| Over 600,000 social workers strive every day to | | | | they want to be licensed.According to the ASWB's |
| make a positive impact on the lives of others. If you're | | | | website:"Each examination contains 170 four-option |
| passionate about helping individuals, families, | | | | multiple choice questions designed to measure |
| organizations, and communities, a career in social work | | | | minimum competencies at four categories of practice. |
| might be right for you. Social workers find themselves | | | | Only 150 of the 170 items are scored; the remaining 20 |
| helping people from all walks of life in a variety of | | | | questions are "pretest" items included to measure their |
| atmospheres from schools to hospitals to prisons to | | | | effectiveness as items on future examinations. These |
| nursing homes and handle casework, policy analysis, | | | | pretest items are scattered randomly throughout the |
| research, counseling, and teaching. They deal with | | | | examination. Candidates have four hours to complete |
| issues such as poverty, abuse, addiction, | | | | the test, which is administered electronically."For |
| unemployment, death, divorce, and physical illness. If a | | | | information on state licensing requirements, see the |
| career switch to social work appeals to you, following | | | | Association of Social Work Boards website: |
| is a brief background of social work basics and how | | | | information on exams, visit Education: As part of |
| to make a smooth transition.Career Outlook: According | | | | renewing licenses every two years, almost all states |
| to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor | | | | require continuing education (CE) courses. Each state's |
| Statistics (BLS), the social work profession is expected | | | | CE requirements vary in number of hours and |
| to grow by 30% by 2010 and is expected to grow | | | | approved courses, so be sure to check with the board |
| faster than average for all occupations through | | | | over your jurisdiction to make sure you are in |
| 2014.Median Annual Earnings for Social Workers (U.S., | | | | compliance with CE requirements. Many courses are |
| 2004)- Child, Family, And School Social Workers: | | | | available online, at sites such as which save time and |
| $34,820 | | | | money.Types of Licenses: There are several different |
| - Medical And Public Health Social Workers: $40,080 | | | | kinds of licenses available: |
| - Mental Health And Substance Abuse Social | | | | L.C.S.W. (or A.C.S.W., L.C.S., L.I.C.S.W., C.S.W.)The |
| Workers: $33,920 | | | | licensed clinical social worker has a graduate academic |
| - All Other Social Workers: $39,440Education | | | | degree, has completed supervised clinical work |
| Requirements: All social workers must have a | | | | experience and has passed a national- or |
| bachelors (BSW), masters (MSW), or doctoral degree | | | | state-certified licensing exam. This advanced |
| (DSW or Ph.D.) and complete a predetermined number | | | | practitioner holds a license that allows him or her to |
| of hours in supervised fieldwork. Social workers also | | | | receive health-care insurance reimbursements. |
| have to graduate from a program accredited by the | | | | (National Association of Social Workers)SSW: School |
| Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The | | | | social work is a specialized area of practice within the |
| CSWE reports that in 2004 there were 442 BSW | | | | broad field of the social work profession. School social |
| programs and 168 MSW programs. While some | | | | workers bring unique knowledge and skills to the |
| people work with only a BSW, career options are | | | | school system and the student services team. School |
| more limited, so the MSW or DSW is more common.- | | | | social workers are instrumental in furthering the |
| BSW: Accredited BSW programs typically take four | | | | purpose of the schools: to provide a setting for |
| years to complete and require 400 hours of | | | | teaching, learning, and for the attainment of |
| supervised field experience. With a BSW, a graduate | | | | competence and confidence. School social workers |
| can work in an entry-level position, such as a | | | | are hired by school districts to enhance the district's |
| caseworker.- MSW: An MSW requires two years of | | | | ability to meet its academic mission, especially where |
| study and has a prerequisite of an undergraduate | | | | home, school and community collaboration is the key to |
| degree in social work, psychology, or a similar field. An | | | | achieving that mission. (School Social Work |
| MSW allows a social worker to work in a clinical | | | | Association of America)Other specialties and |
| setting to diagnose and treat psychological problems.- | | | | certifications, offered by the National Association of |
| DSW: A doctoral degree takes anywhere from 4-7 | | | | Social Workers, include:- Academy of Certified Social |
| years. A DSW has extensive training in therapy and | | | | Workers (ACSW) |
| research and is qualified to teach in a university | | | | - Qualified Clinical Social Worker (QCSW) |
| setting.If you lack the educational or professional | | | | - Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW) |
| background, an associate's degree may be a good | | | | - Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs |
| place to start to see if you're willing to make the | | | | Social Worker (C-CATODSW) |
| necessary educational commitment.For information | | | | - Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family |
| regarding accredited social work programs, visit the | | | | Social Worker (C-ACYFSW) |
| Council on Social Work Education's website: and | | | | - Certified Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker |
| Exams: Social workers must be licensed. For licensing | | | | (C-CYFSW) |
| purposes, each state has its own requirements, but an | | | | - Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager |
| MSW is usually a minimum. In addition, licensing requires | | | | (C-ASWCM) |
| 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical | | | | - Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM) |
| experience.After completing school and hour | | | | - Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC) |
| requirements, social work candidates must pass an | | | | - Certified School Social Work Specialist |
| exam. The Association of Social Work Boards | | | | (C-SSWS)Eric Morgan has been assisting companies |
| (ASWB) develops and maintains four categories of | | | | with internet marketing for over 7 years. He currently |
| social work licensure examinations: Bachelors, Masters, | | | | works for MWI web design in Salt Lake City, Utah. For |
| Advanced Generalist, and Clinical. Candidates should | | | | more information on this topic please visit Speedy |
| check with individual boards to find out which | | | | CEUS - Social Worker Education. |
| examinations are appropriate for the jurisdiction where | | | | |