ROAD MAP TO BECOMING

A SOCIAL WORKER
By: Kendra McCall

WHAT IS A SOCIAL WORKER?

A Social Worker is basically someone who services people in need
That need could be counseling, therapy and education
This person aids people in finding resources as well
Being a Social Working can be a rewarding experience

WHAT KIND OF SOCIAL WORKER I

WOULD LIKE TO BE
I would like to work with individuals that have been released
from prison after serving a long sentence.
I would like to help them become reacclimatized with society
through individual and family counseling.
These individuals would need assistance with jobs and skills
needed to obtain employment.
They would also need housing assistance.

WHAT EDUCATION IS REQUIRED?

States require that social workers hold a Bachelor of Social Work
(BSW) from a school approved by the Council on Social Work
Education (CSWE).
States often require that social workers obtain a Masters in
Social Work or a relevant doctoral degree before applying for
advanced social work licensure.

WOULD I NEED A LICENSE?

A clinical license is a
full professional
license to practice
social work. Social
workers holding a
current license and a
graduate degree in
social work may
become licensed as a
clinical-level social
worker, often referred
to as Licensed Clinical
Social Workers
(LCSW). This type of
licensure often
requires years of
professional

Clinical
License:

Social workers
holding an initial
license and a
graduate degree in
social work may
become licensed as
master- or graduatelevel social workers,
often referred to as
Licensed Master
Social Workers
(LMSW). This type of
licensure often
requires both field
experience and the
successful completion
of a standardized

Master
License:

Initial
License:

States often require

first-time social
workers to become
licensed as bacheloror associate-level
social workers, often
referred to as
Licensed
Baccalaureate Social
Workers (LBSW).
Upon receiving this
type of licensure,
social workers in most
states will be required
to work under the
supervision of an
approved Licensed

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR

LICENSE?
All states require licensed social workers to pay annual
renewal fees. Several states also require licensed social
workers to complete a certain amount of continuing education
courses for license renewal.