Is it Possible to Become a Social Worker with a Master’s in Counseling?
Deciding to become a social worker is a great choice to make. In this profession, a person will likely find much job satisfaction as well as a way to make a good living. Social workers spend their time helping people connect with a wide range of community resources, including income assistance, substance abuse treatment, mental health services and much more. Some people who enter into this line of work have previously earned a master’s degree in counseling. While this degree can be of great value to the knowledge of a social worker, it is not enough to become licensed. Instead, a person will need to earn a degree in social work whether it be a bachelor’s or master’s.
What Can You Do with a Master’s in Counseling?
With a master’s degree in counseling, you can enter into many lines of work, including the following professions:
– Substance abuse counselor
– Vocational counselor
– Marriage counselor
– Family therapist
– Rehabilitation counselor
– Mental health therapist
– Behavioral disorder therapist
Why Can’t I Become a Social Worker with a Master’s in Counseling?
The exact way to become a social worker is determined by the state that you will be performing your services in; however, within the United States, every social worker must possess some type of social work degree. Even though these two professions greatly overlap with one another in the duties performed, you will still need a degree in social work to become a social worker.
What is Involved in a Social Work Degree Program?
To earn a master’s degree in social work, you will first have to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the same field. Your bachelor’s program will prepare you to enter into entry-level social work positions. As you earn your social work degree, you have the option to concentrate in certain areas of specialty, including psychology or sociology. During your final year of study, you will take part in field work in which you will obtain hands-on experience as a social worker. It will take you about four years to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work.
If you choose to further your education and earn a master’s degree in social work, you will have to take part in two to three more years of educational studies. Your studies during a master’s program will heavily focus on research as well as a specialty area of social work such as administrative practice. Earning a master’s degree will broaden your employment opportunities as well as your pay level.
What Kind of Degree Should You Earn?
If you already possess a master’s degree in counseling, there are many career paths that you can travel down; however, to become a social worker, you will need to earn a social work degree. Fortunately, many of your credits earned through your counseling degree will likely transfer to your social work degree curriculum, meaning you can earn your social work degree in less time than those students who have no prior schooling.
