Education and career requirements for social workers

Social work is a broad field that encompasses a wide range of practices and areas of specialization. Regardless of the diversity within the profession, social workers help place individual and community-level issues within a greater context. Therefore, social workers may become politicians, consultants, or researchers. The majority of social work takes place under the rubric of healthcare or social service organizations.

Professional social workers may be involved in any number of public or private organizations. Social work is dedicated to creating changes that improve the lives of residents. Issues like truancy, drug use, domestic violence, crime, and poverty all fall under the rubric of social work concerns. Some of these issues can be addressed by working one on one with clients such as in a team with psychologists and doctors. At other times, the social worker may be called upon to examine the overarching sociological forces that cause psychological problems and make appropriate, research-based policy recommendations.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment in the social work field is projected to grow faster than average for all occupations. Job prospects are favorable, especially in population-specific areas of specialization such as geriatrics or rural communities (U.S. Department of Labor). Because the field of social work is diverse, the salaries vary. As of May 2008, the median annual earnings for non-specified social work fields was about $46,000 (U.S. Department of Labor). At the administrative level, social workers can earn upwards of $100,000. Social workers at the administrative level have less interactions with individual clients and direct their attention towards policy, organizational issues, research, and macro-level forces.

Social work is generally considered to fall under the umbrella of mental health, and the United States government recognizes the field as "one of the four core mental health professions," (NASW, "Social Work in the United States"). One of the social worker's main tasks is to work with other mental health professionals when addressing the needs of clients. Many clients require assistance in gaining access to social services, government programs, health education, or outreach centers. Social workers often serve as liaisons between clients and institutions. Social workers might also serve as liaisons between institutions and the government. About one-third of social work is directly at the government level, at which social workers can apply research-based knowledge to legislation and public policy.

The minimum educational requirement for social work in the United States is a Bachelor's degree, such as a Bachelor's of Social Work (BSW). However, many social work positions require higher degrees such as a Master of Social Work (MSW) or a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree. Administrative and research positions are more likely to require higher degrees. In addition to their educational requirements, social workers must acquire and maintain a professional license or certification. Professional licenses and certification requirements may vary from state to state, as they do from country to country.

Career choices in social work are nearly limitless. Social work skills can also be easily transferred to related professions. Social workers may specialize in substance abuse, helping clients to coordinate their recovery efforts and seek help from a wide range of public and private resources. By extension, substance abuse specialists might advance their career to become a political advisor helping lawmakers determine drug policies and allocate funding for addiction services.

Family and child-related social work may address such issues as domestic violence or poverty. Unemployment is another possible area in which social workers may be called upon to intervene, as many clients will require mental health services as well as practical guidance for career development. New immigrants to the United States often avail themselves of social work; social workers can coordinate immigrant services such as language classes or legal aid.

In the public health sector, social workers can provide assistance to patients who have been diagnosed with terminal disease. Communities with high rates of HIV / AIDS can benefit from social workers who perform education and outreach. Social workers can also help clients locate and gain access to financial aid, legal aid, or medical aid that residents might have not known about otherwise.