An office or residential facility is the usual place where social workers spend most of their time.  They also may travel locally to visit clients, meet with service providers or attend meetings.

Social work can be challenging, yet very personally rewarding.  In some agencies, understaffing and large caseloads add to the pressure.  They usually work a 40 hour week with occasional evening and weekend work to meet with clients, attend meetings or handle emergencies.  There are also part time positions for social workers.

Training and Education:

• A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for entry.  Many positions require an advanced degree.
• All states and the District of Columbia have some licensure, certification, or registration requirement.  Regulations vary.
• Majors in psychology, sociology and related fields may qualify for some entry-level social work jobs.  This is especially true in small community agencies.
• A master’s degree in social work is typically required for positions in health settings and clinical work.
• Some jobs in public and private agencies may require a master’s degree in social services.
• Supervisory, administrative, and staff training positions usually require a master’s degree.
• College and university teaching positions, and most research assignments normally require a doctorate in social work (DSW or Ph.D.)

What kind of jobs will a bachelor’s degree prepare you for?

• Direct service positions such as caseworker
• Courses include social work values and ethics, dealing with a culturally diverse clientele and at-risk populations, promotions of social and economic justice, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice, social research methods, and field education.

What kind of jobs will a Master’s degree prepare you for?

• Work in a chosen field of concentration
• A continuation of developing skills required to perform clinical

assessments, manage large caseloads, take on supervisory roles, and explore new ways of drawing upon social services to meet the needs of clients.

How long does a Master’s degree program last?

• 2 years
• Includes a minimum of 900 hours of supervised field instruction or internship
• A part-time program may take 4 years

What are entry requirements into a Master’s degree program?

• It does not require a bachelor’s degree in social work, but courses in psychology, biology, sociology, economics, political science, and social work are recommended.
• A second language can be helpful
• Most master’s programs offer advanced standing for those with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited social work program.

What about licensure?

• All states and the District of Columbia have licensing, certification, or registration requirements.  Requirements vary.
• A growing number of states are placing greater emphasis on communication skills, professional ethics, and sensitivity to cultural diversity issues
• Most states require 2 years (3,000 hours) of supervised clinical experience for licensure of clinical social workers.

Additional qualifications may include:

• Emotional maturity
• Objectiveness
• Sensitivity to people and their problems
• Must be able to handle responsibility
• Must be able to work independently
• Must be able to maintain good working relationships with clients and coworkers

If you would like to test yourself in the area of social work, volunteer or paid jobs as a social work aide is advisable.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor

Written by:  Connie Limon.    For more career description information visit http://smalldogs2.com/CareerDescriptions  For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles rarely found elsewhere visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

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© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved