Social Workers Trapped by Licensing Limits

“What exactly are “core” hours for CEUs? A fellow social worker tells me that anything (webinar/course/event) having to do with mental health counts towards core hours? Is that true? At my previous job (the VA), we used to check in with the social worker who oversaw licensure requirements on whether certain hours counted towards ‘core’ hours or ‘related’ hours. Now that I’m no longer at the VA, I still question the difference between those two categories and just want to be sure that I’m understa”

“TL;DR: Master’s in mental health counseling. Left the field after two years due to burnout and a toxic work environment. Been unemployed for 1.5 years, struggling with confidence, and looking for ideas on realistic career paths outside of therapy. I have a master’s degree in mental health counseling. My only real work experience was a one year internship, followed by another year working at that same site as a primary therapist after I graduated. Long story short, it was a toxic work environment”

“I recently had a meeting with a library social working in Massachusetts about a program developed for survivors of domestic abuse and those reentering from incarceration. This woman was the most amazing individual I've met in a long time because she truly understood our work and how libraries are such an incredible, safe and trusted place in a community where women can go to get help. I was once one of those women. The library was the only place I could go that wouldn't raise suspicion a”

“Hello, my name is Ashley. I graduated with my masters and social work last summer so I’m about one year post grad. I am having a really difficult time with finding the right fit for myself after graduating. The entire time I was working towards my masters, I was working in the field, I worked in residential and outpatient addiction during my associates. During my bachelors, I was a skills trainer at a mental health non secure residential facility. During my masters, I did outreach and care coord”

“I know there’s a wide range of social work but we do deal with people and high risk/vulnerable populations. What’s one experience you had with a client, or someplace you volunteered and it just stuck with you? One child or adult you just won’t forget, their story, perhaps them overcoming their situation or maybe being taken away because of their environment. (I want to be emotional today) submitted by /u/Ok-Temperature5831 [link] [comments]”

“Relatively newly licensed LCSW here 👋 I’m interested in hearing opinions and experiences from other clinicians about their experiences navigating insurance credentialing, paneling, and building a consistent caseload. It seems extremely overwhelming to navigate all these moving pieces individually, but I am constantly getting texts or emails from third-party providers about enrolling in their services. Have platforms such like Alma, Headway, Grow Therapy, Psychology Today, or anything similar he”

“My husband and our two children plan to move next year. We currently live in IL and I work for the state in child welfare. I have my MSW and so far all of my experience is in child welfare. Which state we move to is proving to be a very difficult decision. We have a few we have ruled out. Ultimately we are looking for somewhere that is not centered around farming as the Midwest is. Does anyone have thoughts or experiences to share about which states are better for social workers or where I could”

“Hello! My name is Abigail Anderson, LCSW, and I am completing my Doctor of Social Work (DSW) capstone at Capella University. My IRB-approved research project explores Telesupervision Strategies for Social Work Supervisory Licensure Programs, and I'm looking for social workers across the United States to share their experiences. I'm currently seeking participants from one of the following three groups: · Clinical social work interns, supervisees, or associates in their second year of clin”

“Hey y’all — MSW here, no license as I have been working in community organizing and policy since ~2018. Incredibly burnt out, and I now have a kiddo of my own so I have had to recalibrate certain aspects of my life. I start my first job in case management on Monday. (Yay! The job hunt has been grueling.) I’ll be working in outpatient behavioral health and family services, serving children ages 4-18. My services will NOT cover case management for CPS/Family Safety, which falls in a different depa”

“Hello! My name is Abigail Anderson, LCSW, and I am completing my Doctor of Social Work (DSW) capstone at Capella University. My IRB-approved research project explores Telesupervision Strategies for Social Work Supervisory Licensure Programs, and I'm looking for social workers across the United States to share their experiences. I'm currently seeking participants from one of the following three groups: · Clinical social work interns, supervisees, or associates in their second year of clin”

“I’m an LMSW in Texas and have been for about a year. I work at an FQHC and work with mostly homeless patients and individuals transitioning out of jail. I feel very burnt out. I really do love my job but I feel like PCPs do NOT understand I can’t solve everything, especially with the incredibly limited resources in my area. I took some time off this week and have a long trip coming up in August, but I just feel so guilty for taking the time off and am worried I won’t hit the numbers those at the”

