How Can You Become Licensed As a Foster Care Social Worker?
Licensed social workers employed in foster care settings serve in a variety of capacities including social work supervisors, program directors and case managers. To work as a licensed social worker, most states require a bachelor's or master's degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), pass the appropriate Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam and pay a licensing fee that is set by the state. The master's degree level license usually requires at least two years of field experience that is supervised by an advanced practice master's level social worker.
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Things You'll Need
- Bachelor’s or master degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) program
- Social worker license from state
Instructions
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Earn a bachelor’s degree in social work. An undergraduate degree program accredited by the CSWE assures that schools are preparing students to become competent social workers. Programs include class work in areas of liberal arts that adds to a grander understanding of the social work field, including anthropology, sociology and psychology. Social work courses include social work research, social welfare, human behavior and development, social welfare policy and a field practicum. Many universities offer child welfare policy as an elective. For the future foster care social worker, these classes provide a strong foundation.
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Complete baccalaureate licensing requirements. Applicants are required to pass ASWB bachelor's exam and pay a licensing fee. Secure employment that deals with the welfare of children and adolescents. The ideal position for an individual seeking to become a foster care social worker is working for the government in its child welfare department or a nonprofit organization that deals with adoption or foster care (see Resources).
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Apply to a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) program. Master's degree programs, which take at least two years to complete, include a field practicum that requires the student to complete at least 1,000 hours of training under the guidance of a Licensed Clinical or Certified Social Worker (LCSW), a MSW social work professional with at least two years of clinical social work experience. Because of the advanced education in social welfare policy and practice, social work research and theory, and analysis of human behavior found at this level, a foster care social worker with a master’s degree has a better understanding of providing the necessary and support foster care children and parents need.
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Sit for your state's ASWB master's licensing exam near the end of your MSW program. After passing the test, apply with your state as a Licensed Master's Social Worker (LMSW). In addition to social work generalist case management duties, foster care LMSWs take on responsibilities such as training foster parents and providing counseling and therapy to parents and children.
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Pursue an advanced standing social worker license. An LCSW in the foster care setting can find many opportunities in management. Several agencies that serve as advocates for children possess executive directors with a clinical social work license. LCSWs are also qualified to oversee programs and supervise entry-level practitioners and support staff.
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Participate in continuing education classes. States require licensed social workers at all levels to complete classes to maintain their license, which are renewed every two years. Concentrate on classes that focus on furthering your understanding of working with children. Organizations such as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) offer a variety of these classes.
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Tips & Warnings
Only individuals who possess a social work license are considered social workers. Working in the social service field does not make someone a social worker.
References
Resources
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