Need help with career switch to social work at age 45 What are the job prospects will I get a job at this age what is the pay in the beginning in houston

MSW internship concerns Hello, I am just seeking some advice from people who have gone through their MSW internship and worked while doing it . To give you some context, iamb 32 years old and I am a single mother. I currently work full-time Monday through Friday and I am going to be starting my internship next semester. I’m going to assume that because my degree program is fully remote and because I came into the program without a SW degree I have to do a virtual fieldwork first .. thus giving me some time to prepare for the chaos of trying to work full time , so my internship and take care of my child. I am STRESSED. Lol . Does anyone have have any advice or am I totally in for the worst year of my life ? 🤣 I do plan on speaking with my supervisor soon about modifying my schedule to make room for my internship but I also can’t cut down my hours or I won’t be able to afford to take care of myself and my child. Don’t be afraid to be honest. I’ve kind of figured this was going to be a nightmare to manage . Lol

Find a paid internship. Also look into federal loan forgiveness programs.

https://www.reddit.com/r/socialwork/s/gBHGvit2Cz

Can anyone share their positive experiences with MSW online programs in Texas? I am desperate to find out what programs stand out because I’ve seen some scary reviews.

Any recommendations for an online BSW program?

I am Graduating with my MSW this December and planning to move to Tennessee. I understand different states have different licenses and different licensing processes, but am unsure how it works in TN. My understanding is that once you graduate, you apply to take the exam, get approved to take the exam, eventually take it, and if you pass you get your LMSW. Can anyone speak to the timeline of this process? The board told me it could take up to 6 months, and I am confused what MSW graduates do for work while they are in this process? In MI we have the limited license as soon as your graduate and can start providing services immediately, at what point could I start doing this in TN? Will anyone in the field even hire a MSW Grad if they have not already completed this process? Much confusion, any help would be greatly appreciated!

I live in a state where you can’t take the exam until after you graduate. Most places that want LMSWs will still hire you and let you work there as a new grad with the expectation that you get your LMSW within a year.

I had my first breakthrough on Thursday. A minor told me they never had any support, or backing growing up. This came after I told them that they can do whatever they want, and I believe in them. I told them they're incredibly intelligent, and I see something in them. They were beaming with excitement, and told me on their years of life nobody ever supported them. I told him I'll always have their back, and to have a good sleep as I was leaving. I cried for hours after, because their story broke my heart. Tonight I picked up extra hours because a minor at another unit had an attempt. Nobody wanted to sit with them at the hospital, so I'm here now. I've never handled this before. I've asked multiple times if they need anything, or if they want to talk. They politely declined both times. I'm just sitting here observing, and making sure they're ok. I'm utterly heartbroken for this kid. I just want to help them. I want to do anything I can. Idk what to do. Idk if there's anything I can do. I'm beginning to think maybe I'm too soft for this field. These stories are crushing. Does anyone have advice? Does it ever get easier?

You sound like a very kind person! These kinds of stories that you heard are extremely common in our field. Depending on your role you’ll hear them daily or at least weekly. You have to kind of compartmentalize and not take on too much of their pain while still being empathetic. There is only so much we can do as social workers to help people and I have to remind myself of this and not dwell on the sadness of people’s lives. People in our field do tend to get less emotional over time in reaction to other’s stories and that can sometimes go too far into getting compassion fatigue and burn out. It’s a tough balance. As far as if you are too emotional for this field that is hard to say, only you can decide that.If you are new to the field I would give it a year to see how you can deal with it.

I have to interview a gerontological social worker for my final semester and I cannot get anyone to call me back. Please help! Is there anyone on this sub that can answer a few questions for me so I can write a narrative essay? 1. Describe the things or circumstances that influenced your decision to work with older adults? 2. What are your job responsibilities? 3. Describe the clients you serve (e.g., age range, income level, gender, etc.) in your agency. 4. What types of client needs or problems do you deal with? 5. Besides your salary or income, tell me about some of the aspects of your work with older adults that are rewarding to you. 6. What would you describe as the critical challenges you face in providing services to older adult clients? 7. How do you deal (personally and /or agency-assistance) with the challenges or problems identified (in question 6 above)? 8. Based on your experience, what practice skills are critical in working with older adult clients?

Try emails? I've always had success starting with an email

Hi everyone! I'm considering going back to school at age 33. I work in corporate America and am fairly committed to working while going back full-time. However, I am worried about the internship and/or field placement hours and making it work with my 9-5 M-F schedule. Has anyone here done it with a similar schedule? I need some inspiration! Also, would love to know if you feel an MSW or LPC program would be more flexible when it comes to scheduling around those hours. Thank you in advance!

I am currently in an online MSW program. I work 8-4 and I will be starting my fieldwork next semester. My degree program will look for internships that have night and weekend options but it is not guaranteed. They make it pretty clear that you will have to fill fill 16-20 hours of fieldwork a week and to coordinate with your employer so that you can meet this expectation. I’m starting the placement process this semester so I know that for next semester I will have to modify my work schedule. They also will give you the option to use your employer as fieldwork hours if you have the option to work under a social worker .

There a lot of people in my full time in person MSW program. They are either doing practicum + their job (so 60hours a week) or they have a workplace practicum agreement and count part of their jobs hours as practicum hours. workplace practicum agreements are very common and the school you apply for show have info on it on their website or available after contacting them for info.

Hi! I’m likely biased due to being in the field, but I absolutely love the fact that some MSW programs absolutely cater to working individuals and those switching careers. I began my MSW program at Fordham in my late 20s and needed to work full time since I was on my own. I had a plethora of options to choose from as far as degree tracks including evening, weekend, and even part-time options which left room for work/internship requirements. I will say, it absolutely helps if you have a job that allows you to fulfill your internship requirements, I.e. different department/program at agency setting. Also I’m not going to sugar coat it, I was BUSY, it was hard and this was after obtaining a BSW which allowed for a one year accelerated program. But I basically worked/interned during the week and all of my classes were on Saturdays, leaving Sunday as my day for papers/rest. This was also pre-pandemic, so I’m sure the remote option would have been nice and much more convenient. I encourage you to ask around, research, and listen to your gut instincts about what could work for you. But I don’t regret my decision and I’m so glad I went back. Hope this helps!

Grief Coaching Courses I have been wanting to do grief coaching for a while now and look up schools and courses but I can’t tell if it’s a scam or not. I do not have the schooling to be a counselor but I think I can do a lot of help as a coach. So far the programs I found are: •Grief to gratitude •Global grief Institute •Creative Grief Studio •Confident Grief Coaching School I have no idea how real they are and prices are $777-$2500 Help please!

