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Deal with People
Unpleasant/Angry People
Mostly Sitting
Stressful
$34,950
Average Salary
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
DutiesSocial workers typically do the following:
Social workers help people cope with challenges in their lives. They help with a wide range of situations, such as adopting a child or being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Social workers may work with children, people with disabilities, and people with serious illnesses and addictions. Their work varies based on the type of client they are working with.
Some social workers work with groups, community organizations, and policymakers to develop or improve programs, services, policies, and social conditions. This focus of work is referred to as macro social work.
Advocacy is an important aspect of social work. Social workers advocate or raise awareness with and on behalf of their clients and the social work profession on local, state, and national levels.
The following are examples of types of social workers:
Child and family social workers protect vulnerable children and help families in need of assistance. They help families find housing or services, such as childcare, or apply for benefits, such as food stamps. They intervene when children are in danger of neglect or abuse. Some help arrange adoptions, locate foster families, or work to reunite families.
Clinical social workers—also called licensed clinical social workers—diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression. They provide individual, group, family, and couples therapy; they work with clients to develop strategies to change behavior or cope with difficult situations; and they refer clients to other resources or services, such as support groups or other mental health professionals. Clinical social workers can develop treatment plans with the client, doctors, and other healthcare professionals and may adjust the treatment plan if necessary based on their client’s progress. They may also provide mental healthcare to help children and families cope with changes in their lives, such as divorce or other family problems.
Many clinical social workers work in private practice. In these settings, clinical social workers also perform administrative and recordkeeping tasks, such as working with insurance companies in order to receive payment for their services. Some work in a group practice with other social workers or mental health professionals.
School social workers work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to develop plans and strategies to improve students’ academic performance and social development. Students and their families are often referred to social workers to deal with problems such as aggressive behavior, bullying, or frequent absences from school.
Healthcare social workers help patients understand their diagnosis and make the necessary adjustments to their lifestyle, housing, or healthcare. For example, they may help people make the transition from the hospital back to their homes and communities. In addition, they may provide information on services, such as home healthcare or support groups, to help patients manage their illness or disease. Social workers help doctors and other healthcare professionals understand the effects that diseases and illnesses have on patients’ mental and emotional health.
Some healthcare social workers specialize in geriatric social work, hospice and palliative care, or medical social work:
Mental health and substance abuse social workers help clients with mental illnesses or addictions. They provide information on services, such as support groups and 12-step programs, to help clients cope with their illness. Many clinical social workers function in these roles as well.
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Although most social workers need a bachelor’s degree in social work, clinical social workers must have a master’s degree and 2 years of post-master’s experience in a supervised clinical setting. Clinical social workers must also be licensed in the state in which they practice.
EducationA bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common requirement for entry-level positions. However, some employers may hire workers who have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as psychology or sociology.
A BSW prepares students for direct-service positions such as caseworker or mental health assistant. These programs teach students about diverse populations, human behavior, social welfare policy, and ethics in social work. All programs require students to complete supervised fieldwork or an internship.
Some positions require a master’s degree in social work (MSW), which generally takes 2 years to complete. Master’s degree programs in social work prepare students for work in their chosen specialty by developing clinical assessment and management skills. All programs require students to complete a supervised practicum or an internship.
A bachelor’s degree in social work is not required in order to enter a master’s degree program in social work. Although a degree in almost any major is acceptable, courses in psychology, sociology, economics, and political science are recommended. Some programs allow graduates with a bachelor’s degree in social work to earn their master’s degree in 1 year.
In 2015, there were more than 500 bachelor’s degree programs and more than 200 master’s degree programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Some universities offer doctoral programs in social work, where students can earn a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) or a Ph.D. Most doctoral programs in social work require students to have a master’s in social work and experience in the field. Many doctor’s students go on to work as postsecondary teachers.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsMost states have licensure or certification requirements for nonclinical social workers. Requirements vary by state.
All states require clinical social workers to be licensed. However, some states provide exemptions for clinical social workers who work in government agencies. Becoming a licensed clinical social worker requires a master’s degree in social work and a minimum of 2 years of supervised clinical experience after graduation. After completing their supervised experience, clinical social workers must pass a clinical exam to be licensed.
Because licensing requirements vary by state, those interested should contact their state board. For more information about regulatory licensure boards by state, contact the Association of Social Work Boards.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives. To effectively help, social workers must be able to listen to and understand their clients’ needs.
Empathy. Social workers often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations. To develop strong relationships, they must have compassion and empathy for their clients.
Interpersonal skills. Being able to work with different groups of people is essential for social workers. They need strong people skills to foster healthy and productive relationships with their clients and colleagues.
Organizational skills. Social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment.
Problem-solving skills. Social workers need to develop practical and innovative solutions to their clients’ problems.
Time-management skills. Social workers often have many clients and administrative responsibilities. They must effectively manage their time to provide adequate service to all of their clients.
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Do you work as a Mental Health Worker?
