How to Become a Social Worker

Social workers help people find solutions to a variety of problems in their lives. Although the necessary education to work in this field is intensive, you can have a rewarding career by specializing in an area that suits your interests and skills.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• College Catalogs
• Individual School Requirements And Application
• License Information
• Postage Stamps
• Pens
• Stationery
• Pens

1. Volunteer to be a social worker's aide while you are still in high school. You need to have firsthand experience to discover what social work can entail.

2. Be aware that a bachelor's degree in social work (B.S.W.) is required for entry-level positions in the social work field.

3. Maintain a good grade point average throughout high school. Establish good study habits for yourself.

4. Learn a second language in high school and continue to study it in college.

5. Ask your guidance counselor for a list of colleges in your preferred locations that offer social work programs. Make certain they are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. There are currently 430 B.S.W. accredited programs; each requires the student to receive at least 400 hours of supervised field experience.

6. Write for admissions information and applications well before your senior year in high school.

7. Look for paid internships during your college years. They can provide you with future references and perhaps open some doors to your career.

8. Plan on working toward a master's degree in social work (M.S.W.) if you would like a position of any responsibility, including case management. There are currently 130 M.S.W. accredited programs; each requires the student to receive 900 hours of supervised field experience.

9. Get licensing exam information for the state in which you live. After you receive your M.S.W., you must work under a licensed M.S.W. for two years before you can take the licensing exam.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose your college carefully. Even accredited programs can differ greatly.
• The National Association of Social Workers (see Related Sites) is a good source of information about careers in social work.
• Be aware that insurance companies will not reimburse you for your services unless you are licensed.
• Choose another career if you easily become emotionally involved with other people's problems. In social work, you must distance yourself emotionally in order to help your clients.

[cburgos]

on 10/29/2009 Hi, Im currently a junior in highschool and I have decided to become a social worker. I want to know what I have to do specifically to become one and what are some good colleges that i can look at that carry this field. I really have my heart set on this because I like to help people. I get this really warm feeling inside when i've helped someone. So please contact me at my email: [e-mail] Thank You so much!!! =]

[kitjoy]

on 10/11/2009 Hi i'm already 19 and suddenly had this passion to become a social worker. I am going into university next year and need help on which uni to go to. Any recommendations? And also which field to study, what subjects are involved? What if i do not have constant good grades?

[nicoler]

on 9/19/2009 hi , i am in grade 11 and im thinking about becoming a social worker in calgary alberta (Canada). i'd like to know what kind of post secondary school you need and what different kinds of social workers there are. could you please email me at [e-mail] that would help me out alot in awnsering my questions

[msamerica]

on 8/11/2009 i just graduated in may of 09 and am going to be off to college in a couple of days. the college i am attending is not accredited in this field. it is a native american university. i am a native american girl who has been in the system of foster care my whole life, in and out of different homes. i've always known that i wanted to be apart of this career and help children with the same problems i had while growing up. im very interested in learning more and am asking if there are any social workers out there, i need advice of where to start, what classes to take in college since im starting soon and how to go about this. thanks! =] email: [e-mail]

[rach991]

on 8/7/2009 Great article...very helpful for high schoolstudnets wanting to go into the S.W. program