Essential Requirements for Being a Social Worker

Social work is one of the most rewarding careers a person can have. It allows you to make a meaningful impact on your community and take care of the most vulnerable people around you. Whether you’re helping children with problem solving skills, or working with disabled individuals, LGBTQ people, or others, there’s a lot to look forward to. Before you become a social worker, you need to meet certain requirements. There are also aspects of your personality that might make you more suited to social work than some others.

A Degree

You will need a college degree if you want to become a social worker. Typically, you’ll be expected to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work or another related field. After that, you might need to get a master’s degree in social work as well. The licensing requirements vary depending on your state, so you’ll want to look up the education requirements before you get started.

In a social work program, you’ll learn all the essentials you need to know about supporting people in your community. There will also be ample opportunity to volunteer and to work alongside your professors in actual social work settings. College is essential not just for getting your license to practice, but also to get the experience you need to confidently do social work. Whether you’re applying for a bachelor’s or master’s program, tuition can be pricey. You can fill out the FAFSA to get federal student loans if you’re in the US. For the remaining uncovered cost of school, you might consider applying for Earnest private student loans.

Fieldwork

Different states have different requirements for fieldwork. As a general rule, though, you’ll need to complete a certain number of hours. These orders must be recorded and signed off on by your supervisor or superior in the field. Most social work programs will have fieldwork opportunities. During your fieldwork assignments, you’ll observe the ways that today’s social workers practice. This will also give you a chance to decide which people you want to work with once you’re licensed. To get the most out of your fieldwork, you’ll want to make sure that you’re working somewhere that feels meaningful. Some people might switch to internships at a different place if they feel they aren’t professionally fulfilled or getting enough out of their work.

Licensing

Once you’ve completed the requirements for education and field hours, you can apply to get your license. You will need to be licensed in your state if you want to run your own practice. There are some social worker jobs that don’t require you to have a license. But if you are planning to work one-on-one with vulnerable people, you will need to be properly licensed. One helpful option is to look for a place that will employ you while you go through the license application process. This place might help you meet your fieldwork requirements with a licensed social worker supervising you during the process. The exact requirements to get your license will depend on your state. Your state might have several different levels when it comes to licensing.