How to Become a Social Worker

To become a social worker, you’ll first need to earn a bachelor’s degree. Many students in this field choose to pursue a bachelor of social work (BSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

In your BSW program, you’ll study topics such as human behavior, social welfare policy, social work ethics, child welfare and development, and gender and diversity studies. These courses help you understand the complex social systems that impact people’s lives.

Most programs also require an internship or supervised fieldwork, where you’ll work directly with clients under the supervision of a licensed social worker. It’s a chance to apply what you’ve learned in class, build practical skills, and see what the day-to-day work really looks like.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to pursue your bachelor’s degree in social work specifically in order to apply to a master of social work (MSW) program, as almost any related field will do. But earning a BSW may allow you to enter an advanced standing MSW, which is a condensed program that can allow students to graduate in as little as 12-18 months, rather than the typical two years.

While you can get started in some entry-level social work jobs with just a BSW, a master’s in social work degree is needed if you want to practice as a clinical social worker and take on more specialized positions, like therapy or policy work.

MSW programs typically take around two years to complete. During your studies, you’ll take classes such as psychopathology for social work practice, understanding theory in social work practice, and professional behavior and ethics.

You’ll also complete a practicum and dive into advanced research methods that prepare you for an evidence-based practice.

Many MSW programs let you choose a specialization, such as forensic social work, alcohol and drug counseling, psychosocial oncology, gerontology, and military social work. This lets you tailor your studies to match your interests and career goals.

All BSW programs that are accredited by the CSWE require supervised fieldwork or an internship as part of their graduation requirements.

If you enroll in graduate school, you’ll also complete an internship as part of your MSW program — typically working at a different internship site each year you’re enrolled to gain experience in different settings.

Internships provide practical, real-world experience under the supervision of a licensed social worker, which is a key part of social work education

Your school will connect you with an approved community agency that will facilitate your internship, allowing you to work with specific demographics, such as children, families, older adults, or other groups. You may work in diverse settings like schools, hospitals, or mental health centers.

After you complete graduate school, you need to apply for licensure through your state’s licensing board and pass an exam administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

The exam you’ll need to take will depend on your degree. For example, if you have BSW, you’d take the bachelor’s exam, while MSW graduates would take the master’s exam.

Those pursuing advanced positions may also need to pass the advanced generalist exam or clinical exam.

Specific licensing requirements vary by state. For instance, some states — such as California — require additional law and ethics exams. Check with your state board early on to make sure you’re on the right track.

Once you’ve completed your education, internship, and licensure requirements, you can start searching for a job in the field, such as behavior analyst or mental health counselor.

As you gain experience, you can move into more advanced roles like social work supervisor, community outreach director, and social and community services manager.

You may work in areas such as schools, child and family services, or healthcare.