Clinical social worker vs Therapist

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

A clinical social worker is a specific practice within social work that focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness, emotional, and other behavioral disturbances, while a therapist is a mental health professional focused on helping others using various practices and treatments.

The path to becoming a therapist also involves graduating with a master's degree and passing an exam for state certification. Not all therapists, however, are licensed.

All clinical social worker professionals are licensed social workers who have met specific requirements such as the completion of an accredited social worker master's program, a certain number of clinical hours, passing the ASWB exams (Association of Social Work Boards) and applying for a state license.

A clinical social worker allows you to work with clients and provide all services associated with your scope of practice free of supervision. The term therapist, conversely, serves as an umbrella term for all professions within the area of psychotherapy.

To practice therapy, however, most states require a license, which requires passing an exam administered by their state. Consistent with clinical social workers, therapists are also required to have a master's degree, sometimes also in social work.

Despite having similar educational requirements, national exams, and a state licensing procedure, the pay between both fields is not equal. A clinical social worker, for example, earns a national median average of $57,283 a year, which is less than the national median for a therapist who averages $71,859 a year.

Moreover, the job outlook over the next ten years is slightly better for therapists at 16% growth projected compared to clinical social workers who have a 13.2%.