How to become a social worker
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s degree in social work.
It will take about four to five years to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, or BSW. In many ways, the first two years of graduate school are very similar to your undergraduate studies. You will need to complete general education courses such as sociology and research methods, and take classes like psychopathology which focus on the psychological disorders that often accompany mental health conditions. This is also where you will dedicate time to learning about ethics and the legal aspects of clinical practice before beginning your core classes for your specialization area later on.
In terms of electives, it is important to choose subjects that best prepare you for what it means to be an effective social worker, such as leadership development and client advocacy. You should also consider taking classes like health care ethics or community mental health just to gain a better understanding of the issues that are currently affecting society today.
Step 2: Take the ASWB bachelor’s level exam.
Once you have completed all of your general education courses and your core classes for your specialization area (which usually take about two years), it is time to move on towards passing this board examination in order to become eligible for clinical licensure. In order to pass this test, you will need to prepare by getting hands-on experience practicing social work either during an internship, volunteering at a non-profit organization, or doing an externship at a social service agency somewhere nearby. Make sure to look into every option you have in order to get your experience hours done. The ASWB bachelor’s level exam is a three-part test that will take approximately four hours to complete.
Step 3: Pursue an advanced degree, such as a Master’s Degree in Social Work, or MSW.
It usually takes about two years to complete a Master’s program and another one year beyond that for you to obtain licensure and certification once you pass the ASWB master’s-level exam. Depending on the school where you are earning your degree, it may be possible for you to enroll in classes and earn credit for some of what you learned during your bachelor’s programs, although this varies by institution.
In addition to general education requirements, a graduate degree program will require you to take classes in your specialization area (for example: clinical mental health, aging or case management) as well as clinical courses that are designed to help prepare you for the practice of social work. The remainder of your coursework will cover everything from public policy analysis and specific methods used to address certain successfully completed their Master’s issues like domestic violence, substance abuse, homelessness and/or child welfare services.
by Ramadan Ahmeti