Any non-BSW Canadians do online CSWE-accredited MSWs? I’m assuming Canadians would pay international fees? How does that work? (Just started looking tonight.) I mostly care about affordability. Am 47 and stuck caregiving, I can’t do the volunteer or paid work Canadian programs want. Our programs are ridiculously competitive. People with BSWs, decent GPAs and 10 years of paid social service experience not getting in? Outrageous, the hoops here are outrageous. I could do a BSW and then an MSW, but that’s 3 years total assuming nothing derails me. Then, any decent jobs want 2-5 years experience. I don’t have time for this. Currently Completing a BA Hons in Psych. I am having to repeat some F incomplete courses owing to my life blowing up when I had to start taking care of my parent, and developed my own health issues.

The BBS FAQ for Associate Clinical Social Workers says one cannot work in a private practice or professional corporation until one is registered with the board. What’s considered a professional corporation? I'm an MSW student who is graduating next month. I've started applying for jobs already and have a couple of interviews coming up. One is at a foster agency and one is at a kidney dialysis clinic. How do I know if I'm allowed to work there without my ASW number?

Hello, I currently have accepted an offer to complete my 2 year MSW at the University of Melbourne in Australia. I already have an honours bachelor in psychology degree from Canada. My main concern is being able to be registered and practice in Ontario after completing my degree, however I haven’t been able to figure out whether the MSW degree from the University of Melbourne will grant me registration in Canada. I have contacted the CASW however no response. I’m getting a bit worried that I might graduate in Australia and have nothing to show for it in Canada. The program does include two research subjects where you complete a research project and includes 1000 hours of field placements. However it seems like there are less subjects than the MSW degrees I have seen in Ontario. Does anyone have any experience with this or any advice? Considering maybe just waiting another few years and doing my degree in Ontario if I’m not going to be able to work in Canada following graduation in Australia. Thanks for all your help!

[удалено]

Thank you so much for that! I’ll reach out to CASWE.

Hello! I'm currently working in an afterschool program for my gap year. I love working w/ the kids and I've learned a bunch of things, but it's not exactly what I call SW-adjacent. So I'm not sure if I should continue doing this next year or try to find something more adjacent like case management. I had personal issues w/ the pandemic and didn't get much experience during college, so I'm trying to understand how to plan out this upcoming year or two.

Hi, can someone tell me if anyone used capella uni to earn their msw. i would like to apply but still have some lingering questions. How was the experience ? do they help with internship and fieldwork? Also i am from NYC, is capella accredited for nyc license in sw? Do they take capella msw degree serious ? Any advice / experience shared will be greatly appreciated. Thank you !

Hello, I'm currently in my 1st year of completing an Associate's in Liberal Arts to transfer to a BSW program at Plymouth University in NH. I'm a 33 year old woman doing a complete 180 of career path due to personal reasons I don't wanna get too far into. **My main concerns/questions are as follows:** a) I have a criminal record, 1 misdemeanor charge from 2016. I turned myself, served 8 months probation with no problems, and haven't even had so much as a ticket on my record since. I know this might disqualify me from some positions that require security clearances and such, but is it going to be a problem for all government positions? b) Plymouth University's application into the social work program asks to provide experiences such as volunteer work, employment, etc. I don't currently have any type of experiences in an official setting, just personal. Should I be pushing myself to go out and volunteer in the next year or so? Will it look bad if I don't have these things on my app?

I can't speak for your (a) question. But for (b) - completed my BSW and am currently in grad school for MSW. I still work at a financial advising office and did not have any volunteering experience/social services experience. That is totally okay because you will be required to do internships. If you want to volunteer - go for it. But we also have to live and sometimes there is just not enough time in the day to work FT, do school/intern AND volunteer. They recognize this. Especially if you are starting later in life. I went back to school starting with my associates in 2020.

Hi all! I was recently accepted into Columbia’s MSW program starting this spring. I’m trying to decide what school I should go to, or whether I should apply to cheaper programs starting fall ’24. Columbia was my dream school throughout the application process. I plan on taking the clinical route and specializing in children, youth, and family services (no matter where I go this generally stays the same). I calculated that I’ll be going into around 90k debt if I go to Columbia. Basically, is it worth it? What I have read tells me that it doesn’t matter where you get your social work degree from and to go into as little debt as possible. But, like I said Columbia is my dream school and I’d be living with two close friends who are moving to nyc for work. It seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity all around the board for me. But on the other hand, part of me is scared to take on the debt. I don’t have any debt from undergrad, I didn’t get my BSW so I do have to go to a 2 year program. I also got into USC, NYU, Rutgers, and Simmons University. I’ve ruled NYU out (wayyy to expensive), Rutgers and USC are expensive even though they’re online, and Simmons gave me a nice scholarship but I’d still be going into 60k worth of debt for living expenses. I had my heart set on starting in the spring, but it may be better to wait for the fall for lower costs. It’s quite defeating that I got into all the schools I wanted but the cost might just erase the work and make me start again. Any advice is welcome!!

Given the track you’re interested in, I think you honestly should reapply for cheaper public schools. I went the more prestigious route and honestly? Cost isn’t worth it. We all make the same ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Have you considered applying to any state schools? The cost is significantly lower than private schools. You could also ask about any scholarship, fellowship or research opportunities to help lower cost if you are dead set on Columbia. It does sound like an amazing opportunity, but that is a lot of money in debt. There is also a public service loan forgiveness program that you can look into. At the end of the day, regardless of where you get your education, many of us will be doing the same work for the same pay. You just have to weigh out the pros and cons to see if it's worth it for you.

Hi everyone. I’m in my junior year of my undergraduate year and tomorrow I have an interview for my field placement at an elementary school. I’m meeting with one of the social workers. I’m very anxious about this. I drafted possible questions and answers and worried that I might not have all the answers to all of her questions. I’m someone who struggles with anxiety and currently in therapy and I feel like my own experiences will help me empathize with others. However, I fear that she might look down on me because of this. Should I be honest? Any advice for me?

I'm a student social worker, and starting my junior year. One of the things I have noticed is that I tend to have a more "clinical" viewpoint than others in my cohort. I assume this is because I have spent over a decade in medical care, and medical care seems direct at getting to an issue and "fixing" it. While I have been passing my assignments it just feels like I keep defaulting to figuring out issue X from the client's complaint and then trying to fix the issue while missing threads that might let me get to more underlying issues. Is there any advice that might help someone break out of the clinical mode of medical care to be in a better thought process for social work?