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Gender | |
Female 66.3% |
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Male 32.0% |
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Unknown 1.7% |
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Ethnicity | |
White 79.6% |
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Hispanic or Latino 11.3% |
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Asian 6.7% |
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Unknown 1.6% |
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Black or African American 0.7% |
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Languages Spoken | |
Spanish 65.2% |
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French 9.5% |
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Portuguese 3.8% |
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Italian 3.0% |
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German 2.7% |
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Hindi 2.3% |
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Chinese 1.9% |
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Japanese 1.9% |
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Mandarin 1.5% |
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Russian 1.5% |
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Arabic 1.5% |
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Urdu 1.1% |
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Romanian 0.8% |
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Cantonese 0.8% |
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Tagalog 0.8% |
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Swedish 0.4% |
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Vietnamese 0.4% |
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Samoan 0.4% |
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Dutch 0.4% |
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Korean 0.4% |
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Schools | |
University of Phoenix 15.0% |
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Liberty University 7.9% |
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University of Alabama 6.6% |
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Capella University 6.0% |
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Walden University 5.9% |
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Towson University 5.7% |
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University of Southern California 5.6% |
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Shelton State Community College 4.4% |
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Pennsylvania State University 4.2% |
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Kaplan University 4.1% |
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Grand Canyon University 4.1% |
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Fordham University 3.9% |
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Temple University 3.6% |
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Southern Connecticut State University 3.5% |
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University of Utah 3.5% |
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Chicago School of Professional Psychology 3.3% |
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Saint Cloud State University 3.3% |
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National University 3.2% |
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San Diego State University 3.2% |
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Ashford University 3.0% |
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Majors | |
Psychology 21.8% |
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Social Work 16.3% |
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Nursing 8.5% |
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Criminal Justice 6.6% |
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Mental Health Counseling 5.9% |
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Counseling Psychology 5.5% |
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Business 4.9% |
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Human Services 4.0% |
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School Counseling 3.9% |
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Sociology 3.8% |
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Clinical Psychology 2.9% |
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Education 2.3% |
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Health Care Administration 2.2% |
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Nursing Assistants 1.9% |
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Medical Assisting Services 1.8% |
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Human Development 1.8% |
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Liberal Arts 1.7% |
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General Studies 1.5% |
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Family Therapy 1.5% |
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Special Education 1.5% |
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Degrees | |
Bachelors 32.8% |
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Masters 32.2% |
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Other 17.6% |
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Associate 8.7% |
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Certificate 4.5% |
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Doctorate 2.4% |
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Diploma 1.2% |
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License 0.5% |
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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County | San Jose, CA | Sep 04, 2013 | $70,040 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | California State Prison-Sacramento | CA | May 06, 2009 | $66,612 - $80,964 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | New York State, Office of Mental Health D/B/A Creedmoor Psychiatric Center | Queensbury, NY | May 13, 2011 | $62,918 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Sunset Park Health Council | New York, NY | Jul 10, 2014 | $60,044 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Youth Connection of Ventura County (Casa Pacifica) | Camarillo, CA | Nov 13, 2007 | $60,000 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Eliot Community Human Services | Salem, MA | Aug 02, 2011 | $60,000 |
Mental Health Social Workers | Patton State Hospital | Patton Village, CA | Nov 15, 2007 | $57,324 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | University Settlement | New York, NY | Nov 01, 2011 | $57,000 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Creedmoor Psychiatric Center | Queensbury, NY | May 09, 2011 | $55,168 |
Mental Health Social Worker | Instituto Familiar de La Raza, Inc. | San Francisco, CA | Sep 15, 2010 | $55,000 |
Mental Health Worker | Queens Child Guidance Center, Inc. | NY | Sep 15, 2015 | $53,000 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Transitional Living Center Inc. | Devils Lake, ND | Jun 08, 2011 | $53,000 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic, Inc. | New Haven, CT | Jun 24, 2011 | $52,788 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Absolute Health, Inc. | Laplace, LA | Jun 13, 2014 | $52,175 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | La Frontera Center Inc. | Tucson, AZ | Sep 15, 2010 | $44,799 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | Interfaith Works | Rockville, MD | Nov 01, 2011 | $44,720 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | Interfaith Works, Inc. | Rockville, MD | Nov 01, 2011 | $44,720 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | Interfaith Works | Gaithersburg, MD | Mar 01, 2014 | $43,867 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Norman Regional Health System | Norman, OK | Feb 11, 2010 | $43,347 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Riverside Community Care | Norwood, MA | Sep 18, 2009 | $43,180 |
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker | Telecare Corporation/Garfield Neurobehavioral Cent | Oakland, CA | Oct 21, 2009 | $43,046 |
Mental Health Worker | North Shore-LIJ Health System | New Hyde Park, NY | Oct 01, 2010 | $37,733 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Asian Community Mental Health Board | Oakland, CA | Dec 06, 2010 | $37,608 |
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker | Queens Child Guidance Center | NY | Feb 06, 2008 | $37,170 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | Community Counseling Centers of Chicago | Chicago, IL | Aug 22, 2008 | $37,054 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | Interfaith Works | Gaithersburg, MD | Sep 17, 2014 | $37,024 |
Mental Health Social Worker | Salisbury Behavioral Health, Inc. | Glenside, PA | Oct 01, 2013 | $36,773 - $38,693 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | University Settlement | New York, NY | Jan 05, 2011 | $36,608 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Friends of Grace Seniors Inc. | Englewood, NJ | Dec 16, 2010 | $36,608 |
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