Five Steps to Become a Social Worker — Start Your Career Today

Two social work students help an elderly man use a computer.

Meaningful change-makers in the lives of those in need, licensed social workers can make a difference immediately with a Master of Social Work degree.

Get accepted to Pacific’s Graduate School of Social Work as early as your first year with Guaranteed Graduate Admissions! Tuition assistance and stipends are newly available to help you start your career and discover your purpose.

Social work is one of the country’s fastest growing careers, with demand for licensed social workers set to rise 7% over the next decade. 

A rewarding career filled with compassionate interpersonal communication and complex problem solving, becoming a licensed social worker requires a combination of on-the-job clinical training and an accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.  

Most MSW programs do not require a specific undergraduate degree, and usually take two years to complete (although students in advanced standing programs can graduate in just one year).

The MSW is perfect for those who want to make a tangible, personal impact in the lives of marginalized communities through social justice and advocacy.   

What are the requirements to become a social worker? It’s easier than you think.

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Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree

The education requirements for social work school are often less rigid than those of other graduate programs. 

Foundationally, successful MSW candidates will have had some exposure to math, natural and behavioral science, and the humanities, but beyond that almost any degree qualifies.

While many colleges offer a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree, the academic prerequisites to attend MSW programs can be fulfilled by many other undergraduate degrees, including:

  • Sociology: Themes of class, race, and gender combine through the lens of social justice in this interdisciplinary degree that allows prospective MSW candidates an international perspective.

  • Disability Studies: One of the most marginalized populations, disabled people make frequent use of social workers in both the fight for equal rights, but also in establishing connections to basic services. 

  • Psychology: Psychology majors smoothly transition into MSW programs due to their interest in helping others better understand their environment and behavior. 

  • Anthropology: The study of communities and how they form is at the core of many anthropology programs and informs how social workers approach certain populations to better assess their needs. 

  • Gender & Sexuality Studies: Social workers are needed now more than ever to help LGBTQ+ populations, and those with a background in gender and sexuality theory are uniquely qualified. 

Step 2: Get Your Application Materials Together

Three social work students discuss strategies for case work.

While closely associated with many of the professional healthcare programs, there is no standardized test made specifically for those seeking graduate degrees for social work.

Generally, the GRE General Test is not required in order to apply to MSW programs. Instead, MSW programs look for a strong passion for social justice and helping others, which often comes in the form of an essay and several letters of recommendation. 

At Pacific, the essay allows students to think about social problems they have witnessed, and how they think current policies address or enable those problems.

Graduate Faster with an Advanced Standing Application

How long it takes to get your MSW varies between programs. At Pacific, the degree takes two years (four semesters excluding summer) to complete.

However, certain qualified applicants can enter the program with advanced standing, meaning that it only takes one year for them to earn their MSW.

To qualify for advanced standing you need to have earned a BSW from Pacific or another accredited program within the last five years.

Step 3: Research Programs and Apply  

To help streamline the application process, most schools use the Social Work Centralized Application Service (SocialWorkCAS) to accept student materials. In SocialWorkCAS you can find and submit to multiple schools at once, making the process much easier.

To make the best use of your time, it’s essential to research programs in advance so that you can only apply to those schools that align with your goals for a career as a social worker.

When looking at programs, prioritize schools those that:

  • Focus on social justice. Learning outcomes that include advocating for an improvement in living conditions for all through trauma-informed social justice are paramount in an MSW program. 

  • Provide job-training during school. Licensing requires 3,500 hours of clinical experience and observation, and Pacific's 920 total hours of field experience connects students with licensed social workers who can help them achieve that number. 

  • Actively work with the disenfranchised. Whether as a part of ongoing research, a capstone project, or through a university club, schools that place students in real-world settings for care produce MSW graduates more prepared for their careers. 

  • Support small cohorts. Small class sizes mean tight-knit cohorts and more individualized attention from faculty and staff, all resulting in more culturally aware MSW professionals.

Step 4: Complete a MSW Program

You’re in! That means you’re that much closer to becoming a licensed social worker and helping those who need it most. 

So how do you make the most of it?

The best way is to participate in research and clinical work outside of the classroom. 

Whether engaging with your local community through a Social Work Club on campus, studying abroad to learn more about how to help at-risk communities, or assisting faculty with innovative research, being involved means more chances to hone your skills.

The program really helped me find my identity and made me grow in ways I never thought possible. The professors are incredibly supportive. They’re with you through the whole process.

— Daisy Rizo '18

LCSW vs LMSW

A MSW can have two different endpoints, depending what you do after graduation. These include becoming a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Those interested in becoming an LMSW only need to have completed a MSW program, but they will only be qualified for nonclinical jobs that spend  less time working with individuals. 

Those that are interested in becoming an LCSW are required to complete 3,500 supervised hours of clinical social work after graduation, after which they can take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam and begin to work in their community. 

LCSWs can make up to $15,000 or more annually than their colleagues without clinical licenses. 

Step 5: Graduate and Start Your Career as a Social Worker

After you’ve graduated and completed your state's specific licensing requirements, you can begin working as a social worker, as well as pursue continuing education opportunities. 

Just like the amazing array of specializations in the MSW program, graduates can find niches in all sorts of innovative and compassionate career paths. Social work graduates can go on to help their communities as: 

  • Case Managers. Whether for mental health, substance abuse, or disabled clients, social workers help to get those at risk into places of stability and care.

  • Children, School, and Family Social Workers. MSW grads are trained to address issues in foster care, counsel parents, and strategize with educators to best help children thrive. Nearly half of all licensed social workers work in this specialization.

  • Clinical Counselors. In both educational and medical capacities, social workers use empathy and problem solving to help those navigate complex situations.

  • Mental Health and Addiction Specialists. One of the country's greatest crises, MSW graduates are uniquely qualified to address the systemic issues revolving around mental health and addiction.

  • Policy Analysts. Well-suited to enact change, social workers collaborate with policy makers to address issues of inequality and injustice. 

Inquire today and talk directly to an expert admissions counselor to see how you can start your career as a social worker. 

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