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
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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.
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Be aware that a bachelor's degree in social work (B.S.W.) is required for entry-level positions in the social work field.
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Maintain a good grade point average throughout high school. Establish good study habits for yourself.
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Learn a second language in high school and continue to study it in college.
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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.
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Write for admissions information and applications well before your senior year in high school.
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Look for paid internships during your college years. They can provide you with future references and perhaps open some doors to your career.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Comments
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I have always knew that I wanted to mentor the young. Counsel them and inspire them to succeed in their dreams and goals. I learned at an early age that we have a lot of obsticles which includes peer pressure and not enough family support. I always knew that sooner or later I was going to take the steps necessary to become a S.W I am currently seeking my GED than to go to Pheonix University to do 9yrs before I recieve my Doctorate but now I get here and read. "Choose another career if you easilly become emotionally involved with other people's problems. In social work, you must distance yourself emotionally in order to help your clients"....How Do I That? I Guess I have to choose another field!
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eish I like working with people and helping them motivating them telling them that God loves them , and bring faith in their lives that God will never liv them nore forsake them but don't know where can I start or what can I do.
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I would like to work in a rehabilition center and help addicts recover and work on the deep emotional isues these people are suffering with in order to make recovery a little easier. I speak from experience. I have been in rehab and I enjoyed motivating the other ppatients... I realize one needs to study to be a social worker but where would be best and how much does this all cost... bearing in mind I have a full time job to pay my living costs...
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I want to help people. Where can I go in George to find out how?
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THIS MAY BE RIGHT FOR ME.
