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I earned a bachelor’s in psychology a decade ago, but I’ve been a stay-at-home mom since then. Now that my kids are in school, I want to become a licensed social worker (LSW). Can I earn a master of social work (MSW) degree online? I’ve searched, but mostly I end up with lists of online psychology degrees. I don’t think these will meet my career goals. Can you recommend any online social work degrees or online MSW degrees for me? Help!
—Olive in Indiana

You’re smart to ask about earning a MSW degree online. Given your career goal of becoming a licensed social worker (LSW), you will need a specific type of online social work program.

The practice of social work is highly regulated. Each state sets its own standards for becoming a licensed social worker. If you hope to practice as a social worker, you’ll need to meet the education and practice requirements established by your state. There are online MSW degrees and LCSW degrees online, but you need to find the right one.

MSW means master’s of social work. The MSW, a graduate degree, is the classic social work degree. The good news: several accredited social work programs offer online MSW degrees with a LSW option.

In Indiana, as in many states, you will need either a BSW or a MSW to move toward licensing. (For specific social work licensing laws in Indiana, visit the Hoosier Health and Behavioral Services Board.)

To meet state requirements, you must attend an online social work program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Other types of college accreditation, while valid, will not meet licensing requirements.

To help you (and others), our counselors have created the guide below on how to choose online degrees in social work, especially online MSW degrees.

How to Become a Licensed Social Worker

Step 1: Follow your state educational requirement. The only trustworthy way to do this is to check the state-by-state licensing requirements maintained by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Trust the ASWB. They are the ones who oversee LSW and LCSW certifications.

Step 2: Match your state requirements to a specific online MSW program. (As an Indiana resident, you’ll want to check out the online MSW offered by Indiana University.)

Step 3: After enrollment, meet your state social work experience requirements. Most states require LSWs (sometimes also called LCSWs or licensed clinical social workers) to hold a master’s degree in social work AND complete 3,000 hours (two years) of supervised social work experience. (Indiana currently follows these standards.)

Step 4: The final step to becoming a LSW is to pass your state licensing exam. All states and the District of Columbia have licensing, certification or registration requirements that govern social work practice and the use of this professional title.

If you believe you may move before completing your degree or want to qualify as a social worker in different state, majors other than social work might help you enter or advance in the human services field. To become a LSW or LCSW, most states will require you earn a formal master’s in social work (online MSW).

Social Work Career Information

More good news: social work is a solid career to pursue now. Social workers, especially those who earn the LSW designation, can expect rising demand for their services. This career is expected to grow 22 percent through 2018, much faster than average.

Social worker employment in home healthcare services and gerontology (aging) is growing. Employment opportunities for social workers with backgrounds in gerontology will be excellent as America’s aging population moves into assisted-living communities, nursing homes and hospices.

The fastest growing demand within social work is in the medical and public health fields. Medical and public health social workers provide support to families and vulnerable populations. They may counsel the chronically or terminally ill, including those suffering from Alzheimer’s, cancer or AIDS. Many social workers who burn out on direct patient care move up to management roles in human services.

Some social workers open private counseling practices. Most health insurance companies require social workers in private practice to earn a master’s and hold a valid state LCSW license in order to be reimbursed for private counseling services.

Best Degrees to Become a Social Worker?

A bachelor’s degree is often the minimum requirement for entry into this occupation. At the undergraduate level, some colleges also offer the online bachelor's in social work degree (online BSW). You have a bachelor’s but it is not a BSW. In your case, it makes sense, if you can, to invest in a master’s degree rather than earning a second bachelor degree online.

The best paying positions, and LSW licensure, will require a master’s degree. However, because of strict state licensing requirements and the need for supervised experience, there are not many 100 percent online BSW or online MSW programs.

Closely related online psychology degree majors include human services, counseling, psychology, social services, gerontology, sociology and social sciences. Many people launch careers in social or human services, especially in counseling psychology, using a degree major other than social work.

If you want to avoid the prolonged route to the MSW degree and licensure, explore online master’s in human services or social services instead of social work.

Social Work Career Changers 

Because of licensing, this is not an easy field to enter without a master’s degree and two years of post-degree supervised work experience. It is also not an easy major to complete through online learning. Most online social work degrees only accept students in restricted geographic areas, and many offer limited specialties.

Degree Tip: Try our list of online state colleges for leads on more local public universities that may offer hybrid social work degrees.

An online bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common educational requirement to qualify for an entry-level job as a social worker. However, majors in human services, counseling psychology, sociology and related fields may qualify for some entry-level jobs, especially in rural and nonprofit community agencies.

An advanced degree has become the standard for many positions and for advancement to management in public health positions. A master’s degree in social work is often required for positions in health care and hospital settings.

Professionals who have worked in another aspect of direct patient care, such as nurses’ aides, psychiatric aides and/or drug counseling may find social work a satisfying new career. Nurses often use their healthcare experience combined with additional education to move into the arena of medical social work.

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