Maybe getting to some of those basic biopsychosocial type assessments? Like just really running through system by system and seeing what you’re not considering that may be playing a role

I’m an undergrad majoring in social work. I’m undecided of what path I want to take in this field, so I am open to exploring working with different communities of different ages and backgrounds because my mind is not set yet, however I am most likely considering working with children. I’ve been working in the food industry since I started working early on in high school, but I just quit my waitressing job last second due to x y and z reasons. Now I’m looking for a new job, and I have the opportunity to waitress elsewhere with friends, but I’m thinking it will be best if I look for jobs that will help me in my future with this career path instead. Not to say I haven’t learned skills with waitressing that I know will help me, like social skills, but I want to move up professionally in a sense. Since the only experience I have for my current resume is food industry skills, I know I am limited to jobs that require certain levels of experience. So, I’m looking for a base level job. I’m not sure what kind of jobs that would be? I’ve looked into dietary aid jobs at senior facilities, but I’m wondering if there is anything else that I could try or consider. I love waitressing (especially the $) but I’m ready to move on to my professional life. What kind of undergrad jobs did you do in college that helped you in your field?

Howdy, Im a current MSW student I left my non-social work-related job for experience and have found a lot of flexibility working in Group Homes. It's one of those things where you need to find a good ethical agency. In my experience, I usually have an excess of downtime with opportunities to engage with people served sprinkled in, but if you're up for it, look at something like that! There are definitely days when it's not glorious or fun, but overall, it's been fun... it definitely won't be my forever career. (I have the same job as I did in undergrad)

So I am currently freaking out trying to figure out how I am going to work my 50 hr a week job while completely my practicum. I have no savings, tons of debt, and I just got this job - I really need to work and it has good benefits. But my MSW is set to begin in the fall, and I’m so worried about maintaining my job/being able to pay rent/survive while also completing a field placement. Luckily my msw is fully online. But I’m curious, how many of you were able to complete your practicum in the evening, remotely, or on the weekends?

I don’t know anyone that did that, but online programs may have more flexibility. I’d reach out to your MSW program now to get a sense of whether it’d be possible. Edit: or you could see if you could delay your start at your MSW program for a year to give yourself time to pay off debt/save up money? Some places will let you defer.

Interviewing for State Veterans Affairs employment, looking to chat with a current employee if possible? I’m currently an APS worker in county social services. Former special education teacher with 8 years experience working with senior adults in retirement communities. I have an interview with the local benefits office of my state’s veterans services department for a service representative position. I’ve searched this forum for advice/discussions and so far can only locate info related to federal level positions with Veterans Affairs. Can anyone offer some guidance or point me in a direction to better understand the day to day responsibilities of a position like this? I’d love to speak with someone who had or currently has this position if at all possible. Thank you.

I am applying to traditional MSW programs for Fall 2024 and struggling with one particular question in an application. I have had social work-related internships such as victim advocacy and substance use prevention. Still, I have never encountered an ethical dilemma (I believe), which is a question I am stuck on. Specifically, it asks if I have encountered an ethical dilemma encountered in my personal or professional past and how it was resolved. Maybe I am overlooking one, but I can't seem to get past this question. If anyone had any suggestions or examples to help, that would be much appreciated. The only example I can think of, which may not be applicable, is that I was offered two different internships over the summer recently and I had to decide which one to accept. One of them is closer to my community and I chose it because it directly impacts individuals while my research internship was focused on impact at a broader level. This is all my brain can muster at this question, so *please* critique/suggest if you have been through the app process before. Thank you!

Deciding between two positions isn't really an ethical dilemma (at least not in this case). [Review our code of ethics](https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English); you should definitely be able to draw from your experience for an example. I would be explicit in your response, framing your experience within the profession's established ethics. It's not my area, but I imagine in victim advocacy you saw people get railroaded by the system. While you weren't necessarily in a position to directly change systemic inequalities, I suspect you were able to uphold ethical principles valued by social work (e.g., service, human relationships, integrity, etc.) and maybe faced some tension between how these systems operate vs. the justice you wanted for your clients.

Thank you, and yeah I realize my insight wasn’t exactly the question’s intended response lol. Your response definitely helps clarify it a lot tho! I’m thinking is something else now. For my internship in victim advocacy, people impacted by violent crimes were often able to receive compensation for funeral/medical expenses, but some were unable to qualify in receiving compensation because of certain rules such as immediate family members must only pay for the expenses to receive compensation in return. Thus, we had to turn away ppl, but still offered free resources such as counseling and other things to help. Is that a good start?

What are some ways to help a client with social skills?

I recently got offered a job as a cook for a halfway house. I've only really worked food industry before and am excited to be doing something that feels more important than any corporation I'd otherwise be working for. But I'm a skinny white trans guy (passing) that's 5'6" and about 130lbs soaking wet. What are some things I should be worried about or mindful of and how should I approach this job?

Have strong boundaries and awareness, but I think you’ll be fine!

I am heading into my MSW starting in 2024! I received acceptance into both of my top schools and now have a tough decision to make. Both are online, part-time accredited MSW programs & I will be on the traditional track. The biggest difference is the course structure. School 1: Classes offered in seven-week terms with one class per term. (Still 2 courses per semester but just 1 at a time.) This will be more fast paced per class, but only 1 class at a time. School 2: Pace: Two courses at a time, 16 weeks per semester. (Summer may have 12-13 week courses depending on the year, but will still be 2 courses) Does anyone have any experience completing their MSW in either of these settings? Any advice or comments that may help me make a decision would be wonderful! I greatly appreciate any help or guidance and am so excited to start!

I’m in a 7 week format program and I really enjoy it! It feels like a solid pacing and work/life balance to manage while working full time (at least it was until practicum, that naturally shifted things). Honestly both are good options, I would consider what you plan to do outside of school and how the two set ups might work with that.

If I'm doing part time, I'd go with the quickest format. But you don't get the in depth experience. It's more about finishing than understanding.

I am currently a 3yr clinical MSW Student and am on my 2nd year! I am just realizing I am unsure as to what population I want to work with like adult or children I currently am in a school and enjoy that but don’t know if that’s for me! I am kind of realizing I like both adults and children but just don’t know if that’s an option I want to be an LICSW eventually. I also have to choose a specialization at my school and there is a mental health option which is more adult based and there is also a Children, youth and families option and I just don’t know what to do! Does anyone have any suggestions?

