Social Workers Trapped by Licensing Limits

“i need advice i’m turing 27 in 14 days and im considering going to community college for either early childhood and elementary education or social work ( to be a school social worker ) and than eventually transfer to stockton. i was someone growing up who struggled in school , had a hard time applying myself and when i did i was smart. i had such a rough time in middle school and high school and oddly enough I’ve had this pull towards being a teacher or helping kids. i was diagnosed with adhd wh”

“I (28f) am a licensed social worker in MN. Boy, I set out to “save the world” full of naivety and with no comprehension of what they mean when they talk about social workers not making a livable wage. I’ve had a comical amount of financial setbacks (car broke down multiple times, emergency surgery, etc). I am now 15k in CC debt (accrued strictly from emergencies, not frivolous spending) and 23k student loans. This being said, what are some jobs that pay really well that I could get into? Willing”

“Hey all! Some context: I have been in the field for about 2.5yrs (2 w/ my BSW in medical, 0.5 w/ my MSW in inpatient psych). Ultimately I loved medical, but couldn’t work toward my clinical hours which prompted the transfer. Due to other factors, I need to be at this job another year and a half at a minimum. I love my job. I love the patients. I love the work. To be frank, I appreciate the chaos everyday brings. Crisis work is my jam. And honestly? I’m pretty good at it. The big difference I’m s”

“So I (F25) graduated with my MSW back in May, received my LCSWA in June, and I’m currently working as a Team Lead/Therapist for an Intensive In-Home team. After almost three months, I’m finally starting to get the hang of being a supervisor, being a therapist, and keeping up with all the documentation—slowly but surely! I really enjoy working with the kids and their families, but I think I’d like to pivot to something different after about a year. I’d like to gain more experience working with di”

“Hi all! Im 32, F. first time writing on here and just wanted some insight. I am currently in a FFS role, fully remote. However, ive come to realize 10ish years that I dont want to do talk therapy like that anymore. Id like to explore different things and feel like im still learning. It feels like ive stopped learning.. im still figuring out what I would like to explore, but whats on my mind has been this: continue working at my current job to get my LCSW which they pay for if I pass (have about”

“I recently left my job working for CPS and I’m trying to figure out what to do next career wise. I’ve been thinking about going back for my MSW for the past few years which I started about 3 years ago with Walden University and after the first semester I dropped out. I mostly did it because of the course work and because I feel like I’m not smart enough for this level of course work. I’m fortunate enough to stay home and decide what I want to do next without pressure but I don’t know what to do.”

“I’m hoping to finish my hours for my LCSW in the next 6 months and get licensed. Then potentially move into private practice. I’m looking for any knowledge or advice others in private practice are willing to share. What do you wish you knew prior to going into the job? Is there anything I can do to better educate/prepare myself for that field? What are the pros and cons of working in private practice? There’s so much I feel like I don’t know about what private practice actually looks like and I”

“I’m current an MSW student and I’ve been feeling somewhat disconnected from the field. I’ve been to a significant amount of conferences and I’ve sought out various resources but everything is so clinical based. Does anyone have any podcasts or books they like that are relevant to macro social work (management and leadership, community practice, organizations, program and project management, fund development and grants, sustainability, evaluation, strategic planning, etc.)? I’d also be interested”

“Can someone share what they like/dislike about being a school social worker? I did not initially go into school thinking I would want to be a school social worker, however I am expecting little ones soon and honestly I am romanticizing the idea of working at a school (summers off, going to work with my kids, not having to worry about how they are going to get home, health insurance, retirement). Prior I wanted to become a therapist to work with children, I figure school social work is not too fa”

“I have heard hospital social work is mostly discharge planning. Is that true in a children’s hospital setting too for an LCSW position? Is there any role providing interventions and emotional support for kids and families? What does your day to day look like? ETA: I’m located in USA submitted by /u/skyler99999 [link] [comments]”

“I have worked in social care for 12 years, and really want to leave it fully.. but I have no idea what I want to do in life. Is there anything out there, a system or questions for example.. which can help us really think about what we want to do in life for a job? (Sorry unsure how to word it) I am really miffed if I am honest.. Thanks. submitted by /u/PhOeNixxFiRe__x [link] [comments]”

“I just started my MSW with a clinical focus (intention of becoming an LCSW and work in private practice), but my initial goal was to get my PhD in Clinical Psychology and specialize in neuropsychology. My question is, is there anyone here who has gotten their PhD after their MSW? What was your journey like? Is it possible? I am nervous that because an MSW is more practice, it will not look good to admissions. I still hope to get my PhD after my masters. Thank you! submitted by /u/Smo”

“Hello! I just began my journey to getting my MSW. I would like to know what jobs are best for that degree and if I should get any extra licenses outside of what I will already need. I’m also new to Reddit so i’m sorry if this isn’t the right place to post this! submitted by /u/Abrocoma_Human [link] [comments]”

“Hey everyone, Wanted to ask social workers here on how to transition from macro social work to clinical. My background: (US Based) I graduated with my MSW in 2019 and very quickly got into leadership in the nonprofit space. I’ve been a director of a national mental health department at a relief organization, executive director for two community centers, and currently an executive director for a mental health education org. I have been putting off getting my LSW due to a few reasons but finally w”