“hi everyone! I am currently in the process of completing my MSW. I have been job searching since I graduated with my BSW, however, I cannot for the life of me find anything that I am “qualified” for. The only social work experience I have is my internship when I was completing my BSW, which was remote at a disability/ workers comp law firm. I conducted intakes which included identifying social needs, what community resources they were already receiving, work history and function reports, housing”

“Hello everyone, I would really appreciate any advice or feedback that you have, and I apologize in advanced for the novel! About 3 months ago, I began working at a peds specialty clinic. Prior to this role, I worked for a number of years as a medical social worker, so I was really excited for this position to help a different group of children and to have more of a niche in the medical field. In total, I’ve been working full-time as a social worker for 6 years, so still decently new to the field”

“Burnt out therapist here. I'd like to change career fields, but because I don't have specialized training in other fields, it feels like I don't stand a chance. Like, say HR. I have the transferrable skills, but didn't study HR in college so I get passed over. I've been told to tweak my resume to use the wording of these other fields, but what on earth do I call myself in corporate speak? Any advice regarding how to make a larger career shift like this would be appreciated. (”

“Hi, all. I am a social work student about to graduate with my bachelor's. As a requirement for my degree, for the past 8 months I have been doing an internship as a social worker at a local mental health agency. My last day is July 31st. I am having a very hard time coping emotionally with preparing to terminate services with my clients. It has been such a privilege to help them with their struggles, celebrate their wins, and see their growth. I don't want to say goodbye. This is my firs”

“Anybody have any experience doing travel LCSW work on contracts for prisons? If so, please tell me your experience! I’m considering one now and would love to hear how it has been for others. submitted by /u/cheeseeater57 [link] [comments]”

“Hello everyone, I’m hoping that the collective of folx who have explored all the sides of social work can help me with something. For those who don’t need the context and the long version (below), here’s the short version: This year has been the hardest year of my life and as a result I have virtually zero attachments to my current environment (place/people). Got super depressed for awhile, felt like I had zero options due to resources, wasn’t sure life was worth it (don’t worry, I’m okay and ye”

“Degree in sociology, 15 years in direct service, case management, and community outreach (and other work experience before that), multiple certificates, attended and presented at conferences. I'm autistic and PoC who takes a decolonial/postmodern/solutions orientated approach. My best experience is working with vulnerable neurodivergent populations, but at the same time I'm willing to branch out and open to possibilities. I'm open to moving, remote, and hybrid work, essentially ready”

“Hello I am well into my second year of having my asw number and I’m falling behind on hours because I don’t have a clinical supervisor. I’m located in California. Does anyone know where I can find one or how? Thank you in advance! submitted by /u/gryffindorr7 [link] [comments]”

“I applied for a social worker position as a Licensed Social Worker at a short-term rehab and long-term care facility. It is not a part of a continuing care retirement community. I got my LMSW in February (2026) and have not been able to use it. I'm currently at home since I was laid off at my previous job. My experience is in front desk at a mental health outpatient facility and an internship at a nonprofit place that offers food and financial assistance. I had applied to this job not thinki”

“any school social workers, what do you like and dislike about your job? how was the schooling? im considering school social work for middle or high school currently. I currently have a bs in psych and am working with younger kids in my job, which I like but am not gonna do forever. I want opinions on the career. submitted by /u/reddit_user_500 [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone, I currently have my ASW license. When I went into social work, my long-term goal was to eventually start a private practice. However, I've realized that clinical (micro) work has been more challenging for me than I expected. I graduated in 2024 and started working in community mental health (CMH). I burned out after about six months. I had a high-acuity caseload, mostly involving substance use and personality disorders, and very little support or supervision - which I'm sure”

“Working with youth at risks. Im someone who went through abuse as a teen, and to some extent, im still healing from it. I see the youths doing all sorts of things at work, and there are times where i get flashbacks or triggered. So far im still able to control myself and keep myself and others safe. Do i need to share about my trauma with my bosses? submitted by /u/Independent-Boot-305 [link] [comments]”