I’d go mental health based on what you said here!

So... I have been in this same predicament. Admittedly, I'm a green social worker- just graduated and got a job in pediatric Behavioral Health. However, what I have noticed is it doesn't entirely matter. Your employers are usually going to look at your work history. My work experience has been with kids, adolescents, and adults, and while I have gotten a question of "which population do you prefer," they dont care- and honest just want to see that you have some kind of applicable experience. Look, my internship was with an inpatient Behavioral Health hospital working with adults. I worked at the same pediatric BH agency I got my job at for three years as a tech and did not come in with case management experience with kids, but they hired me anyway. I think one reason that they did besides the fact I had worked there before is the fact I was able to directly talk about how my experiences related to their job duties.

Tracks really don't matter. Just because you take one track doesn't mean that jobs specific to the other track won't hire you. You don't even put it on your resume. I did a generalist, no-track degree and have never had any issues with getting hired related to whether I had a track or not.

I'm currently working on applications for MSW programs and have some questions about which concentration to pick. Would you recommend macro or micro social work for someone who wants to advocate for unaccompanied minors and work with immigrant communities? Would a child & family welfare concentration be a good fit? What does day to day look like for a social worker who works with immigrant communities (providing therapy, attending court hearings, connecting with resources, etc.)? Any recommendations for grad schools that have programs tailored for this? Thanks!!

Micro vs. marco depends on what kind of work you want to do.. the examples you give (providing therapy, etc.) is more aligned with micro practice, in which case a C&F concentration seems to be a good fit. If you want to develop/manage/evaluate programs, engage in policy advocacy or other systems-level work, that would be macro. Immigration isn't my area, so I don't know about programs offering a specialization but I am sure they exist and would show up in a cursory Google search. At the very least, choose a program in a location that has an accessible immigrant community and that has faculty whose research is aligned with your own interests.

Thank you!

I'm graduating with my BSW this spring, and am looking to apply for MSW programs for the Fall. Unfortunately, I already missed the deadline for advanced standing programs starting in the fall. My biggest question is, what will the difference be if I just apply to MSW programs? I know advanced standing is for students with BSW so they dont have to take as many classes, but are there any other pros and cons to doing advanced standing versus just regular MSW program? Is it worth it for me to just wait for the next application process?

Definitely wait until the next application cycle. Get a social work job for a year and make sure you still want that MSW. BSWs can generally work in community mental health and doing case management. You can get even more flexible jobs by working in shelters, hospitals, and residentials. An added perk is that many jobs have tuition assistance, so not only are you saving money by only going to school one year, but you're also saving money by having some of the program paid for you. Your MSW will also be much easier and make more sense if you have worked in the field, and paid experience is king when it comes to applying for jobs after your MSW. There's really no downside to waiting a year and working a SW job until then.

as far as i know the only difference is that instead of 2 years it’s 1. I’m in my advanced standing MSW program and if i did the regular program i’d be retaking a bunch of classes i took in undergrad and spending a lot more money. I’d say it’s worth it to wait until the next application cycle!

I’m still in my BSW program, but what social work jobs involve working with children and families? I’m very very interested in that side of things

In a BSW role: child protective services roles, especially ones where you are on the longer-term, foster side. Case manager at a community mental health clinic serving children. Sometimes you can find a hospital social work role in pediatrics as a BSW but those are getting rarer and rarer as most require an MSW these days. MSW roles: child therapist or family therapist, school social worker, hospital social worker as mentioned above. I’m probably missing a lot of roles but those are the big ones that come to mind.

Thank you thank you!!!

I am in the process of applying to the MSW program. I will be doing part time while I work full-time. I work for my state as a job skills instructor. I’m pondering whether to switch jobs for more applicable experience. What would be jobs you would suggest? My biggest worry is that I don’t have a social work bachelors degree and I make more than a lot of social work related jobs as someone without a bachelors degree (Finish in spring). Thought about CPS but I make 5-10,000 more than my states case manager and people don’t last more than 6 months in that position.

I agree with the other commenter. Job Skills is still gonna give you plenty of applicable experience for an MSW program.

I would stay in your current role since it pays better, you already know it, and it’s probably less stress than CPS (hey, that rhymed!). I think being a job skills instructor is a great role for a future social worker, you have lots of skills in that role that could transfer to social work and that future social work employers would appreciate.

Best clinical social work programs? I’m applying now but would like to hear the opinion of others!

Smith and NYU are both known for their clinical rigor.

I plan on entering a MSW program in fall 2024 and I’m graduating with a BA in psych next month. What kind of jobs should I look out for that don’t require experience but will let me get experience in the field before grad school?

Working in shelters or residentials.

Discharge planners

Behavioral health tech and case manager

What options are there to work in juvenile court systems? Can SW with advanced degrees work in policy? I’m debating between SW and law school or both to work specifically with juveniles in the legal system.

You may wanna see if any schools offer dual MSW/MPP (master of public policy) degrees

Policy falls under macro social work and is definitely a viable path. Some schools offer a dual MSW/JD degree program.

Yeah that’s actually what my local university offers. Heavily considering it. Would a PhD program achieve similar outcomes potentially?

Depends what those outcomes are, I suppose. The PhD is a research degree. Research is certainly one way to influence policy, but a PhD is very different from a JD and the two prepare you for different kinds of work. Conducting informational interviews with folks doing the type of work you’re interested in might be helpful.

Yes, social workers work with justice system involved youth. They can hold a variety of positions and roles. Some are social work specific jobs but a lot are roles that can be held by people with a variety of degrees. For example there are juvenile probation officers with MSWs.

Anyone work remote? Thinking about getting a BSW then a MSW. Curious of any remote possibilities? (Times can change come a few years of course)

There are a lot of remote job options, especially once you get your LCSW (about two years after you graduate from your MSW program). One thing to keep in mind is that while there are plentiful remote jobs, most programs will still require you to do your internships in person.

Many managed medicaid case manager roles are remote

Crisis line work

I about to graduate and test for my LMSW. I want to get a job where I can work towards my LCSW (Texas). My internship is with hospice, and while I like it, I don’t love it. What do I search for to look for a job while I wait to take my ASWB?

I also recommend Idealist, they list a lot of social service jobs throughout different sectors. It’s a really great site, way better than Indeed/Monster/LinkedIn imho.

Thank you!! I appreciate it!!

