3 answers
jaedan
Student
Maitland, Florida
1
Question
Asked
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how do i get on the social work career path ?
my end goal would be become self contacted and have my own social work company
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3 answers
Paul Marcel-Rene
Property Manager
20
Answers
Akron, Ohio
Updated
Paul’s Answer
If your end goal is to become self-contracted and run your own social work company, you’re actually describing the path of a licensed therapist or counselor more than a traditional social worker. Social work is a vital field, but if your aim is autonomy, owning a practice, and offering services directly to clients, you’ll need to focus your education on counseling or therapy. A degree in social work alone will limit your options unless you pursue clinical licensure, which still often ties you to institutions or nonprofits. Instead, you should strongly consider earning a degree in therapy or counseling, which opens the door to private practice and full independence.
One strategic path is to pursue a bachelor’s in psychology or human services, then a master’s in counseling or clinical mental health. Along the way, consider pairing that with business courses—like marketing, management, or entrepreneurship—through flexible online programs such as those at the University of the Cumberlands. This dual focus allows you to eventually open your own counseling office, manage your business, and maintain full control of your client work. You don’t just want to work in the system—you want to build your own. And that means becoming a licensed therapist with business skills to match.
One strategic path is to pursue a bachelor’s in psychology or human services, then a master’s in counseling or clinical mental health. Along the way, consider pairing that with business courses—like marketing, management, or entrepreneurship—through flexible online programs such as those at the University of the Cumberlands. This dual focus allows you to eventually open your own counseling office, manage your business, and maintain full control of your client work. You don’t just want to work in the system—you want to build your own. And that means becoming a licensed therapist with business skills to match.
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Jaedan !
The path toward a career as a Social Worker is pretty basic. You would get your Bachelors Degree in Social Work and then a Masters Degree in Social Work. It sounds like you'd want to get your Masters in Clinical Social Work since you'd want to work freelance later on, but during your education, you can decide what type of Social Work to concentrate on. Each college has different masters programs that have a specialty like clinical, management, policy, etc. You'll know what you'll want to get for your Masters Degree. I do recommend Clinical Social Work because there's lots of opportunity for work with that degree.
After you complete your Masters and become Licensed in the state of Florida (there are three levels of licensure for Florida: Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW), Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (RCSW-I), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I think you'd want the LCSW licensure to be able to have a broad range of clients. You would then work for a place for some years until you feel you are ready to rent an office of your own and start your own service. By then, you will know how to be reimbursed by medical insurance (clients use their medical insurance to pay for your services if you are a Clinical Social Worker). This is something you would obtain information about during your Social Work Academic path.
So, basically, it's not a difficult path to understand and everything will be laid out for you at college. Getting your Bachelors Degree in Social Work is the first step. Take it one step at a time.
I hope that this helps and I wish you all the best !
The path toward a career as a Social Worker is pretty basic. You would get your Bachelors Degree in Social Work and then a Masters Degree in Social Work. It sounds like you'd want to get your Masters in Clinical Social Work since you'd want to work freelance later on, but during your education, you can decide what type of Social Work to concentrate on. Each college has different masters programs that have a specialty like clinical, management, policy, etc. You'll know what you'll want to get for your Masters Degree. I do recommend Clinical Social Work because there's lots of opportunity for work with that degree.
After you complete your Masters and become Licensed in the state of Florida (there are three levels of licensure for Florida: Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW), Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (RCSW-I), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I think you'd want the LCSW licensure to be able to have a broad range of clients. You would then work for a place for some years until you feel you are ready to rent an office of your own and start your own service. By then, you will know how to be reimbursed by medical insurance (clients use their medical insurance to pay for your services if you are a Clinical Social Worker). This is something you would obtain information about during your Social Work Academic path.
So, basically, it's not a difficult path to understand and everything will be laid out for you at college. Getting your Bachelors Degree in Social Work is the first step. Take it one step at a time.
I hope that this helps and I wish you all the best !
Raj Khurana
31
Answers
Middletown, New Jersey
Updated
Raj’s Answer
If ur still in high school then before you start formal college education in social work, as suggested above, you can get some basic ground level knowledge and experience by looking up social work organizations in your area of residence and start voluntary work there.