How to Get a Social Worker License in Massachusetts
- 1). Earn your degree in social work or a related field. Licensed social workers and even licensed social work associates need to have at least an associate's degree in the field before applying for a license. If you want to become a licensed, certified social worker or an independent clinical social worker, you will need a master's degree in the field earned at an accredited school. These social work licenses differ mainly in how much training you have had, though a licensed, independent clinical social worker is the only one who can open an independent practice. Others with social work training can practice as employees of an organization.
- 2). Work in the field to complete the needed work experience. Licensed, independent clinical social workers need 3,500 hours of supervised work experience, which equals nearly two years of full-time work, with part of that time being under qualified supervision. Licensed social worker associates, licensed clinical social workers and licensed social worker applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree in social work have no work experience requirement. If you don't have a degree in social work, then your work requirement depends on what education you have obtained.
- 3). Complete the application for a Massachusetts social work license and submit it to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers. Your application will be reviewed. If approved, you will be allowed to sit for the licensing exam.
- 4). Take and pass the licensing exam. Licensed social worker associates and licensed social worker applicants need to take the basic exam. Licensed clinical social worker applicants need to take the intermediate exam, and licensed independent clinical social worker applicants need to pass the clinical licensure exam. The Association of State Social Work Boards administers the exams, which comprise 170 multiple-choice questions, taken on a computer with a four-hour time limit. The questions address competency, knowledge, skills and abilities, and cover 10 or 11 areas.
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