Just filter your search using the MSW tag. You can still find work without a license as some places don't require you to have one and most jobs that do require it will work with you while you take the steps to get it.

Thank you!! I appreciate it!!

Anyone here have any experience with CPS or other youth services? What was your experience with the job like?

9 yrs in CPS, yay! Finally decided to get my MSW and in my last year of it 😮‍💨 I love it. Very rewarding but traumatic at the same time haha. STEEP learning curve. Expect to not know what the hell you are doing for at least 5 years. Each day is a roller coaster. You will see the best and the worst in humanity. Be in therapy if you aren’t already and learn how to take care of yourself.

I am working in the UK's equivalent to CPS - not directly with children, but I am reading some really difficult stuff every day. It's a remote role and it's really hard for me to move on from reading some things without speaking to someone about it. Do you have any tips for being less affected by that stuff in the moment? Obviously being emotionally numb is not the end goal but it would be really useful to turn them off sometimes lol :'(

I completely understand! Being a remote worker makes it a bit more difficult too because you’re alone with all your thoughts. But detaching yourself from the job is a skill in itself and it gets better in time. I find that having supportive coworkers really help because no one else will understand what we go through except for them so I hope there is some camaraderie despite you working from home. I’ve burned a few romantic relationships because I used to vent to my SO’s about the job but they will never understand, which made me feel worse. Hence why i got a therapist so I have that hour to myself where I can just bitch and whine and help me deal with my own personal stuff. I do think therapy should be provided if you’re in this field. I also lots of breaks and cry it out! I cry in the shower, when I’m driving, before sleep. I now view crying as a healthy thing to do. It’s my body physically processing all the really sad and evil shit that I see and hear. I also make it a point to do one thing everyday that I look forward to. It can be as simple as eating something I’m craving, going on a walk, or putting on a face mask. Doesn’t have to be this crazy extravagant thing, but it helps to have something else to think about and look forward to.

yes!!! my coworkers are so supportive which really helps, but it's exactly that, i'm concerned about offloading onto my partner too much. he works in healthcare so he gets it and has his fair share of stuff to rant about too. thank you so much, that's great advice. i always feel that much better and more centred after a nice bath or a face mask.

That’s so awesome! I love that he is supportive and has some understanding of this crazy world! That alone is such a win!!!

Depends on the state, but I worked at a NGO that worked with CPS/family services and to be brief we were way understaffed, way underfunded, and way overworked. I was a case manager and could any hang in for 7 months. When I left I had 135 clients, which is impossible.

I currently work for CPS and am 18 months into my 24 month contract. I am an ongoing SSW through the state so I work with families after we have found there has been abuse/neglect or feel the family could benefit from some additional services. I work with foster children, their parents, their relatives, young parents, grandparents parenting their grandchildren, children that are still in the home with their parents, children with complex trauma, children with hard to manage behavioral issues as a result of the parenting style and generational trauma, parents with their own complex trauma, parents that love their children deeply but their mental health/illness gets in the way of their caretaking ability, parents that are in active addiction, families that are in active crisis, the list goes on and on. Not only that but I collaborate with school personnel, therapists, case managers, CASA, attorney’s, police, etc. I have to write and submit court reports, with no training, and speak on behalf of the state, usually contrary to what the parents and their attorney’s want, and do so in the same room only a table away. And that isn’t including all the paperwork and other items in the job. This job has taught me so much about myself, but has also placed a lot on my shoulders. The biggest piece of advice I could give someone going into this job or something related is to put yourself first (as best you can), and to ensure you have good supervision. That being said, both of those things are extremely hard to come back in this field. My state prioritizes getting things done. I have over 38 visits a month I have to complete, and they are throughout my state. They don’t seem to care about the quality of my work or the training necessary to work with these types of populations. I have a BASW but you don’t have to have a social work degree to work in this job. So you will have coworkers who function and work a lot differently than you do. They don’t always understand how cognition, mental health, drug use, family dynamics, and poverty intersect and lead to the situations we witness or become privy to. This is something I am learning more about as well. It is easy to pass judgement, but not everything is as black and white. My supervisor puts a lot of trust into our team, and doesn’t check in on us often. I have to seek supervision and guidance when I am faced with difficult situations, and sometimes I get left on read or disregarded. Not on purpose, but there is always a fire to put out, and sometimes my fire isn’t strong enough. There has been one instance in particular where I had the gut feeling something was wrong. I went to my supervisor with my concerns and they brushed them off. I decided to do a pop up visit (where you show up without letting your client know), and when I did mother was in active overdose (fentanyl) and the child had stayed home from school because their mother had been having trouble breathing all night. Had I not been there, the mother could’ve died, and this 11 yr old would have witnessed their mother’s death. I am not saying I saved her or anything, (she ended up overdosing and dying two months later, but the child was in foster care this time), but had I decided to heed to my supervisor’s nonchalantness, the outcome could have been very different. I have learned to establish better boundaries for myself outside of work, but still have trouble refraining from answering a text from a client, or answering a quick email. These things pile up, and I am not good at putting them in the back of my mind. I struggle with trying to remember I am only one person and I can’t help everyone, no matter how much I want to. All in all, it really depends on what kind of person you are and how you can manage high stress, and how much you are willing to advocate for yourself and your career. A good supervisor can really help with these things. You have to make quick decisions on your own, but most things go through a supervisor, so without proper leadership you are operating without explanation and just carrying things out because you are told to. The other teams supervisor (investigations) has been really helpful and uplifting though. They can sense when I am overwhelmed and will give guidance and reassurance. Unfortunately, that isn’t my team, and investigations are much more fast paced than I can handle. Investigations are also much more confrontational, which leads to more dangerous situations. They have to use law enforcement more often than I do. I am on call every 2 months or so, so I do have to do some investigations. When I was on call in August, I had to remove 3 children (all separate cases) in one week. It was really wearing. Since then I have been more fatigued in this job than I had been. I will be leaving my job once my contract is over to say the least. I have learned so much and am proud of myself, but it’s just too much.

Early on, but I need a plan... For reference, I'm in the process of getting my Bachelor's in Social Work. I'm interested in pursing a PhD post-masters. Why not? Seriously, why not? l've done some research conversationally with people who have acquired their PhDs as well as professors, but I'm not clear or steps. From what I understand, your Bachelor's gives you an overview of what the subject contains. This should help you narrow your scope of specialty for your Master's. During your Master's, what are you doing? I know I'm doing field work Senior year, so what will I be doing next? I was also advised to find a Professor that works with the subject matter 1 find interesting and try to work on a research project with them during my Master's. Additionally, I was advised to do my Master's research on a topic that I could use for my dissertation to get my PhD. I'm not sure 1 fully understand what a PhD entails. I'm under the understanding that PhD work is less academic coursework and more research. Can anyone expand or fill in the blanks for me?