“I currently have an LMSW and work for Adult Protective services. I really like my job but we are moving to the Corpus Christi area and I am struggling to find jobs that I would enjoy and that would pay the same or more. I am open to a lot of things and would even love to try something remote. I did apply for a VA position so we will see if I hear anything from that. What are the best areas to look? submitted by /u/gingerslugger [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone! I spent a lot of time on Reddit after I failed my LSW on my first attempt. I had never experienced that kind of disappointment before. I felt completely defeated, embarrassed, and like I had somehow let myself, and everyone who knew I was taking the exam down. Looking back, I know that wasn't true at all, but I also want to validate how much it absolutely sucks to fail this exam. I failed by 3 points. I'm actually making my first Reddit post because I want anyone who's i”

“I’m signed up for a CE on ethical supervision facilitation soon, but would like to do a deeper dive on this to try to make sure I’m being the best field instructor I can be for my MSW students. This is a new role for me and don’t want to do them a disservice! Specifically, how to build their confidence and encourage stronger clinical judgment development. I have a student who is very “kumbaya” which is fine, but we need to step it up in terms of connecting theory to practice at this point. I’m u”

“Hi all, I have been working as a social worker (MSW) as my first job after graduation. Been here for 1 year and 10 months. I feel like a change, and its difficult applying for jobs while also work due to how demanding it is. I also want to find a job that is only therapy. I am considering quitting my job, taking 1 month off or so, and then applying for jobs again. I'm curious though, how much harder will it be to get hired without having a job at the time of applying? One pro to this would b”

“My therapist is an LMSW and I see them virtually. I will be moving in a year (14months) for a job and will be living close to them. We are interested in a lot of the same things and it seems likely that we will run into each other socially or even be in close groups together. If I stopped seeing them for therapy now, what would their responsibility be for interacting socially or being friends? I like them and would have no issue being friends or in shared activities but I know social workers hav”

“Hi guys! I’m a recent MSW grad and moved to a whole new state/city because my husband is in medical school here. I am starting my first job Monday within the a level Trauma 1 ED. I have prior experience in my internship at a level trauma 1 so that isn’t my main issue I’m just so nervous. I normally get nervous for first days in anything, however, I’m in a whole new state away from my other immediate family and have never lived out of state before either, starting my first big girl job, and I jus”

“Hi all, I have been working as a social worker (MSW) as my first job after graduation. Been here for 1 year and 10 months. I feel like a change, and its difficult applying for jobs while also work due to how demanding it is. I also want to find a job that is only therapy. I am considering quitting my job, taking 1 month off or so, and then applying for jobs again. I'm curious though, how much harder will it be to get hired without having a job at the time of applying? One pro to this would b”

“so i have been working in the child welfare field for three years specifically in the investigations unit. during my second year there i completed my msw, but i unfortunately was do burnt out from doing both my job and my msw, i let myself fall behind in my work. i had the highest backlog in my state. luckily for me, i have now dropped down significantly and now only have the 2nd highest in my region. unfortunately for me, i have to have all of my backlog cases closed in the next two months. i h”

“I’m a part time clinical social worker and am interested in moving into macro (ideally policy) in the next few years. I really am not wanting to start from the bottom if I can avoid it and am hoping to leverage some existing skills from 10+ years in generalist roles prior to getting my MSW. I’m curious how I can start to gain some policy skills and experience while working part time so I can have some marketable skills when I start looking for roles. This could be part time roles, contract work,”

“I’m looking to start college within the next year. I want to be a one on one therapist, but I’ve heard that getting a masters in social work opens you up to more career opportunities compared to mental health counseling. I don’t even have a bachelors yet, just an associates, but I wanted to ask for some guidance on which I should pursue. Which would be more worth it? Some arguments for both? submitted by /u/cjrx1215 [link] [comments]”

“I am so tired of being in a helping profession. My current role really isn’t even as stressful as my past ones in child welfare and the medical field. I work remote for an EAP but I’m still sooo tired of being a social worker in a broader system designed to make people + us struggle/fail. I really crave a role where there are simple real life solutions and logical answers. I need a break from the complexity that being a helper entails. I thought about IT but have no idea where to start. Does any”

“Is this role considered (or could it be) clinical work? It's an assistant director role at a college within the student wellbeing area. Responsibility entails facilitating hospitalization (also setting up further BH and academic supports upon return to campus), connecting/ working with the inpatient team while the student is hospitalized, and conducting well-being checks. Outside of that, the role may do presentations on student mental health for staff and help another student support depart”

