Becoming an Lcsw is a rigorous and challenging process, but if you’re ready to take the next step in your career, it will be well worth the effort.
The first step is to make sure that this is the right career for you. If you’re not sure whether or not you want to pursue becoming an Lcsw, there are many other options available in the social services field. You might consider becoming a social worker or an addiction counselor instead. These positions are similar in nature, but they don’t require as much schooling or training as becoming an Lcsw does.
Once you’ve decided that becoming an Lcsw is right for you, there are several things that you’ll need to do before applying for school:
- Research schools. Make sure that they offer programs that fit with your needs and goals.
- Apply for financial aid if necessary. Schools often offer grants and scholarships for those who qualify for them; make sure that your application includes any information about support from family members or other sources of income so that the school can compare your ability to pay with other applicants’.
- Write letters of recommendation from people who know about your work experience and education background (e.g., previous employers).
How To Become An Lcsw
Licensed clinical social workers make up the largest group of mental healthcare providers in the country, according to American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work. Using personalized treatment plans and prevention strategies, licensed clinical social workers help their clients — young and old — to cope with hardships that stem from or affect their mental and emotional health. Empathy, dependability, communication, cultural awareness and critical thinking can be powerful tools in this field of work. If you have any one of these traits and enjoy working with people, a career in clinical social work could be a good fit for you.
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Here is an overview of the steps you can to take to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW):
Steps to Become a LCSW
1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
While there are some social work jobs open to candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, a bachelor’s in social work (BSW) is the minimum educational requirement for many positions. BSW program graduates can go on to work as community organizers, case managers, probation officers, and more. The four-year degree program which combines coursework and fieldwork provides students with an understanding of social work values, ethics and policies. But if you’re aiming for clinical social worker licensure, a BSW isn’t necessarily required. You will however be required to obtain at least a master’s in the field.
2. Earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW)
Like BSW programs, CSWE-accredited master’s in social work (MSW) programs include a number of required core courses. Once those core courses are completed, students have the opportunity to select courses that focus on a specialty area of their choosing. If you want to work as a LCSW, some MSW specialization tracks you can consider are behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse, and the obvious, clinical social work. MSW programs can also prepare students to work in management positions within the field.
You can pursue a master’s in social work (MSW) program online or on-campus. There are also online LCSW programs to consider. Some universities offer hybrid versions of the degree as well. It all depends on your personal commitments and learning style.
When looking for the best MSW program for you, carefully review admissions requirements as well as course offerings and descriptions. Making sure your program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) should also be on your checklist.
If you already have a bachelor’s in social work from a CSWE-accredited program, there are master’s programs designed for students just like you, that allow you to build on the knowledge and skills acquired during your undergraduate education. These programs are called advanced standing MSW programs.
There are other advanced social work degrees available to professionals in the field such as a Ph.D. in social work and a Doctor of Social Work, but neither of these degrees are required for clinical social work licensure. They involve heavy research and prepare graduates to work in leadership roles.
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- Research-driven faculty dedicated to making an impact on social problems
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MSW@Denver
- Three certificates: Trauma Practice, Mental Health Practice or Practice with Groups and Families.
- Four program tracks: Advanced Standing, Accelerated, Full Time and Extended
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SocialWork@Simmons
- Join the #16 ranked Howard University School of Social Work1
- Four program tracks: Advanced Standing, Accelerated, Full Time and Extended
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University of Southern California (USC)
- Three academic departments: Adult Mental Health and Wellness; Children, Youth – and Families; and Social Change and Innovation
- Features field education in or near students’ own communities.
- Four areas of focus: Individuals and Families, Organizations and Community, Evaluation, and Policy Practice and Advocacy
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OnlineMSW@Fordham
- Traditional and Advanced Standing tracks
- Concentrate your degree in integrated practice or clinical practice
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Syracuse University
Case Western Reserve University
- CWRU’s Mandel School is a top-10 ranked graduate school of social work (2019).1
- Three paths of study are available to prepare social work leaders to work in clinical or community practice.
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Online Social Work at CWRU
- Ethically integrates faith and social work practice
- Specialize in clinical practice or community practice
