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Choices
 Careers
in Social Work
- For
information about accredited schools of social work,
contact the Council on Social Work Education at www.cswe.org
- For information
about state licensing of social work, contact
the Association of Social Work Boards at www.aswb.org
For information
about specific social work careers, go to:
Introduction
If you’re
looking for a career with meaning, action, diversity, satisfaction,
and an abundance of options, consider social work. Social
workers are people who care about people, who want to make things
better, who want to relieve suffering, who want their work to make
a difference.
Social work is
a profession devoted to helping people function the best they can
in their environment. This can mean providing direct services or
therapy directly to people (called "clients"). It also
can mean working for change to improve social conditions.
The phrase "in
their environment" points to a distinguishing characteristic
of social work—one that sets it apart from other helping professions.
Social workers help clients deal not only with how they feel about
a situation but also with what they can do about it. For example,
a man suffering stress stemming from single parenting may be referred
by a social worker to a child care agency. The social worker also
might help him explore flextime with his employer and might work
with a coalition of local employers to make flextime and child
care more available. In addition, the social worker might provide
therapy to help him handle the immediate stress.
Many social workers
work for social change as well. The victim of an assault benefits
not only from therapy but also from efforts to curb neighborhood
crime. The client under stress because illness has devastated the
family finances benefits from efforts to reform the nation’s
health care system.
About the Profession
The social work
profession has its own body of knowledge, code of ethics, practice
standards, credentials, state licensing, and a nationwide system
of accredited education programs. These equip the professional
social worker to combine the desire to help others with the knowledge,
skill, and ethics needed to provide that help.
For sheer variety,
few occupations can match social work, which offers the broadest
range of opportunities and settings. Social workers are found in
public agencies, private businesses, hospitals, clinics, schools,
nursing homes, private practices, police departments, courts, and
countless other interesting workplaces.
Social workers
serve individuals, families, and communities. They are managers,
supervisors, and administrators. They serve at all levels of government.
They are educators. They are therapists and researchers. More and
more, they are also elected political leaders and legislators.
Educational and
Licensing Requirements
To be a social
worker, one must have a degree in social work from a college or
university program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
The undergraduate degree is the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).
Graduate degrees include the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the
Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) or PhD. An MSW is required to provide
therapy. For information about accredited schools
of social work, contact the Council on Social Work
Education at 1600 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-683-8080, www.cswe.org.
Degree programs
involve classroom study as well as practical field experience.
The bachelor’s degree prepares graduates for generalist entry-level
work, whereas the master’s degree is for more advanced clinical
practice. A DSW or PhD is useful for doing research or teaching
at the university level.
Most states require
practicing social workers to be licensed, certified, or
registered, although standards vary. Contact the state
regulatory board directly or the American Association of State
Social Work Boards, www.aswb.org,
400 South Ridge Parkway, Suite B. Culpepper, VA 22701, 703-829-6880,
for a list of regulatory agencies or for a comparison of state
regulations.
Income
It is difficult
to assign a definitive range to social work salaries; however,
one thing is certain: Demand for social workers is on the rise.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2000 there
will be more than half a million social workers in the United States.
Those just starting
out with a BSW can expect an annual salary ranging up to $30,000
depending on type of work, experience, and geographic factors.
A social worker with an MSW degree can expect an annual income
ranging to about $40,000; a DSW can anticipate an annual income
of more than $40,000. A few experienced private practitioners and
senior administrators earn as much as $100,000.
To learn more
- About credentials:
A credential certifies that a social worker has achieved competence
and professionalism beyond a college degree or state license.
Credentials generally require a degree, supervised experience,
and a standard examination. Find out more about NASW
Credentials.
- About NASW and Membership
Benefits.
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