Q: How hard is it to become a social worker?

It is not hard to become a social worker. However, in many respects, it is hard to be a social worker. Reportedly, the hardest part of being a social worker is not the work itself, but the interpersonal interactions and communications with clients. It can be difficult to find empathy for all of your clients - especially when their experiences are different from your own - yet without understanding a client's experience, you cannot help them as much as they need.

Q: How long does it take to become a social worker?

Becoming a social worker takes four years, typicaly. To be eligible for an entry-level career as a social worker, a bachelor's degree in social work is almost always necessary. This degree takes four years to complete. For many positions, this degree is all that is needed.

Question 1

What companies hire social workers?

Accepted Answer

Various types of organizations such as hospitals, schools, government agencies, mental health clinics, and non-profit organizations hire social workers.

Social workers play a vital role in our society and are employed in a variety of settings. Hospitals often hire social workers to help patients and their families navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, while also providing emotional support during difficult times. Schools employ social workers to address issues like bullying, learning disabilities, and family problems that may be affecting a student's academic success.

Question 2

How do I become a social worker without going to university?

Accepted Answer

Although there are a limited amount of positions involving social work that require no degree, a bachelor's degree in social work is almost always necessary for employment as a social worker.

Question 3

How hard is it to become a social worker?

Accepted Answer

It is not hard to become a social worker. However, in many respects, it is hard to be a social worker.

Reportedly, the hardest part of being a social worker is not the work itself, but the interpersonal interactions and communications with clients. It can be difficult to find empathy for all of your clients - especially when their experiences are different from your own - yet without understanding a client's experience, you cannot help them as much as they need.

Question 4

How long does it take to become a social worker?

Accepted Answer

Becoming a social worker takes four years, typicaly. To be eligible for an entry-level career as a social worker, a bachelor's degree in social work is almost always necessary. This degree takes four years to complete. For many positions, this degree is all that is needed.

Question 5

Is social work a good career?

Accepted Answer

Social work is a good career, especially if you are looking for a stable career that allows you to help others and allows for a lot of variety. Social work can be extremely fulfilling and it involves you helping people get out of dangerous or unsafe conditions. Seeing success in this can be incredibly rewarding as many social workers report feeling satisfied when a job is completed.

There are many different aspects of social work. There is also always consistent work which means that you will always have a job. The career is consistently growing and it is projected that there will be a large amount of growth in the coming decade.

If you are someone that prefers a working environment where things change daily, social work could be a great fit for you. You will be in the office sometimes, doing visits at other moments, and in court at other times.

Question 6

Social worker vs Therapist

Accepted Answer

A social worker is a trained professional who helps clients by focusing on their overall social and socioeconomic circumstances, while a therapist is a mental health professional that helps others using mental health treatments and emotional healing.

Question 7

What are types of social work?

Accepted Answer

Administration and management, advocacy and community organizing, and child welfare are types of social work. There are many different kinds of social work. Here are some details on these types of social work and others:

Administration and management

Social work administrators are proactive social workers that work for public and private organizations, and seek to provide services to clients.

In addition to conventional administrative knowledge, social workers in this field must also have knowledge regarding social policies, and the delivery systems for social services.

They also need to have an understanding of human behavior, and a strong commitment to social work values and ethics.

Advocacy and community organizing

Advocacy is one of the cornerstones of all social work. In broad terms, social work champions the rights of individuals and communities with the objective of accomplishing social justice.

Community organizing is essential to advocating the rights and services of large groups of people. You have power in numbers when social workers can help band together communities to seek out how they can improve social services and their communities as a whole.

Child Welfare

Child welfare social workers seek to help some of the most vulnerable children and their families. This includes work with adolescents, and teenagers as well.

This type of social work has the goal of providing safe and nurturing environments for children. Sometimes this means social workers have to intervene in a family's life if a child's living environment is deemed to be unsafe or unhealthy in some way.

Children and teens who have experienced neglect or physical or emotional abuse are supported by social workers and a wide range of services they provide.

Aging

Social workers often work with the elderly population to try and get them the proper services they need in their old age. This helps seniors live independently and with dignity.

Social workers employ services and strategies that seek to improve the aging population's quality of life and their overall participation within their communities.

Social work in this area tends to focus on social, economic, psychological, and physical elements of the daily lives of seniors and other adults.

Developmental disabilities

Social workers in this field help families and children that have developmental disabilities understand their legal rights and the public services that are offered to them.

