social worker. To see your state’s requirements, contact your state licensing board or check the Association of Social Work Boards’ laws and regulations database. A BSW typically requires students to complete fieldwork or an internship.
Getting a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, psychology, political science or other major doesn’t mean you can’t get a master’s in social work. You can still pursue a career in social work at the graduate level.
The advantage to getting a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is that some programs give their students advanced standing for the master’s degree, which means you can complete the MSW in one year less. While just about any bachelor’s degree can allow you to work in social work, a master’s degree can guarantee more job opportunities at a higher salary.
2. Do your research on state requirements and schools
Next, you will need to decide the best education path to get you there. While there’s no one set degree or major you need to become a social worker, according to Thomas, at a minimum you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field.
Even as you’re considering education options, it’s also a good idea to consider where you might want to live and a general idea of the type of work you’d like to do post-graduation.
Social work certification is complex and differs state to state. There isn’t even a universal naming system for the different social worker license levels. The Association of Social Work Board has a helpful dashboard allowing prospective social workers to compare requirements across states.
Despite this uniformity, states generally require that licensed social workers hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and have passed examination for the most basic social worker designation. Becoming a licensed clinical social worker requires an additional requirement—between 3,000 to 4,000 hours of supervised clinical experience hours.
Not all universities offer social work programs, either. Some schools, including New York University and the University of Alabama, offer undergraduate and graduate social work programs. Other schools, like the University of North Carolina, only have advanced degree options. Undergraduates might major in sociology instead to be exposed to the subject.
Whether a master’s degree is worth it, particularly if you already hold a bachelor’s degree, will depend largely on your career aspirations. The community and the work you want to pursue will largely dictate whether you want to pursue a graduate degree,
3. Get a master’s degree in social work
To become a social worker, you typically need the following degrees:
Bachelor’s degree
The minimum requirement to enter the social work field is usually a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW). A BSW qualifies you for entry-level positions in areas such as mental health, aging services, or residential treatment. Some states may accept related undergraduate degrees like sociology or psychology for certain roles.
Master’s degree
A Master of Social Work (MSW) is required for more advanced positions and to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). An MSW typically takes 2–3 years to complete, includes at least 900 hours of supervised fieldwork, and allows you to:
- provide one-on-one psychotherapy;
- deliver advanced clinical services; and
- hold program management or supervisory positions within an organization.
Doctoral degree
For those interested in teaching at the university level, conducting advanced research, or holding high-level program management positions, a doctorate in social work (DSW) or PhD in Social Work is necessary. These programs provide advanced training in:
- research methods;
- supervision techniques; and
- policy analysis.
4. Obtain the required fieldwork hours
Known as fieldwork, practicum, or an internship, to become a social worker, students must complete a certain number of hours working with the community. This work entails working at an organization, group, hospice center, local health agency or similar. Field placements must be supervised by a qualified social worker and are an opportunity to put what you’ve learned in the classroom into practice.
Depending on the degree level and school location, the number of fieldwork hours can vary widely. Hiltz says 400 hours are required at the BSW level and 900 at the MSW level. She says this is a minimum level set by the Council on Social Work Education, which accredits social workers, and adds, “some schools may require more.” Hiltz says even more supervised practice hours are often also required as a part of obtaining licensure, but can vary by state and license type.
After completing your social work degree and fieldwork, candidates will need to pass the Association of Social Work Boards examination to get their license.
Licensing typically involves:
- graduating from a CSWE-accredited program;
- passing the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam;
- completing supervised work experience (especially for clinical roles); and
- meeting continuing education requirements.
But before sitting for the exam, you must receive approval from your state or provincial regulatory board to register for the exam. This means requirements can vary by state. For example, candidates for the social work licensure exam in New York are required to have a MSW, according to the New York State Education Department. Candidates should check with their state to see if they meet requirements to take the exam.
There are five categories of exam depending on education level and if you plan a clinical or nonclinical role: associate, bachelor’s, master’s, advanced generalist or clinical. Each test has 170 multiple choice questions and must be completed in four hours. The exam costs between $230 and $260, depending on the exam selected. Each state may also have additional exam requirements. For example, in California, students must take the ASWB exam as well as the California Law and Ethics exam. So, make sure to check with your state regarding additional test requirements.
6. Apply for state social work license
After passing your exam and any other state requirements, you can now apply for your license. Licensing is required for all social workers and, as mentioned, states may offer different categories of licensure, according to the Association of Social Work Boards.
Once you take and pass the exam, you will need to submit your score report to your state’s board as part of your licensure application.
“Social workers are licensed professionals and social work is a broad and diverse profession with many different specialties and settings that frequently overlap,” says Mirean Coleman, a licensed, independent, clinical social worker who serves as the director of clinical practice at the national office of the National Association of Social Workers.
A licensed social worker can work in clinical practice, such as diagnosing and treating mental health issues. Hiltz says “most states have title protection, so you will need to hold a license in social work to both practice social work and use the term “social worker” to refer to yourself.”
Social workers can also get a certification in their selected specialization, such as healthcare, family services, addiction, case management, gerontology and more. If you have an MSW and completed paid experience, you can get a certification through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Candidates can get more information about everything from licensure in their state to continuing education requirements via the Association of Social Work Boards.
7. Apply for a job
Once you have completed all the requirements, you are ready to enter the job market as a social worker. A BSW will get you entry-level social work jobs. An LMSW, or independently practicing LCSW, can put you on a path toward a leadership position and higher salary.
For job applicants, Hiltz recommends talking about how candidates handled situations with clients and communities during their field placements. She says social work is a broad field with a variety of practice settings that can be of interest to employers and advises “thinking about how the skills and experiences you have are transferable to other settings and client contexts.”
To search for jobs, a great place to start is at the National Association of Social Workers, which has a career center to search for jobs. There’s also the social service jobs site, LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job boards—as well as hospital, schools, and hospice website postings and Social Work Today magazine job bank. Apart from job boards, social workers can network at events like seminars and conferences and join social work-related professional organizations.
8. Advance your career through continued learning
To advance your career in social work, continuing your education from a BSW to a MSW and considering adding a certification can be a good approach. Advancing your career through your education and credentials can open up some leadership opportunities and specialization, which could potentially bring about a bump in pay and demonstrate your commitment to the field.
To maintain your social work license, states may require you to complete a specific number of continuing education hours within a set amount of time. Continuing education requirements vary by state. A good place to start is on the NASW website’s continuing education page, which offers resources to learn more.
“There are many continuing education programs for social workers that inform social workers of the latest development and trends in the profession,” says Coleman.
Coleman says continuing education can be obtained “through online courses, live webinars, and digital seminars.” Examples include Grief Counseling Specialist, EMDR Certification Training, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and ADHD Certification Course, she says.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a degree to be a social worker?
Yes, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in social work and licensing to become a social worker. Make sure to check your state’s requirements.
How much can I make as a social worker?
Social workers make about $58,380 a year or $28.07 an hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What skills do you need to be a social worker?
Some of the skills that make a good social worker are active listening, good communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving, empathy, cultural competence, sensitivity, patience, respect, and time management.
What is the difference between a MSW and BSW?
A BSW is a bachelor of social work and typically takes four years to complete. A MSW is a master of social work and can take up to two years, but often shorter if you already have a BSW.
Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.
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