“Hello. I am a licensed graduate social worker in DC and I am getting rejection letters left and right. Dc is currently trying to allow for social workers across state lines to come here and work but...the social workers who live in the district can't secure employment??? Has anyone else had this experience??? submitted by /u/DottyMaine [link] [comments]”

“I was recently hired as a preschool school social worker & am so excited! I’ve been wanting to do school social work for a while but it took me a bit to break into it. I have done a bunch of research & found lots of resources but haven’t actually first hand worked as or been an intern as a school social worker! Any advice or insight into the day to day at all would be great. I know what is expected of me & what my role entails but what does that really look like for you? Like how wou”

“I have my bachelor’s in sociology, and I’ve been doing licensing within foster care for several years. Due to some shenanigans (won’t go too deep), I’m so burn out and want to just get out. But i’m struggling to figure out what else to do? Don’t have a dream job really, and I’m the breadwinner so I need to keep finances in mind 😭 I don’t mind to work with people, I guess I just don’t know what to do. Most of my experience is within foster care, and also working customer service for several year”

“Hi! I’m interested in applying for an MSW (masters of social work). I applied in 2021 right when I was graduating with my bachelor’s and I was denied. I was honestly heartbroken and bitter. It really made me feel incompetent and that I was not grad school material. I realize now, 5 years later, that it was more than likely the high amount applicants due to COVID and the lack of work/real world experience. However, after typing that out, I think I may be trying to make myself feel better. I’ve no”

“Hi there! I have been an LCSW for almost 3 years now and was interested in becoming a clinical supervisor for LSWs. I did call the Board in NJ and they gave a list from 2019 of approved classes, most of which do not exist anymore. The only two I could find are through Rutgers (all four classes needed, $100 each, 9-2PM schedule for each one). The earliest offered is August which is fine, but I can’t take off work that much yet, I’m unfortunately still too new in my position. I was told NASW offer”

“Hey there! I’ve been licensed for five years, fully licensed for three, working in medical social work. I’ve recently been asked to supervise someone in my hospital system who has a limited license. I’m excited about this, as I really value supervision and supporting other social workers, and see myself moving into more of a leadership role as my career develops. My state’s NASW has a super CE course that I plan to take in the fall. In the meantime, does anyone have any books/resources/youtube v”

“I accepted a position as a K-12 School Social Worker! Gen ed + special ed combo. This is my first school social work position. The district is small (1400 students total), and they have one behavioral interventionist in each school and a special education social worker from the local RESA that does evaluations… I’m not sure if I will have an office space yet. I’ll be in middle and high school three times a week and elementary twice a week. Any tips and tricks for managing caseload and time betwe”

“I moved to British Columbia from Ontario to be a social worker. I currently work in Child Protection making over 70k. I like living in British Columbia, but I am really burnt out and it’s impacting my work. I don’t really have the money or energy to go back to school. I like customer service etc., and I like working in community. I am wanting to find work in Vancouver I was thinking customer service, scheduling, other not for profit etc. but having difficulty finding anything appealing on Indeed”

“Idk. I use to feel so passionate about social work. I work in a nonprofit, providing optional family therapy to families of troubled kids. I’ve been here for a year and still don’t feel confident in my role, I feel like I’m underpaid (drastically), my supervisor acts like I’m the problem constantly when clients cancel appointments. I’m required to be on call literally 24/7 (I’m not being dramatic, I can show my job description), they refuse to give me a raise. I’ve been convincing myself to stay”

“Hi everyone, Has anyone completed their MSW practicum at Center for Human Services in Modesto, CA or with Stanislaus County Behavioral Health? I'd love to hear about your experience. What were the pros and cons? How was the supervision, learning opportunities, and overall environment? I'm trying to decide between potential practicum sites, so any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! submitted by /u/Less_Tip_510 [link] [comments]”

“I worked in a state psych hospital for 8 yrs MSW - a huge need for clients, involuntary and long term forensic clients was what to do with their pets when they were hospitalized. Many were arrested due to crimes committed while in psychosis or from ER’s where they’d gone after self harm attempts who left pets at home. So many had no support so pets ended up at the pound or left at home for days. I had the idea to start a program adjacent to the hospital that could care for the pets short term un”

