4 Things To Know About Social Work As A Career

By Uloop Guest Writer on September 9, 2015

When talk turns to studying for jobs that are in high demand, it seems all you hear about these days is STEM. But science, technology, engineering, and math are not careers for everyone.

And that’s a good thing. The world needs folks with a passion for working with people rather than with concepts that have hard edges.

Working with people doesn’t necessarily mean the field of healthcare, either. What might surprise you to know is that social work is one of the more stable and recession-proof careers there is, with demand on the rise.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected 25 percent growth in the field through this decade.

As populations grow, change, and age, there is more and more need for professionals in social work. If you’re passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, it’s a career that can give you an enormous sense of satisfaction.

If you’ve never considered a career in social work, here are some things to know.

1. The Places You’ll Work

Career paths in social work range from direct clinical practice to administrative and advocacy roles in governmental and nonprofit organizations. There are even social workers in the corporate world. You might find yourself working in a …

*Child welfare organization

*Adoption or foster care agency

*Family services agency

*Hospital, clinic, or hospice

*Military or veterans affairs medical or counseling center

*Mental health or substance abuse center

*Vocational rehabilitation center

*Human resources department

*Correctional facility or rehabilitation center

*School or university

*Philanthropic organization

2. The Preparation You’ll Need

Although some positions are available with a bachelor’s degree, a Master of Social Work (MSW) gives you a competitive edge and many more options in the job market. In fact, some states require it for specific positions, and it is a requirement for leadership positions in most government-funded, nonprofit social service organizations.

Standard MSW programs take two years of full-time or four years of part-time study including supervised clinical practice. Online courses of study can be completed in about three years, with supervised field assignments. Having a bachelor’s in social work will typically put you on an accelerated track toward the MSW and decrease course time by about a year.

Professional licensing requirements vary by state, and include Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Independent Social Worker (ISW), Certified Independent Practice Social Worker (CIPSW), Certified Advanced Practice Social Worker (CAPSW), Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (LAPSW), Licensed Social Worker — Administration (LSW-ADM), and a number of others depending upon where you live, your level of education, and the kind of practice you’re entering.

3. The Things You’ll Do

Depending on the focus you want to pursue in a social work career, you might be working to …

*Keep families strong and make sure children are safe and well provided for

*Help seniors and their families face the challenges of growing older

*Provide vital support services to military personnel, veterans, and their families

*Manage the logistical, social, and emotional aspects of health and wellness

*Help people suffering from life’s stresses, mental illness and addictions

*Maintain a private practice to provide individual or group therapy

*Participate in education and research on issues of social concern

*Organize communities to help themselves

*Help shape laws and government programs

*Direct a corporation’s resources to provide support to the community or even the world

4. The Group of Professionals You’ll Join

According to the National Association of Social Workers, there are over 650,000 people with social work degrees in the United States, and there are more clinically trained social workers than there are psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses combined.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is the largest single employer of professional social workers, with approximately 10,000 men and women assisting veterans and their families with counseling, crisis intervention, and other vital services.

The NASW itself has 132,000 members in chapters across the country, and there are over 50 other professional organizations dedicated to social work in all of its varying aspects.

Explore these and other resources to see if social work will be a rewarding career for you.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format