| Types of Social Work Degrees: | | | | credits are accepted. |
| Social workers can earn three types of degrees, as | | | | - Examination Requirements.a. The examination |
| defined by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of | | | | requirements for licensure as an LCSW include |
| Labor Statistics: | | | | passing the Clinical Examination of the ASWB or the |
| - Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW): "A | | | | Clinical Social Workers Examination of the State of |
| bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) degree is the | | | | California. |
| most common minimum requirement to qualify for a | | | | - Scope of practice - Limitations.a.To the extent they |
| job as a social worker; however, majors in | | | | are prepared through education and training, an |
| psychology, sociology, and related fields may qualify | | | | LCSW can engage in all acts and practices defined as |
| for some entry-level jobs, especially in small | | | | the practice of clinical social work. |
| community agencies. Although a bachelor's degree is | | | | Certified Social Work (CSW): "CSW" means a licensed |
| sufficient for entry into the field, an advanced degree | | | | certified social worker. A CSW must have a master's |
| has become the standard for many positions." | | | | degree. |
| "BSW programs prepare graduates for direct service | | | | - The practice of certified social work includes:a. The |
| positions, such as caseworker, and include courses in | | | | supervised practice of mental health therapy by |
| social work values and ethics, dealing with a culturally | | | | observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, |
| diverse clientele, at-risk populations, promotion of | | | | intervention, and treatment to modify behavior |
| social and economic justice, human behavior and the | | | | through applying generally recognized professional |
| social environment, social welfare policy and services, | | | | social work principles, methods, and procedures in |
| social work practice, social research methods, and | | | | order to prevent, treat, or eliminate mental or |
| field education. Accredited BSW programs require a | | | | emotional illness or dysfunction. |
| minimum of 400 hours of supervised field | | | | - Licensure requirements for a certified social |
| experience." | | | | worker.a.A worker must produce certified transcripts |
| - Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW): "A master's | | | | from an accredited institution of higher education |
| degree in social work (MSW) is typically required for | | | | recognized by the division in collaboration with the |
| positions in health settings and is required for clinical | | | | Social Worker Licensing Board verifying satisfactory |
| work as well. Some jobs in public and private | | | | completion of an a social work education program |
| agencies also may require an advanced degree, such | | | | accredited by the Council on Social Work Education |
| as a master's degree in social services policy or | | | | and an earned master's degree resulting from |
| administration. Supervisory, administrative, and staff | | | | completion of that program; or an education program |
| training positions usually require an advanced degree." | | | | that contains approved clinical social work |
| "Master's degree programs prepare graduates for | | | | concentration and practicum in content. |
| work in their chosen field of concentration and | | | | - Examination Requirements.a.The examination |
| continue to develop the skills required to perform | | | | requirement for licensure as a CSW includes passing |
| clinical assessments, manage large caseloads, take on | | | | the Masters, Advanced Generalist, or Clinical |
| supervisory roles, and explore new ways of drawing | | | | Examination of the ASWB. |
| upon social services to meet the needs of clients. | | | | Social Service Worker (SSW): "SSW" means a |
| Master's programs last 2 years and include a minimum | | | | licensed social service worker. An SSW must have a |
| of 900 hours of supervised field instruction, or | | | | minimum of a bachelor's degree. |
| internship. A part-time program may take 4 years. | | | | - The practice as a social service worker |
| Entry into a master's program does not require a | | | | includes:a.The supervised or unsupervised use of |
| bachelor's degree in social work, but courses in | | | | professionalsocial work principles and practices, |
| psychology, biology, sociology, economics, political | | | | particularly patient and case management.b.DOES |
| science, and social work are recommended. In | | | | NOT include engaging in the practice of mental health |
| addition, a second language can be very helpful. Most | | | | therapy withan individual, family, group, or any other |
| master's programs offer advanced standing for those | | | | persons. |
| with a bachelor's degree from an accredited social | | | | - Experience Requirements for Licensure as a |
| work program." | | | | SSW.a.A worker must have 2000 hours of |
| - Doctorate in Social Work (DSW or Ph.D.): "College | | | | supervised social work activity or one year of |
| and university teaching positions and most research | | | | qualifying experience for licensure as a SSW.b.A |
| appointments normally require a doctorate in social | | | | master's degree qualifying an applicant for licensure as |
| work. DSW's and Ph.D.'s are qualified for research, | | | | an SSW must a field of social work, psychology, |
| policy analysis, or teaching at the university level." | | | | marriage and family therapy, or professional |
| Licensing Requirements: | | | | counseling.c. A worker must produce certified |
| License requirements can differ between jurisdictions. | | | | transcripts from an accredited institution of higher |
| Following are guidelines for Utah, courtesy of the | | | | education recognized by the division in collaboration |
| Utah Division of Occupational and Professional | | | | with the Social |
| Licensing Mental Health Professional Act, 50-60 and | | | | Worker Licensing Board verifying satisfactory |
| the Social Worker Licensing Act Rules, R156-60a. | | | | completion of: |
| For other states' licensing requirements, visit the | | | | (i) a bachelor's degree in a social work program |
| Association of Social Work Boards website: | | | | accredited by the |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): "LCSW" | | | | Council on Social Work Education. |
| means a licensed clinical social worker. An LCSW must | | | | (ii) a master's degree in a field approved by the |
| have an MSW, DSW, or Ph.D. | | | | division incollaboration with the social worker board. |
| - The practice of clinical social work includes:a. The | | | | (iii) a bachelor's degree in sociology, psychology, |
| practice of mental health therapy by observation, | | | | family sciences, orother field approved by the division |
| description, evaluation, interpretation, intervention, | | | | in collaboration with the |
| and treatment to modify behavior through applying | | | | Social Worker Licensing Board and also |
| generally recognized professional social work | | | | documentation of 2,000hours of supervised social |
| principles, methods, and procedures in order to | | | | work activity approved by the divisionin collaboration |
| prevent, treat, or eliminate mental or emotional illness | | | | with the board |
| or dysfunction. | | | | (iv) a bachelor's degree in any field, if the applicant |
| - Training Requirements for Licensure as an LCSW.a. | | | | has completed: |
| A worker must log 4000 hours of clinical social work | | | | A. the equivalent of three credit hours of course |
| and mental health therapy training. These hours must | | | | work or other approvedtraining in full-life human |
| be logged within a two year period and cannot | | | | growth behavior, abnormal psychology, social work |
| include hours accrued for education purposes.b. The | | | | values and ethics, social welfare, or social welfare |
| hours must include the following training: individual, | | | | policy; |
| family, and group therapy; crisis intervention; | | | | B. an approved social work practice methods course; |
| intermediate treatment; and long term treatment. | | | | and |
| - Continuing Education Requirements for LCSW.a. A | | | | C. one year of qualifying experience under the |
| worker must complete at least 40 hours of | | | | supervision of a licensed certified or clinical social |
| continuing education every two years. The | | | | worker, which experience is approved by the division |
| coursework must be relevant to social work, be | | | | in collaboration with the Social Worker Licensing Board |
| taught be qualified individuals or institutions, and | | | | - Examination Requirements.a.A worker must pass |
| provide proof of attendance.b. For every two-year | | | | the Bachelors Examination of the ASWB. |
| period, a maximum of ten online or home study CE | | | | |