“So, I graduated in May with my Masters in Social Work. This is something I had always been drawn to and passionate about. I did great in school and had great internship experiences. I started my first job two days after graduation at a hospice agency. I enjoy providing comfort and a listening ear to patients and their families, however the isolation and overwhelm has been extremely difficult to adjust to. I have always loved working with others and miss having coworkers I see everyday. That sens”

“Hello. I am a recent MSW graduate. Neither of my practicums involved direct counseling work, and I am looking for my first "real" job. I was offered a job as a therapist working with victims of sexual assault. The organization/team seems amazing, but I am not sure if I should accept the job. I would be the only therapist/social worker on staff. I am deeply concerned about having to just "figure it out" as someone who does not have counseling experience. At the same time, this”

“Hello everyone, I recently graduated with my MSW and obtained my first social work license. All of my experience for the past 3 years has been in an inpatient psychiatric setting, and I completed my internship there as well. I am very familiar with this setting and felt confident in my clinical abilities there. I just got hired for my first post-grad job and it is at an outpatient mental health clinic where I will be doing assessments, individual sessions, and conducting group sessions. I am a b”

“I am an associate level social worker, and feeling a need for a pivot/change. I find that working in CMH has gotten to a point where it's repetitive and feels that I am doing more case management rather than therapy, (tie in also admin issues). So I feel I am not building my clinical skills as much as I want also a bit lack of autonomy. My long term goal ideally is working in higher education setting ( I did this for my internship) however many counseling offices require an independent licen”

“Hi mezzo/macro social workers! I could use some advice! I’ve been working in primarily clinical settings since graduating. I graduated a year ago and have my LMSW. My internship that was for 9 months was clinical, and the other was doing outreach/naloxone/wellness initiatives on campus. I like doing clinical for now, but I eventually do want to work in a higher ed setting, program coordinating at a non-profit etc. Those things interest me. There’s a couple things I did during school, like workin”

“Interested in hearing from anyone in a civilian/title 5 SW position and learning more about the role. Would love to hear how you like it or how it compares to other fed SW jobs! :) submitted by /u/hellov9 [link] [comments]”

“Hi all, I’m a travel LCSW and my current assignment has me doing PHP with adolescents. I like adolescents a lot. Until about three weeks ago they were my favorite population to work with. The group we have now, though, is…difficult to say the least. I feel like I’ve totally lost my touch. They don’t want to do anything. Literally almost anything. They don’t like talking informally, they hate learning skills lecture-style, they hardly ever engage in discussion. I’ve made jeopardy games, would-you”

“I come from a background in politics (policy and labor organizing). Made the switch to social worker this year, went from health care services to housing services. Yes some cases are hard, people’s situations are difficult and I have empathy for all clients. HOWEVER, everyday is different this field work is different from the disconnect i was experiencing in politics. Some of our representatives need to do this work, how could they not? You meet all sorts of people and you see people’s NEEDS. I”

“Hi everyone! I just graduated with my MSW last month and I applied for my associate clinical license. I am trying to figure out if there is a website, an app, or any type of digital resource that anyone could recommend to help with tracking clinical hours accumulation. Any advice would be extremely appreciated. submitted by /u/kitteo36 [link] [comments]”

“whats better working on the field or having an office space that clients come to you for social work ? has anyone gone from working at a office to working on the field? did you like it pros/cons submitted by /u/Super-Housing-6495 [link] [comments]”

“Hi all! I have been a social worker as a crisis responder for some years now and im looking to change fields into private practice therapy. Crisis is a very different skill set and while im confident in crisis work I am not very confident in providing therapy. It has also been a while since my MSW program. Has anyone made the switch to private practice and have any advice? submitted by /u/Affectionate_Star544 [link] [comments]”

“LCSW. Almost 2 years post licensure. Worked in Care Management at Centene for 4 years and have to move to another state. Struggling to find anything comparable in pay (80k). Seems many of these positions in where I live go to RNs 😒 I enjoyed the work. Most logical is hospital SW but those are competitive and far from where I live. All I see is therapy positions and I just have no desire to do that full time. I could do some on the side. I have considered pivoting to nursing or another career. I”

“My big interest is doing things like helping adults with schizophrenia or more severe autism find work and succeed as independently as possible. I want to help everybody of course, but I'm trying to find my place in the world and I feel called to help younger adults with mental disabilities vs just elderly folks. submitted by /u/angeltay [link] [comments]”