How To Become a Social Worker
What Is a Social Worker?
Social workers are dedicated professionals who focus on enhancing the well-being of individuals, families and communities. They help people facing challenges such as poverty, addiction, unemployment, disability, abuse and mental illness by providing support, resources and advocacy. Social workers serve diverse populations, offering counseling, case management, crisis intervention and community outreach.(See disclaimer 1) By assessing client needs and promoting positive change, social workers empower individuals to adopt healthier habits and lead more fulfilling lives.
Most social workers hold a bachelor’s degree, making it the most common path into the profession.(See disclaimer 2)
What Does a Social Worker Do?
Social work is a broad and multifaceted profession dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges, from major transitions to personal hardships. Their role often involves assessing clients’ emotional, behavioral and mental health needs, offering counseling, and connecting them with essential community resources. Because client needs vary and no two days are exactly alike, social workers adapt their approach based on each unique situation.
Many social workers choose to specialize in areas such as child welfare, addiction recovery, mental health or medical social work. Others focus on specific populations, like students in educational settings or older adults in long-term care. This flexibility allows professionals to align their career with their passion and expertise.
Common responsibilities include:
Evaluation
Social workers assess clients’ circumstances and support systems to set achievable goals.
Therapeutic support
They help clients manage issues like unemployment, divorce or trauma.
Advocacy
They champion access to public services, benefits and community programs.
Intervention
Social workers respond to urgent situations such as mental health crises or abuse.
What Experience and Education Does a Social Worker Need?
To start a career in social work, you first need to earn a high school diploma, which serves as the foundation for further education. The next step is to complete a bachelor’s degree, most commonly a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), which can prepare you for entry-level positions. For advanced positions and clinical practice, a Master of Social Work (MSW) is necessary.(See disclaimer 1) MSW programs provide specialized education and include supervised fieldwork to develop practical skills. As part of the social worker education requirements, graduates pursuing clinical licensure must also complete additional supervised work experience after earning their MSW and pass a state licensing exam to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
High School Diploma
College Degree
Internships
Entry-Level Roles
Professional Certifications
Best Degrees for a Social Worker
A career in social work begins with the right educational background. While there are multiple paths into the field, certain degrees provide the most effective and thorough preparation for engaging with individuals, families and communities. These programs can equip students with the necessary knowledge, ethics and practical skills.
Key topics taught in social work degree programs:
Human behavior in social environments
Social welfare systems and public policy
Resource navigation and intervention planning
Ethical standards in multicultural settings
Empowerment and community engagement
GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for Social Workers
Grand Canyon University recommends three key degree programs for individuals pursuing a career in social work: the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the Advanced Standing MSW. The BSW provides foundational education for entry-level positions and prepares students for further graduate studies. The MSW builds upon that foundation with advanced coursework and practical field experience, qualifying graduates for clinical and leadership roles. For those already holding an accredited BSW, the Advanced Standing MSW offers a quicker path to graduation by allowing students to enter specialized, upper-level social work courses directly.
What Skills Does a Social Worker Need?
Social workers rely on specialized skills to effectively serve individuals and communities with compassion. Empathy and active listening are fundamental, enabling professionals to build trust and fully understand each client’s needs.
Strong communication skills help social workers collaborate with others, document cases clearly and advocate for those they serve.
In addition to interpersonal strengths, social workers must also develop these skills:
Advocacy
Crisis intervention
Case management
Cultural competence
Ethical decision-making
Where Do Social Workers Work?
Social work can provide a variety of opportunities if you’re looking to engage directly with people in need within your community. Social workers operate in diverse environments, helping clients access essential services, develop coping skills and work toward long-term stability. These varied settings reflect social workers' broad impact across society, as they meet people where they are and guide them to healthier, more stable lives.
Typical workplaces for social workers include:
Healthcare facilities
Social workers help patients navigate healthcare systems and access support for chronic illnesses.
Mental health and substance abuse centers
Social workers provide counseling, crisis intervention and recovery support in behavioral health settings.
Government agencies
Social workers in public service roles shape policy, manage programs and advocate for social justice.
Child welfare agencies
Social workers in child welfare agencies protect vulnerable children and strengthen families.
Estimated growth for social workers expected from 2024 to 2034(See disclaimer 4)
Median annual wage for social workers in May 2024(See disclaimer 5)
Advancement Opportunities Within Social Work
Social work can provide various career opportunities for growth and specialization. With experience and further education, professionals can position themselves for potential advancement to clinical social worker, program director, policy analyst or educator positions, with increased responsibilities and leadership.
To engage in clinical practice and leadership positions, a Master of Social Work (MSW) is required, especially for becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). This licensure requires an accredited MSW, supervised clinical hours and passing a licensing exam. Additionally, social workers can transition into roles in administration and policy development.
Explore More on Social Work
Interested in potential careers a degree in social work can offer? The GCU blog explores a wide range of opportunities, including clinical practice, roles in education, nonprofit leadership and policy advocacy. If you’re wondering how to become a social worker or looking for advanced opportunities, our posts provide valuable insights, guidance and examples to help you forge your future in social work.
Explore career opportunities in social work and understand its mission of assisting individuals facing challenges. You’ll also gain insights into diverse subfields and the roles of social workers.
Discover two impactful careers: Psychology, which aids emotional well-being, and social work, which advocates for justice and support. Explore the educational paths for both fields to find a career dedicated to helping others.
Learn more about the field of social work, where you can advocate for social justice and support vulnerable populations. You’ll find degree benefits, licensing requirements and diverse career paths like case management and crisis counseling.
Use your passion for helping others through social work. With an education from GCU, you can work toward making an impact and becoming a compassionate leader.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, April 18). How To Become a Social Worker. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 26, 2025
- Zippia. (2025, Jan. 8). Social Worker Demographics and Statistics in the US. Retrieved Sept. 16, 2025.
- Deering, M. J.D. (2025, July 17). Become a Social Worker: Education and Licensure Requirements. SocialWorkLicensure.org. Retrieved Aug. 25, 2025.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers, retrieved Sept. 8, 2025.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Social Workers as of May 2024, retrieved Sept. 2, 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as social workers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.