They often try to find special services for children in need. These services can help to improve a developmentally disabled child's life and assist them in living as independently as possible.

Health care

Social workers in this field help individuals and families obtain the proper medical services. They might also provide counseling in certain scenarios where grief or acceptance is an issue.

In addition to helping families deal with medical financial burdens and difficult situations, healthcare social workers might also conduct research in their field, and develop specific programs.

Question 8

What disqualifies you from being a social worker?

Accepted Answer

What can disqualify you from being a social worker are past child abuse charges, domestic violence charges, and some drug charges. Not every criminal conviction automatically disqualifies you from being a social worker, but convictions specific to the safety of children or your ability to complete your job will disqualify you.

Question 9

What is the career path for social work?

Accepted Answer

The career path for social work involves jobs as a community social worker, a medical social worker, and a mental health social worker.

Those interested in getting on the career path for social work should attend college and obtain one of the following degrees:

Associate in Social Work (ASW)
Bachelor's in Social Work (BSW)
Master's in Social Work (MSW)
Doctorate in Social Work (DSW)

ASW degrees help prepare you for paraprofessional positions in social services agencies. Some coursework for this degree includes:

Introduction to Social Work
Human Behavior and Social Environment
Social Welfare Policy
Experiences in Diversity
Principles of Human Services
Counseling Skills
Crisis Intervention Strategies

ASW degrees help you to gain an understanding of various topics, like the history of social work, the role of a generalist social worker, the impact social work has on communities, and many other areas as well.

BSW degrees are for those seeking to be practitioners in the field of social work. It is recommended to pursue a BSW program that is accredited by the CSWE.

Coursework involved in BSW programs includes:

Introduction to Social Work
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Social Welfare Policy
Social Work Research Methods
Generalist Practice
Social Work Practice with Communities
Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
Social Diversity and Cultural Understanding
Practice Evaluation in Social Work

BSW degree programs help you to learn how to practice social work according to laws and ethics standards, advocate for social and human rights, engage in research in the field, evaluate individuals, families, and other groups, and many more essential areas of social work.

To practice social work at the level of a practitioner, most states require you to pass an exam given by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

An MSW degree program is for individuals that want to focus their work on specific populations or participate in a more generalist practice.

Some examples of coursework in an MSW program include:

Human Behavior and Social Environment
Social Work with Individuals and Families
Social Work Practice with Groups
Social Work Research
Social Welfare and Social Work
Policies and Strategies of Community Intervention
Diversity in Multicultural Society

You might also encounter many specialized courses that cover various topics; examples are:

Health Policy and Health Systems
Community Organizing
Staff Management and Development in Social Services
Global, Cross-Cultural Social Work Practice
Clinical Social Work with Adults
Psychodynamic Theory
Substance Abuse Treatment in Groups

A DWS degree program is meant for those who want to achieve high-level positions on the social work career path or for those interested in becoming professors at universities.

Coursework for DWS programs includes:

Searching the Literature
Writing the Literature Review
Historical Approaches to Social Welfare
Relational Theories and Social Work Practice
Critical Race Theory
Ethics in Mental Health Care
Sociology of Childhood
Trauma-informed Supervision
Qualitative Research Introduction
Applied Social Statistics
Administration and Leadership

Certain programs also require students to write a dissertation as a culmination of their doctorate degree in social work.

There are also many certifications those pursuing jobs on the social work career path should consider obtaining; some of these include:

Certification in Forensic Social Work (CFSW)
Academy of Certified Social Workers Credential (ACSW)
Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS)
Certified Master Forensic Social Worker (CMFSW)

Once a person has completed a social work degree program, they may seek employment in any of these fields of social work:

Community social work
Medical social work
Mental health social work
Military social work
School social work
Social work administration

Question 10

What is the difference between a clinical social worker and a social worker?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between a clinical social worker and a social worker is that clinical social workers have to obtain a master's, while social workers must have just a bachelor's.

Both clinical and direct services social workers perform duties that require one-on-one client interaction, but clinical social workers have more authority for diagnosing and treating.

Question 11

What qualifications do you need to become a social worker?

Accepted Answer

To be a social worker, a bachelor's degree in social work is usually necessary. This degree is typically obtained via a four-year program through an accredited school. The bachelor's degree in social work prepares the prospective social worker for general social work and qualifies them for most entry-level careers in social work.

Question 12

What should I study to become a social worker?

Accepted Answer

You should study social work in order to become a social worker. It is not always a requirement that aspiring social workers major in social work, but it is strongly recommended.