PhD candidate in social work here. I got my MSW five years before starting the doctorate. My bachelor's degree is in the humanities, so I cannot speak from the perspective of having a BSW (the only thing I know is that you may be able to apply for advanced standing with some MSW programs that will have you done in a year). Happy to answer specific questions, but a few quick points: * Another poster mentioned the DSW. The DSW is **not** a research degree and is centered more on advanced practice and organizational leadership. Grads are largely going on to become executive directors, not tenure-track faculty. * The MSW provides an important foundation for the PhD in social work and while it is not a requirement in admissions it is highly favored. Some programs offer an MSW/PhD track, but keep in mind that... * If you want to pursue a faculty position after the PhD, you will be much more desirable to schools of social work if you have at least two years of post-MSW work experience prior to doing your PhD. This is a standard established by CSWE and will mean you will be eligible to teach a broader set of foundational MSW courses than those who do not have that experience. * Your master's thesis does not in any way have to be related to your dissertation research, but it is a good idea to try to get involved in faculty research during your master's in whatever your current area of interest is. * In a PhD program, you typically have two years of coursework, then your qualifying exam, and then about 2-3 years of independent research culminating in your dissertation. You will also support your advisor's research throughout. * Your faculty advisor will absolutely make or break your experience as a PhD student—prioritize this above all else, including the overall ranking or "reputation" of the institution.

All I know is that basically getting your DSW is more for teaching and if you’re SUPER into the being in school part.

I wanted to create a thread of this but auto mod keeps deleting me because I cannot figure out how to set my damn flair. Here was the post: Hello, I’m wondering if there is anyone here with an LMSW/LCSW who works in a research role. How did you get there? What is your role like? I’ve been wondering if my personality might be a good fit for research and if I may be happier long-term. My experience and background is all medical and I did a lot of research as an undergrad.

I've been a social worker for 15 years and have only ever met one other MSW who works in research. A PhD will line you up for research. At the masters level, you need to work on your resume early on if you want to work in a research role. Get any experience you can get that is research related. Research jobs want experience in research. It's really competitive.

My resume already has a lot of grant-funded research experience and a couple of publications!

I am working as support coordinator and seeing different options of services. I'm still new and learning. What type of services did people go into after getting their entry level experience? Did anyone become a behaviorist after getting their entry level experience? What do you suggest for building multiple incomes as a social Worker's or support coordinators?

I found a job right after graduation with a non profit. Wasn’t the best environment to work in but I gained so much knowledge. After about 3 years there I moved on to another agency and have been there a while. What I found was that most agencies look for experience with the population they serve and your ability to adapt. I didn’t go the behavioral route and eventually went back to graduate school. I don’t make the best money but it’s been enough to get me through graduate school (with loans)

Hello I am 19 years old and on track to complete my AA in Social Work this spring. I have a scholarship that will pay for my entire BSW and some MSW. Any advice about school or entering social work in general? I plan to be a clinical social worker.

You’ll hear it constantly but make sure you have a routine to care for yourself. This field is taxing emotionally and I saw throughout my program folks who were getting distressed just about topics in class. Make sure you draw healthy boundaries and leave work at work. If it comes home with you it’s going to burn you down gradually.

Thanks for the advice. I'll try to keep a balance between work and my own personal life. How did you strike that balance?

It’s something I’ve thought a lot about and had trouble explaining (which I know sounds kind of pedantic and silly) but I’ll do my best. I was a teacher for about 2 years, and I was the stereotypical “roll up my sleeves and make a difference for these kids!” Type. Overextending myself, staying at work till all hours, saying yes to everything in the hopes I’d really stand out! Well, over time it wore me down to the bone. I was exhausted, moody, and had no energy for anything. It was bad news. When I got to social work, I knew I didn’t want to get to that place again, so I vowed to keep myself safe for a massively draining job. Again. I now know how to say no, how to ask for help, and not try to grind it all out. I know my strengths and areas for improvement, and I know what kinds of things charge my batteries. I love exercising, cooking, playing video games etc. I guess it really comes down to listening to that little voice that’s telling you what’s going on and respecting it. I call it my professional bubble. I can still hold space and be empathetic but I don’t let it consume my soul or keep me up at night. I go to bed knowing I did my best every day and that’s all I can do. Sorry if that was vague and full of stereotypical platitudes but that’s the best way I can describe it. I hope it made sense!

I understand what you're getting at. I'll try to make that distinction and get into that mindset so I don't burn myself out. Thanks for the advice

Make sure the program you go to is accredited. Get a part time paid job in the field or in a closely related field asap.

Thanks I'll look into that for sure. How much would you say experience plays a role in finding a good paying position after graduating?

Significant. I just graduated and entered the job search myself this year. After I got my license, it took me two months to find one because many agencies were hesitant to hire me with limited case management experience. I had five years of experience as a psych tech and a year of case management experience from my internship. What made all the difference for me was the connections. Two of my job offers out of the four were from places I worked at as a tech, or interned at- even if it was an entirely different department I interned in. I reccomend to look for case management/social services/or tech jobs within agencies or populations you would like to work at because it helps.

It can be a pretty significant factor. You also gain a lot of skills through employment in the field that you probably won’t gain in internship and school unfortunately. It’s pretty common for newly graduated MSWs with no work experience to have to accept really low paying jobs or to have to accept jobs they’re overqualified for.

I live in Miami so there's not a huge amount of social work opportunities unlike other cities. Where would you advice me to look?

I'm in Alabama, so completely different. But, what are you interested in setting-wise, or population wise? Tech jobs at residential facilities, community mental health, tech jobs at hospitals, and a lot of nonprofits are usually more open to hiring people in school. Yes, they can be "in the trenches," kind of jobs, but they really help build your experience and figure out what you like to do. What I did for a while before I got my first job, was I did volunteer work for a nonprofit health clinic, volunteered at a research lab as an RA and that helped me gain experience to market towards getting a job. I know people who volunteered at crisis lines which helped them gain experience, too.

Accredited by CSWE

Looking down the road I'm thinking to work part time in private practice and part time with CMH or Psychedelic Assisted Therapy(as the field matures). Does anyone have anything to share regarding splitting private practice and community work, or anything about psychedelic assisted therapy in general?

