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Step 1
Research your state's licensure requirements. All states require a social worker to be licensed, but their requirements often vary. Some will allow you to work as a social worker with a bachelor's degree while others require completion of graduate studies. Your state will have a regulatory board that can provide the correct information.
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Step 2
Enroll in an accredited online degree program that meets your state's requirements. Make sure that the online school is accredited by a regional agency. Otherwise, your degree may be worthless when you try to obtain your state license. If you are not sure whether an online school's accreditation will be acceptable in your location, check with the state regulatory board.
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Step 3
Hold yourself to a schedule to ensure that you complete your online degree. Online schools are convenient and allow you to prepare to be a social worker at home. However, their flexibility can be a problem if you have trouble staying focused. Create a schedule to ensure that you devote time to your classes every day. If you start falling behind, devote a block of time and force yourself to catch up.
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Step 4
When you receive your degree, apply for state licensure. Depending on your location, your state may require you to earn hours of in-person service to finalize your license. You will not be able to do this at home because you will need to work under a qualified supervisor.
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Step 5
Consider practicing from home. Not only can you earn your degree at home, but you can also practice from home. There are many online counseling services that allow social workers to hold sessions online. Once you receive your license, you can sign up with one of these services and work from your home computer rather than in an outside office.
