Social Worker - Training & Careers

Home >> Articles >> Healthcare Careers >> Social Worker - Training & Careers

Social Workers often provide the only help for our poor, disadvantaged, handicapped, mentally ill, and struggling population. Working in public health, school, or governmental organizations, social workers assist men, women, and children with job training, health care, emotional and educational problems. Job titles traditionally include family services social workers, child welfare social workers, child-protective services social workers, occupational social workers, or gerontology social workers.

More trained and qualified social workers are needed to fill "faster than average" growth in job openings through the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Most social workers specialize in a field, whether it is in housing, job training, domestic violence, substance abuse, short-term interventions and community-based care. They can work in foster care programs and assist in problems with teen truancy or pregnancy. They help senior citizens find appropriate care, or help employed people cope with on-the-job stress or a lack of functional skills.

Qualified Training for Social Work Professions

Licensing, certification, or registration requirements vary from state to state. According to the BLS, a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most-common minimum requirement to take a social work position at city, county, and state social service agencies. BSW programs prepare you for caseworker roles in many agencies. Holding a college associate and undergraduate degree major in psychology, sociology, and related fields can also qualify you for work with some agencies.

The preferred degree for qualifying social workers throughout the land is the master’s degree in social work (MSW). An MSW degree is required for counseling work in clinical settings, and the advanced degree is essential for social work supervisory positions at most agencies. Many social workers go into private practice once they acquire an advanced degree.

Social Worker - Training & Careers

Qualified Training for Social Work Professions

Featured Schools