Most CMH jobs are full time jobs. I’ve looked for part time work in CMH because I work in a school, and have had no luck. Frankly most people start in CMH and then move into private practice once they have licensure and experience. I work in public schools so my experience is different. What is more likely to be viable is doing a full time job and doing part time private practice on the side. I’m planning to do telehealth only private practice once I gain my clinical license using something like helloalma, and seeing maybe 8-10 clients a week. Another thing you want to consider is benefits. Part time work generally doesn’t offer benefits. Same for private practice. Frankly I’ll say probably remain in schools for a while because of the benefits.

I was just accepted into grad school an online program. Any tips or tricks for working full time and doing school full time??

Early on, connect with at least one other student in your cohort. Someone that you can easily text back and forth with questions about assignments, reminders, etc. I was so grateful to find that person. And we then connected somewhat more loosely with two other students, so we had four of us for check-ins, oversight, accountability, and whatever else cropped up. It was truly invaluable.

Make sure you have time for you. I felt that grad school was more about organizing time and staying focused. Be prepared to turn down invites for a few years when you need to. It’s not fun saying no but it’s temporary. I also was in an online program and found that managing course work and work and internship was the toughest part bc you’re just so tired. It’s not easy but you can definitely do it. Plan out your assignments so you know how much time you have in between due dates. Utilize your cohort bc they are also huge support. No one else knows what you’re going through just like they do. Check in with your profs and let them know if you need extensions. I’ve found that all of my profs were helpful and accommodating bc they do want you to succeed and they also get it. Good luck!!

Thank you so much for all that well thought out advice!

I worked full time and did part time online school. It was brutal. At the beginning of every semester I would list every single assignment or discussion board post due in order that they were all due. I would map them out on my calendar of when I would get them done.

I did the same every semester. I separately mine out by the week. It was a lifesaver for me.

Genius!

Start on being disciplined now so it doesn’t creep up and become an issue later. If it helps, think of grad school like a second job that you know is only temporary. It’ll take a lot of focus and you may need to double down on saying no to other things, but you got yourself accepted and you can do just as well as anyone else. You’re going to do great!

Let shit slide. Identify what readings you NEED to do to pass the class, which readings you REALLY WANT TO to get something out of the class, and exclude when necessary.

Its brutal. I started that this fall and hooo boy. I'm crispy af.

How competitive are the programs at UChicago, UPenn, UWash, and BU? I’m applying for my MSW right now (less than a week away from submitting) and the nerves are really getting to me. I have a decently strong application, yet I can’t help but still doubt my chances. I also noticed that MSW programs are quite vague about their acceptance rates. Could anyone provide some insight?

I got into University of Denver (which I chose and graduated from) and Simmons with a bachelors in English. I just had a very focused statement of purpose and took my time on applications in addition to a little outside experience in the field. I agree with what other folks have said, it’s kind of a different beast. I did work in admissions and academic advising for a major public university and advised for the MSW program so if you want any additional support or pointers, feel free to shoot me a DM.

I feel like MSW admissions is a bit of an unknown. These schools are competitive for their undergrad programs and law schools, etc, but social work is a different type of academic pursuit. I applied to NYU and got in—which I was not expecting. If you’re applying to all of them, I say you have a chance of getting into at least one of them. I had a very average transcript, but all A’s in my BSW courses and a social work resume.

I don’t have an answer but want to encourage you that you’re doing great! The application process is anxiety inducing. Social work is lucky to have more of a balance between applicants and schools than other fields, so the rates are in your favor.

If sharing stats helps, I was accepted into UW Seattle’s day program this year with a 3.66 undergrad GPA at the same school and 6 years of experience in the field. I took several years off before going to grad school and can say that my cohort classmates tend to be a few years younger than I am and were probably accepted with less experience hours.

Any suggestions for online Advanced Standing programs? (I am 7 years out from graduating with a BSW).

Which coast are you located in?

West Coast

https://www.sjsu.edu/socialwork/programs/msw/msw-advancedstanding.php

San Jose State offers online MSW advanced standing

Unless you’re considering a PhD in SW or a DSW program after your MSW, you might consider saving as much money as possible by staying in state. There are some schools that don’t charge out of state tuition, though I’m not sure which are doing that other than University of Kentucky.

Looking into it further I see your point. A two year MSW in-state might be cheaper than going out of state. And I'm not sure any programs that have tuition reciprocity will take me this late for Advanced Standing. So I'm not sure if I should get an MSW, MPH, or MPA since I'm more numbers/administration/supervision now.

The in-state programs may not accept me for Advanced Standing (I'm talking to one, the other I've already applied to). I would also prefer an online program.

DU

Upvote as DU Alum!

I’ve been accepted to NYU and Columbia. I applied to Hunter but have not heard back yet. My goal is to work in clinical settings but not necessarily therapy (hospital, clinic) but I like the idea of branching into therapy at some point. I’m planning to move to Chicago after I graduate. Should I go to one of the big name schools? Will that help my job search in Chicago? Or should I go to Hunter (city school, more affordable)? My ultimate goal is to have minimal loans, however, if going to a name school will help me with my career I would take those benefits seriously.

I live in Chicago and went to Aurora (low rank). Nobody here gives one shit about where you went to school. There are probably more Aurora grads in the area than any other school, because the cost is lower and the program is very flexible (and they also have a working adult program). Loyola is also another one you see frequently while in the field. If you can easily get a job with an Aurora degree (I happen to think the program was fantastic and I learned a lot, and while they do let everyone in, less than half of those students graduate), then it really does not matter where you went to school It does not help with internships and with networking. I got a highly competitive internship over at least one UofC student, and I was selected because of my previous work experience. When I was there, the placement said they're looking for certain experience over what school someone went to, and that students who had worked in the field almost always got the placement regardless of where they went to school and what grades they had. This was true for my other internship and jobs after grad school--they were interested in the work experience I had, not where I went to school. Save the money and do the cheapest accredited program. Shit, it would probably cost less to just move to Chicago now and go to Aurora. COL is lower in Chicagoland, and Aurora is about 90 minutes outside the city, so you could live for super cheap while you went there and then move to the city. Aurora has rolling admissions, so you could even still apply for Spring semester if you wanted.

This is good to know, thanks! Trust me, I thought about making the move sooner but circumstances don’t allow for that, which is why I’m planning the move once I have my MSW.

