Click here to view video.
Social workers help individuals, families, and groups to function within their environments by providing direct services such as counseling and securing resources, or by advocating for a change in the environment (systems change).
Social workers are employed in schools, corporations, courts of law, and private practice.
$61,000
Employment of social workers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by increased demand for health care and social services, but will vary by specialty.
To be a social worker, one must have a degree in social work from a college or university program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The undergraduate degree is the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Graduate degrees include the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the Doctorate in Social Work (DSW or PhD). The bachelor’s degree prepares graduates for generalist entry-level work, whereas the master’s degree is for more advanced practice. A DSW or PhD is useful for doing research or teaching at the university level.
Licensure is required in the State of Connecticut to provide clinical social work (therapy). Prerequisite: To be a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), Connecticut requires a Master’s degree in social work, 3000 hours post-graduate clinical social work experience, 100 hours of approved supervision by LCSW and passage of the clinical exam of the American Association of State Social Work Boards. No license is required to non-clinical social work as long as you hold at least a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a program accredited by the council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
National Association of Social Workers
750 First Street NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002
800-638-8799
www.naswdc.org