Steps in Becoming a Social Worker for Children

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A social worker is a well educated professional who helps children deal with difficult circumstances. A social worker may be hired by government agencies, institutions, private practices and hospitals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2012, $44,200 was the median salary for social workers per annum at $21.25 per hour, which is not bad at all.

Here are the steps in becoming a social worker for children:

Step One – Educational Requirements

It is important for one to earn his or her high school diploma (or its equivalent). Next, you will also need to take college entrance examinations. The score on your ACTs, SATs or A Levels will help determine the colleges or universities where you will be accepted.

Then, you will need to apply to four-year colleges that offer bachelor’s degree in social work (also known as BSW). This is known to be the easier way to licensure and filling entry level position in the social work field.

Please Note: for those who want to become clinical social workers, they should select a school where they can earn a master’s of social after they have completed their bachelor’s degree program. Having a graduate degree is important to pursue a clinical social worker career.

Your schooling must include practical application or internships. There are jobs that may require applicants to have one or two years work experience in social work environment. Those who want to work in a clinical setting, healthcare sector or school system should consider applying for an MSW (master’s degree in social work) – this is an essential step. You can return to earn an MSW after working for some time in the social work field.

Step Two: Social Worker Licensure

Having a degree is definitely one of the steps in becoming a social worker for children. The next critical step is finding out whether the state that you reside in requires a license for you to work as a social worker for children. Finding one’s state requirements are easy, all you need to do is log onto the website of the Association of Social Work Boards.

Step Three: Certifications & Credentials

Steps in becoming a social worker for children will also entail enhancing your resume by getting credentials in social work.

•For those with an MSW, they may want to earn a credential from NASW (National Association of Social Workers). There are three alternative through the NASW.

•For clinical social workers who want to specialize in a specific field like social work with children or any other area, there are a couple of specialized social work institutions that provide voluntary certifications.

Step Four: Employment

The last step is applying for an entry-level social work job available in one’s area. According to the United States’ Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for social work job is said to increase by over 20 percent through 2020 – this is a rate that is faster than average.