A bachelor's degree in social work will provide you with some opportunities within the field, albeit limited. To be a licensed social worker, you must hold a master's degree in social work from an accredited program.

Question 13

Why become a social worker?

Accepted Answer

You should become a social worker because social workers help prevent problems, you can make a genuine difference in people's lives, and it's a satisfying profession that enables personal growth.

Question 14

Case Manager vs. Social Worker

Accepted Answer

A case manager provides clients with the necessary assistance they need to function in society and refers them to the right services, while a social worker will look into the emotional, physical, and social consequences regarding the client's needs.

Question 15

What is a good starting salary for a Social Worker?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a social worker is $40,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a social worker in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for social workers is $53,175, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a social worker can vary by state.

Question 16

Can you make 100k as a social worker?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a social worker. However, this is highly unlikely. Even social workers in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $70,000 per year.

Certain qualifications are useful for increasing your earning potential as a social worker. Most social workers will have, at minimum, a bachelor's degree in social work. This is often shortened to BSW.

Question 17

Do social workers make good money?

Accepted Answer

No, social workers do not make good money. Many social workers have intense jobs that can be very stressful, but also gratifying. However, this does not translate into them being well-compensated.

Question 18

What benefits do social workers get?

Accepted Answer

Health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, disability insurance, are just some of the benefits social workers can get. These types of benefits are typically reserved for social workers that work on a full-time basis for a specific agency or organization. Specific benefits can vary depending on the employer.

Question 19

What field of social work pays the most?

Accepted Answer

The highest-paying field for social workers are at the government (state or federal) level and the medical field. These positions tend to pay well because they tend to require the most knowledge and expertise.

Question 20

What is the highest-paid social work job?

Accepted Answer

The social workers who are usually paid the highest are those who work for the government at the state or federal level and the social workers who work within the medical field.

These positions tend to pay well because they tend to require a good amount of knowledge. Social workers in these positions must know how to navigate complex systems with rules and procedures that can be very rigid.

Question 21

Why do social workers get paid so little?

Accepted Answer

Social workers get paid so little compared to those possessing the same education and experience for various reasons.

The field of social work is broad and encompasses a variety of occupations. Some of these jobs fall at the lower end of the professional pay scale. Individuals working as substance abuse or group home counselors earn as little as $29,000 to $32,000 annually.

Question 22

Are social workers happy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, social workers are happy. In fact, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Social Work Education found that social workers reported high levels of job satisfaction, particularly in regard to feeling that their work was meaningful and made a positive impact on the lives of others. This positive rating was also directly correlated to whether the social worker also had adequate support and resources.

Question 23

Do social workers get paid well?

Accepted Answer

Yes, social workers get paid well. Depending on the location and area of social work, it is possible for a social worker's yearly earnings to exceed $90,000. It is much more typical for social workers to earn between $30,000 per year and $70,000 per year.

Question 24

What job can you get with a social work degree?

Accepted Answer

You can get many different jobs with a social work degree, especially jobs that relate to helping and rehabilitating individual people, families, and specific groups.

Here are some examples of different jobs you can get with a social work degree...

Question 25

What makes a good social worker?

Accepted Answer

Several different things make a good social worker, including empathy, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. Here are some details on these qualities and others that make a good social worker:

Question 26

Can I add social work to a resume?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can add social work to a resume. In fact, adding social work to a resume is a great way to showcase an array of skills related to social work, such as crisis intervention, communication, and other professional skills.

Question 27

How do I write a social worker profile?

Accepted Answer

You write a social worker profile by creating a concise summary that covers who you are as a social worker and illustrates what you bring to the table. As a social worker, you understand the importance of first impressions. Consider your profile the first impression a hiring manager has of you, so you want to make it count.

Question 28

What should a social worker put on a resume?

Accepted Answer

A social worker should put the skills and experience related to helping people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives on a resume.

As someone who is so focused on others, it may feel strange to brag about yourself and your accomplishments. However, there are some steps you can take to help make the process a bit easier.

Question 29

What is the demand for social workers?

Accepted Answer

The demand for social workers is projected to grow by 13% from 2012 to 2031. The significantly above-average demand for social workers is due to various factors including a growing need for social services, evolving healthcare systems, and an increased need for social services for an aging population and those experiencing mental health problems. Social workers play a vital role in providing support and assistance to individuals, families, and communities in areas such as healthcare, mental health, child welfare, substance abuse, and more.

