Professional social workers can work in many different fields and work with a variety of people. Social workers often work addressing the needs of juvenile delinquents, victims of crime, as therapists and counselors, in schools, in crisis centers, and with the destitute community. Social workers are found in many institutions and work in a variety of environments. The issues that a social worker works with will depend on the needs of the community she is working in, and the institution for which she is working.
If you are interested in learning how to become a social worker, here are some of the steps you can expect to take:
- Know what it takes to be a social worker. A social worker should have compassion for other people, and should genuinely believe the cause for which they are working. At the same time, they should be able to practice professionalism and not be too emotionally attached to the problems of the people they are helping. They should have good communication and interpersonal skills, and they should be able to work effectively within a team. Apart from these skills, an effective social worker should also be good at performing administrative duties, such as maintaining systematic records of the cases on which they work.
- Start learning about community workers as early as high school. Ideally, you should begin to equip yourself to work as a social worker as early as high school. Apart from obtaining a good GPA and above average SAT scores so you can go to the university of your choice, you should also join programs at school such as peer counseling and tutorial programs.
- Learn a second language. A social worker who knows a second or even a third language has an advantage, especially if she works within a community with a diverse ethnic population. The key is to plan in advance the type of community that you are interested in working in, and see if the residents there speak another language. Another option for you is to study sign language, or Braille, if you want to work with the disabled community. Knowing a second language will set you apart from your peers and increase the chances of you landing the job you want.
- Obtain a degree in social work. A two-year associate’s degree will allow you to work in the field of social work as an assistant or aide to a social worker. A four-year degree is required to become an actual social worker. Many social worker positions such as those found in health and clinical settings require a master’s degree. Many social workers go on to pursue social work at a PhD level. You will find that social work researchers, social work professors, and social workers in lead positions sometimes possess a PhD. However, you can take classes in high school and college to prepare yourself for your degree. Classes in psychology, sociology, economics and child development can build your knowledge in the field of social work.
The ideal route for becoming a social worker is through a four-year bachelor’s degree in social work or any other related course such as sociology, psychology or community development. This social work degree is especially favorable if you are aiming for supervisory positions as a social worker. However, there are other popular options such as obtaining a two-year associate degree in social work which allows you to work in the field of social work, and then later on obtain units to level up the associate's degree to a bachelor’s degree.
After you fulfill the academic requirements, start looking for connections in the working world. Most schools offer work placement assistance that connects you with institutions looking for social work professionals.
It is very important that you check if the Council on Social Work Education accredits the program in which you enroll. - Obtain additional social worker training. Again, depending on the field that you are intent on working in, it is highly useful if you get additional health care professional training to make you more effective in the profession. Some of the additional training that many social workers obtain includes nursing, education and law. You can take this additional training while employed in social worker jobs, so you can better apply the academic coursework with the current responsibilities and cases on which you are working.
- Be licensed to acquire better social work employment. Social worker qualifications vary according to different states, because they have different licensing and certification requirements. Be sure to check these out beforehand to ensure that you are able to fulfill these requirements. It can also affect your social worker salary. The current median salary for a social worker is $45,000 annually. The need for social workers is expected to increase by 16% by the year 2018.
These are the steps you should take for becoming a social worker. Social work is a varied field. Do your research according to which type of social worker you would like to be. Being a drug and alcohol counselor is going to have different requirements than becoming a social worker for children. Being employed as a community service worker is a rewarding job.