“Hi, I have a private practice, and I'm interested in moving into a corporate setting, wondering if anyone has experience with this. I'm interested in consulting, providing education about stress management, relational self-awareness, wellness in the workplace. Has anyone made this jump as a social worker? submitted by /u/Mental_Camera3580 [link] [comments]”

“Hello! I was wondering if anyone could share an easy workflow for assisting a client looking for substance abuse treatment ? For example do you find yourself calling multiple treatment centers for bed availability and or insurance coverage? Or is there a resource readily available that simplifies this process ? Although i am currently situated in Florida , I am also curious about what process and or resources are place to make this process more efficient rather than spending hours calling numero”

“I’m 30 and I’m working in Child Welfare as a case manager. I’ve been doing this for the past 3 years and started 4 months after graduating with my BA in Psychology. Before that it was all grocery stores, food service, and package handling for FedEx and Amazon. This week I’m getting my first paycheck without over time this entire year because I had to take time off for appointments. I typically bring home 500-800 above my base pay every 2 weeks. To say I’m burned out from the job is an under stat”

“Hi everyone! I'm sure many of us are going through the same situation right now. I am a bilingual LCSW with 3+ years experience in school social work as a mental professional in the high school setting. I've been in the field since 2023 so still fairly new. I've done case management, individual and group counseling, crisis management, refferals, bios, progress notes, discharge summaries, the whole ordeal. I loved my job so much, but the pay was terrible. I live in Florida, so the pay”

“So, basically, I have about 10 years experience as a licensed professional counselor (LPC). Most of my experience is in private practice. Then, when dad was getting ill, I closed my practice and then took care of him. I then got a per-diem job as a clinical supervisor at a drug and alcohol counseling IOP/PHP clinic. My father passed away, and the clinic refused to hire me full-time. So I am currently seeking FT work in behavioral health that is non-client facing ideally. But I am running into se”

“TL;DR: I'm 30, female, and am a LCSW/LMSW. I've been licensed and actively practicing in the field since 2019, but have worked in healthcare in general in different roles (administrative, hands-on care, course instructor, supervisory) since age 14. I'm in the process of taking a sabbatical from the field due to burnout and have been toying with getting serious about my lifelong desire to become an automotive or diesel equipment mechanic. (EDIT: I'm still actively maintaining my l”

“My entire social work career has been in the healthcare field and at this point I am considering getting my RN to broaden my job and salary prospects. Have any of y'all done it? Was it worth it? submitted by /u/Vegetable_Response_6 [link] [comments]”

“Hi, I am wondering what percentage of social workers go into school social work vs behavioral health jobs like being a therapist? Has anyone done research on this topic or can point me toward statistics? I am in the U.S. submitted by /u/Certain-Water4628 [link] [comments]”

“I recently started as a provisional therapist since graduating and getting my LMSW in May. I provide both in person and virtual sessions, but feel like my office is not very inviting for my clients. My agency is a CCBHO and our CARF accreditation has a lot of opinions about furniture in my office, but I still want to bring things in that makes the place feel warm and comfortable. What are some things you keep in your office such as fidgets, lightening, and greenery that you feel makes your offic”

“Hi, I’m about to become a social work graduate! But I’ve been recently struggling with feeling like I don’t know enough about current topics within social work. I am passing university etc but I just feel as though my own knowledge about what’s going on etc isn’t enough. Is there any advice / things I could look into that could maybe help? Would prefer books etc. thanks so much in advance! submitted by /u/Calm_Joke8721 [link] [comments]”

“I have been working as a social worker for six years now and have gained some stability in the field which I can point at, but lately I've been thinking about changing career and going into nursing which has always been my dream. My problem is that the thought of starting over from scratch feels like a pretty big risk, and I'm not so sure if I'm being to unrealistic. I also hear from most people, especially colleagues, that nursing is demanding and getting work-life balance is a big”

“Hello everyone! I recently graduated with my MSW this summer and was fortunate enough to secure a job working with young adults in a non-profit organization. Since I’m relatively new to working with this age group (18-25), I’m seeking advice from those who have experience in this field. Additionally, I’m interested in exploring some group topics that could facilitate their transition into young adulthood. Thank you! Let’s support our fellow social workers! submitted by /u/Ok_House394”

“Hi everyone, I could really use a reality check. I just graduated with my MSW in May, finally secured my LCSWA in July, and after getting rejected from pretty much everywhere else, I panicked and accepted an offer for an Intensive In-Home (IIH) Team Lead position at an agency in NC. I’m feeling a massive wave of imposter syndrome and dread. Here is the compensation structure they gave me: Billable hours: $40/hour (estimated around 20 hours a week) Non-billable hours: $15/hour per hour doing “tea”

“Hi everyone! I’m a MSW Student doing my second year placement in hospice, specifically within senior living communities (Alf,ilf,snf,LTC). This is my first time in a role where I am using my car as my “office”, and I will be usually at least an hour commute away from my home. What sorts of things do you keep in your car that could be helpful? Any tips for field based practice is appreciated! submitted by /u/akbpeace23 [link] [comments]”