Question 30

Can social workers work from home?

Accepted Answer

Yes, social workers can work from home in some cases. The opportunity to work from home in this field largely depends on the position in question and the responsibilities that come with it. In addition, the policies, protocols, and practices of the organization a social worker works for also comes into play when trying to accurately answer this question.

Question 31

How to reduce social worker burnout?

Accepted Answer

You reduce social worker burnout by leaving work at work, keeping an open dialogue, and building self-care into your day. Social workers have one of the highest-risk jobs for chronic stress and burnout among healthcare professionals, especially when workloads are high and they don't feel valued.

Signs of burnout in social work include:

Physical or emotional exhaustion
Feeling ineffective as a social worker
Lack of focus
Lack of patience
Loss of enthusiasm about your work
Irritability or agitation
Feeling emotionally drained
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Depression
Anxiety

Social workers are at high risk of burnout due to their high caseloads, high client acuity, and lower pay, this was even more prevalent during the pandemic. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent and manage this type of stress, including leaving work at work.

It can help social workers to have rituals when they transition from work time to personal time. This can be especially important when working from home. For example, social workers can get to a stopping point with current tasks and write down a list of all of the things that need to be taken care of the next morning.

If commuting, it might help to identify a boundary like a river or a highway and think about leaving work on the other side once that boundary is crossed. It is also important to avoid answering emails or looking at messages outside of work hours. This can help you to focus on activities and enjoy your time off of work.

Another great way to leave work at work is to schedule a time to do what you enjoy. This may include engaging in hobbies like crafting, solving puzzles, or spending time with your family. If you often bring work devices home, consider storing them in a bag or drawer to help you focus on enjoyable activities.

This may also help improve your mood, which can increase your motivation when it's time to work again. If you're interested in reducing your stress levels, consider engaging in low-stakes hobbies to help you return to work feeling relaxed. Yoga and meditation are great hobbies that can leave you feeling calmer and more focused.

In addition to finding ways to leave work at work, it is important to keep an open dialogue with your boss, coworkers, and loved ones. Oftentimes, employers will say that they are blindsided when they find out an employee was struggling with burnout, and they had no idea.

It is a good idea for social workers to talk to their employers about their concerns before burnout becomes more serious. Like everyone else, social workers need support from people who care about them. Since they are often the ones helping, it can be a struggle to ask for support.

Try scheduling a regular date with a friend or family member to help you stay connected. Find ways to laugh, be silly, and have fun, but also make time to vent when you need to. It is important to have support and the freedom to express frustrations or other emotions that you have been holding back.

Keeping an open dialogue can help you to unburden yourself and free your mind from the isolation and struggles that you may be feeling. Peer consultation groups can also be a great way to process work stress with others who understand what you are going through while still protecting confidentiality.

Lastly, you need to practice self-care both physically and emotionally. Social workers must be able to recharge their batteries. After all, "you can't pour from an empty cup." Physical and mental health are directly related and to that end, it is important that you take care of both.

Eating healthy foods will help give you more energy to get through your day. You should also keep a full water bottle handy all today to make sure you are staying hydrated. Try to stand up and stretch in between clients or go for a short walk and get some fresh air. This can help you reset.

Whenever possible, remember to take time off. A vacation is the best way for you to get away, unplug, and leave the stress behind.

Question 32

What are career paths in social work?

Accepted Answer

Child welfare, case management, and addiction counseling are career paths in social work. Here is a more detailed look at these career paths and others in social work:

Child welfare specialist
Child welfare specialists make sure children are protected and safe by ensuring that the environments they live in meet certain standards. They also get children necessary medical care and access to schooling. The job can present many difficult decisions, like determining whether or not a child should be removed from their current home.
In cases where a child is removed from their home, a child welfare specialist will seek out and interview prospective foster and adoptive parents for the child. They also schedule visitation hours with biological and non-biological parents, and represent the child in any court proceedings.
Lastly, a child welfare specialist also supervises the home life of a child, whether in biological parent, foster parent, or adoptive parent care. They do this by making frequent visits to the child's home.
Case manager
Case managers work in the social service or healthcare industry. They may focus on one specific area, such as, family services, geriatric services, mental health care, rehabilitation services, or education. In these areas they act as an advocate for clients and medical patients.
Some common tasks include meeting with patients and the teams that care for them, filling out paperwork or helping clients to fill out paperwork, developing care plans, and making home visitations to clients to assess their progress.
Addiction counselor
Addiction counselors focus on helping clients and groups struggling with substance abuse and other related issues. They often act as a therapist and talk with a client in the hopes to find the foundational causes for their addiction problems. They also provide guidance on how a client can handle life sober. Often they are utilized in conjunction with 12-step programs.
In addition, these counselors also may work with the family members of an addict. Providing them with the opportunity to air their concerns and grievances, while also giving them advice on how to better deal with the situation.
Addiction counselors work in hospitals, drug rehabilitation centers, inpatient care centers, outpatient care centers, and sometimes in private offices.
Medical social worker
A medical social worker seeks to offer assistance to medical patients and their families by helping them cope with emotional and psychological, social, and financial situations that come with the diagnosis and/or treatment of serious, chronic, or fatal diseases or illnesses. They also educate patients and families on entitlements, health insurance coverage, and community resources.
Medical social workers can also provide the service of counseling through individual or group therapy sessions. Oftentimes, they will advocate for healthy lifestyles for patients, and communities as a whole.
Clinical social worker
A clinical social worker is a licensed mental health professional. They offer counseling services to specific at-risk individuals or groups. Some may also focus specifically on families or children. They help clients by directing them towards social programs, resources, and services that will have a positive impact on their lives.
Oftentimes, clinical social workers work in conjunction with teams that include other social workers, doctors, nurses, teachers, psychologists, and counselors.
They are licensed to assess a patient's mental health and give a diagnosis. In addition, they devise treatment plans and have counseling sessions with their patients, with the goal of bettering the patient's mental state.

Question 33

What are the pros and cons of being a social worker?

Accepted Answer

The pros of being a social worker are rewarding work and job security, while the cons are that it can be emotionally draining and it can be unsafe. Here is a more detailed look at the pros and cons of being a social worker:

Pros

Rewarding Work. Social work involves helping people get out of dangerous or unsafe conditions. Seeing success in this can be incredibly rewarding. Many social workers report feeling satisfied when a job is completed.
Job Security. There are many different aspects of social work. There is also always consistent work which means that you will always have a job. The career is consistently growing and it is projected that there will be a large amount of growth in the coming decade.
Different work environments. If you are someone that prefers a working environment where things change daily, social work could be a great fit for you. You will be in the office sometimes, doing visits at other moments, and in court at other times.

Cons

Emotionally Draining. Dealing with people who are living in dangerous situations can be extremely difficult emotionally. Oftentimes, you may even have people who refuse help, even when they truly need it. This can be extremely frustrating and difficult for social workers to process.
Potentially Unsafe. Social workers may find themselves in unsafe situations at times. For instance, if you are working with addicts on the street, the chance that you could get attacked or robbed is much higher than if you were working in an office setting.
Bureaucracy. One aspect of social work that social workers cite as being difficult is the standards and protocols you must follow. Sometimes, you may see someone in need, but not be able to help before other steps are taken first, and that can be frustrating.

Question 34

What do entry-level social workers do?

Accepted Answer

Entry-level social workers prepare to gain experience for the LCSW license, work under other social workers, and complete extensive paperwork. For many social work positions, a bachelor's degree in social work is sufficient to begin work after taking a licensing exam. However, advanced careers in the field may require a master's degree.

Question 35

What do social workers do on a daily basis?

Accepted Answer

Social workers evaluate and assess clients, create and implement client care plans and services, and advocate on behalf of their clients on a daily basis. Here are some details on the common daily activities of a social worker:

Question 36

What hours do social workers work?

Accepted Answer

Social workers work 9-to-5, Monday through Friday. This is typical for many professions. Sometimes, social workers may need to work weekends to accommodate different schedules and situations, but this is not standard.

Question 37

What is a typical day for a social worker?

Accepted Answer

A typical day for a social worker may involve:

Meeting with clients
Responding to emergencies
Conducting assessments
Providing counseling or case management services
Collaborating with other professionals to ensure that clients receive the best possible care
Maintaining case files and tracking client progress over time

Question 38

Who do social workers work with?

Accepted Answer

Social workers work with other social workers, mental healthcare and medical professionals, and other government employees. Here are some details on the professionals that social workers work with:

Question 39

Why do you want to be a social worker?

Accepted Answer

You answer, "why do you want to be a social worker," by focusing on your desire to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Social workers are becoming less focused on solving problems and more focused on primary prevention and providing interventions ahead of time to prevent problems from occurring.

Frequently asked questions about social workers

Questions about becoming a social worker