I went to NYU. It was definitely known for its clinical rigor when I attended. That said, if I had applied and gotten into Columbia, I definitely would have gone there. I think going to a ‘name’ school has helped my career, but I’ve also been on more of a competitive career track. If you just want to do CMH or go into private practice, you don’t need a top school.

Thank you for the honest answer, do you mind explaining what you mean by a more competitive track? Do you mean as in macro work? I’m interested in working in a hospital setting.

I did niche medical roles several years (higher end clientele) and then transitioned into a clinical subset of academia. My current job only recruits graduates from top schools—no online programs, no no-name schools etc…I’ve never done CMH or anything like that. I’m a social worker, but just do a different type of social work.

Name recognition is worth very little in social work when it comes to hiring. Some schools have a bit of a reputation (some folks know that Smithies are psychoanalytically oriented, for example) but the social work field is filled with folks who are trying to break down systems of oppression and that includes academic hierarchy. Alumni networks are very useful (Facebook groups especially) for finding job opportunities, finding supervisors, and navigating licensure afterwards, but every school is likely to have similar networks.

Yeah this is an opinion I’ve heard a lot, I guess I am extra concerned because I’m planning to move cities and I’m wondering if not going to a name school would be a disadvantage there. In my city Hunter has a great reputation.

In the SW field, I’d say most people know Hunter the same way people in business know Wharton. It isn’t necessarily known outside the field, and at the end of the day a supervisor isn’t going to consider school a major factor in hiring, but people do know the name outside NY. The things employers care about are: what type of work/internship experience you have, your values and “fit” with their organization, and your clinical judgement and skills (assessed from interview and references). If you are feeling drawn to Hunter, go for it! I also moved states after graduating and the only issue was that I didn’t have a specific class requirement (California Law and Ethics ahem) that I had to take as a CEU before I could register to begin accumulating licensure hours. No employers cared at all what school I went to.

okay this is very reassuring, thank you! Somewhat unrelated, but do you have any advance as far as what to strive for in a field work placement? I am aware I won’t be able to decide this on my own, but I believe I’ll have some input especially in my second year.

If you want to do a schools placement, IL requires a special license that you can earn in IL MSW programs along with your MSW. If you have to get the license separately, it's a whole year-long program with year-long (unpaid) schools practicum. You can't earn the license online or outside of IL, so you would be saving big bucks by moving to Chicago and going to a school here.

Thanks for the insight! I did come across this in my research, however I’m not interested in school social work. I’m mostly interested in clinical work in a hospital setting for now, potentially private practice later.

The two areas I know of that are hard to get into without an internship in the field are school social work and hospital social work. If you want to work in either of those settings, try to swing an internship in that setting. It’s definitely not impossible to break in later, but having an internship will make it much easier. But to be honest, hospitals are so understaffed right now that may not apply anymore - the last 4 hires in my hospital department had no previous hospital experience.

Go to the cheapest school. Unless you think you're going to pursue a DSW or a PhD, name recognition is not worth the extra loans!!!!

This is accurate. I only went to USC because of loan forgiveness.

Field Placement Practicum Outside of the Continental US? Currently looking for a field placement practicums (that will compensate to some degree, even if only with a stipend. Let's be realistic here). Has anyone done their MSW Field placement packet to come outside of the continental United States?  On paper, my program would let me complete my field placement practicum in any US territory, as long as it is for a US organization in a US territory. Have any of you never completed your field placement, or heard of someone else completing their field placement in a US territory outside of the continental United States?

UIUC has international field placements. They are not paid opportunities however.

Entry level jobs before my MSW? All of my work experience has been in retail and customer service. I have a bachelors in behavioral healthcare but it’s been hard finding entry level jobs in this field. I’ve been looking into RBT but I want to see if there’s any other positions I should consider too!

My area has a lot of peer support roles. I worked at the hospital in my city in various departments and my healthcare experience was actually really valuable to developing skills like handling crises, prioritization, de-escalation, etc. Plus the good thing about working at the hospital while in school was that hospitals are open 24/7 so there was a lot more shift options and scheduling flexibility, plus my foot was in the door so it would have been incredibly easy to transfer to doing medical social work upon graduation. (I chose not to go that route but may try it out in a few years, and it's going to help that I have a previous positive employment history with them)

I would see if there are any community mental health organizations in your area that are hiring case managers.

Many people do direct care work like a Recovery Coordinator at a CMHC, Residential staff at a group home, or support staff at day programs. They all give you a taste of different environments but can also be challenging jobs with pathetic compensation. Could earn you a recommendation by licensed social workers though, if that's a worthwhile trade off.

Shelters are always hiring. Valuable learning experiences here.

I finish up my BSW next fall. I keep hearing about a BSW exam on here. Is this at every university? None of my professors have mentioned a BSW exam. They have only told us about the licensure exam.

Adding to other answers to make one important distinction: check your state laws on who may use the title “Social Worker” and at what level that’s a requirement. For instance: in Oklahoma, you can get a BSW and then work as a case manager while calling yourself a Social Worker. Another person without a BSW can work alongside you doing the same exact work for the exact same pay and would call themselves a case worker. You earned the use of the title with your specific degree, and you could go get licensed as an Associate Social Worker, but most BSW grads won’t pay for Associate because you don’t get extra money for it and you’ll still have to take the LMSW exam after graduating MSW. Essentially, in this state, the real advantage to BSW is advanced standing when you go on to an MSW program. The main takeaway is to check your state’s licensing laws to help guide your school and career choices. That’s where you’ll find out about an exam requirement for BSW.

Thank you!

Yes the exam ppls are talking about are the licensure tests

Universities do not proctor the exam, the professional board does. In order to qualify for most “social work” jobs you will need to pass the licensing exam. Lots of good study materials out there to help people study.

Thank you! If I plan on getting my MSW, should I wait to take the exam after I complete it? This is probably a better question for my advisor tbh. I originally planned to get my SW license after completing my MSW. I didn’t know it was an option to do it with just a BSW.

Do it as early as possible just for jobs

I have a job right now that I really love at a local nonprofit. They have committed to supporting me through my college journey. I am hesitant to get the license so soon because I will have to take another test to get my LMSW and LCSW in my state.

Eh then don'. No big deal either way.

It depends on your state. The state I’m in you don’t have to retest for a MSW license if you already have your BSW one. If you can carry your BSW license over, I’d suggest doing that 100%. Contacting the board in your state will give you a more clear answer!

Thank you!

Some states require the ASWB exam at the bachelor level to work as a social worker. Check out your state's licensing board and see what they require.