How Long Does it Take to Become a Social Worker?

A traditional Master of Social Work program is a graduate-level program. This option, also called a foundational program, is for students who didn’t study social work at the undergraduate level.

To apply for a traditional program, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with a minimum grade point average. Though it varies per university, the degree may not have to be in a particular major. The admission office may require you to submit a personal statement about why you want to become a social worker. You can discuss relevant work or volunteer experience in your essay. Applicants generally submit a resume, transcripts from previous colleges attended and recommendations from people familiar with their academic or professional work. 

It takes about two years to complete an online master’s degree in social work program in a traditional way. Students may pursue about 60–65 credits in coursework, and MSW students are required to complete approximately 900 hours of clinical practice.

The first year of study may cover foundational topics such as social welfare policy, social work research, human behavior and differential diagnosis. Students also gain experience in field internships to put what they are learning into practice. 

The second year may cover more advanced topics, and students may specialize in fields such as health and aging, child welfare, addictions or trauma. Many programs include electives that allow students to focus on the area of social work that most interests them. 

After earning a master’s degree, graduates may register for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam and complete other licensing requirements in the state where they plan to practice and become a licensed social worker.

To become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), you must complete an MSW degree and then complete about two years of supervised social work experience before you can be licensed to work in a clinical setting. An MSW may also be good preparation for pursuing a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) degree from an on-campus or online DSW program.

If you want to speed up how long it takes to become a social worker, consider an accelerated program. Students complete the same courses and clinical requirements in an accelerated MSW program as they would in a traditional program. However, they may earn the degree in less than two years. Accelerated programs are only open to full-time students, and students may take more credit hours per term than they would take in a traditional program. 

Admission requirements are similar to a traditional MSW program. An accelerated program is a good option for students with a strong academic record. Prior work or volunteer experience in social work may be beneficial for an accelerated program admission.  

Though total requirements may vary school by school, if you already have a bachelor’s degree in social work, you can reduce how long it takes to get a master’s degree in social work by applying for an MSW program with an advanced standing track.

With a BSW from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program, you may qualify for advanced standing admission. That allows you to bypass the foundational coursework that you likely have learned as an undergraduate. Instead, you’ll only need to take the advanced and specialized coursework and complete a field placement or internship. 

By skipping the foundational classes, you might be able to earn the MSW in as little as a year of full-time study, depending upon the program. Advanced standing students may also attend part time if they prefer.

Advanced standing might be a good option if you earned your BSW within the last five years. However, admission to these programs is competitive, so you may need a strong GPA. The university may look for relevant work or volunteer experience, too.