“Hello everyone, I recently started a position in hospice social work after working in SNF. I felt confident going into the job since I had plenty of SNF patients that would end up dying, however looking back I see how uninvolved social work usually became during the process since they no longer needed placement or case management tasks. I am REALLY struggling with this job. I only got about a week and a half of training in the field with another social worker and we really did not complete that”

“I just graduated with a Master's in Psychology, but I unfortunately did not have the hindsight to plan out my career as a therapist. It seemed what I really needed was to major in counseling or social work. As a result, I don't think it's possible for me to get the licensure needed to become an LPC, LMHC or LCSW. What should I do? Should I try to get some internship or observation hours in? I'm from Pennsylvania, but am currently living abroad. Thank you. submitted by”

“Hi all, has anyone transitioned from MSW typical social work to a more corporate or HR position? If so, how did you get there? What steps did you take? Any specific courses/certifications? I currently work in the hospital with my MSW. I am so burnt out of the typical social work role and for a long time I’ve liked the idea of more corporate/administrative/HR positions. But I have no idea what’s it’s like on that side of the world. I’d love to hear your experiences/paths of travel and what you lo”

“hey all! i’m thinking about different paths i want to go down in social work and macro/mezzo work has been really sticking out to me lately, especially social workers in leadership roles. i really am curious and am wondering about how people in those roles feel. how did you get to the job you have now? how long did it take? did you get a master’s? what do you like about your position/what drew you to it? feel free to answer whichever questions if you can! thank you submitted by /u/st”

“Hello everyone, I have nearly a decade of experience as a caregiver and I am looking to transition out of the field. I'm hitting severe burnout in direct care and need a path toward higher pay and a less socially demanding environment. I'm looking primarily for remote work, partly due to transit availability and partly to take a break from heavy client interaction. Traditional college/schooling isn't a great fit for how I learn, but I am open to short term certifications or specializ”

“Okay look- I know this is unusual. As a SW I spent years struggling with the system of law enforcement. However working in hospitals and other non-profits- every system is far more broken and prejudice than my baby social work self realized. My background is as a direct care worker and later therapist in Inpatient Psych, Community Mental Health Outpatient, and I currently serve in the National Guard ( not as a SW). I love the idea of being a crisis clinician or co-responder. Truly I would opt fo”

“Hi, I’m a 25M social worker in the Northeast. My full-time role is as a clinician at a therapeutic high school, and I also work part-time as an IIC (Intensive In-Community) clinician. I’m not sure how widely IIC work exists outside of my area, so for some context, it’s essentially short-term, in-home or community-based therapy. This situation happened earlier this week during a session with a relatively new client. It was only our fourth session. The session was taking place at the kitchen table”

“Hello r/socialwork , I'm a new grad who just started a VA social work job. I am very fortunate and excited to be in this field and line of work, as it is one of the two jobs I identified as dream jobs. However, before I applied and got this job, I spend the past several years planning, applying for, being offered, and ultimately turning down a commission as a military social worker. I now find myself struggling with newfound feelings of imposter syndrome: How am I qualified to serve veterans”

submitted by /u/SandNo4802 [link] [comments]

“Hi all, I feel like I’m losing my mind trying to figure out how to go about obtaining my clinical hours for clinical licensure. I’m a generalist social worker with internship experience providing individual therapy to adults and adolescents. Most of my current work is in case management and advocacy within the criminal justice system, where my social work license is not officially used. I earn a decent salary ($70k+), which has informed my decision to look for positions that offer similar or hig”

“I’m an entry-level social worker working in an elder justice/case management setting, and I’m looking for some outside perspective. It took a lot in me to make this post because I am really stuck and I have been so stressed. This is my first social work job, and I’ve been here for about 9 months now. I recently finished my MSW, so I know I’m new to the profession and absolutely have things to learn. I’m not expecting to know everything, but I’ve reached a point where I constantly question myself”

“Okay, this may be long, but please follow along if you can lol! I have my bachelors in education, I was a teacher before making a switch to social work. I was accepted into a MSW program, it will be 30,000. I have 50k in student loans already from the bachelors. I work with adults with autism now, and I love it. I make 23 an hour now. I was offered a position for 25 an hour, and 27 an hour after 4 weeks (training is paid less), and 35 an hour with my masters. It’s a hybrid behavior health positi”

“hello! I am currently at a nonprofit /“out of district “ therapeutic school. all students are assigned a clinician and our caseloads are small -12 due to 40 min weekly sessions, crisis, case work needs l, iep man’s quarterly meetings. interviewed at a district for the elementary and middle schools. I would have students based on IEP and also the MTSS tiers. how are you caseloads in that realm usually and what does documentation look like? how do you go about doing make up sessions with students”

“The paradox of the social work profession is that individuals are trained to advocate for vulnerable populations within a system that frequently fails to support the professionals themselves. My educational journey began in a medical assistant program, transitioned to an Associate degree in Social Work, and has now brought me to the start of my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program.Throughout my academic career, my research into the history of the Reagan era, poverty, and systemic socioeconomic”

“I’m feeling desperate. I’m a school social worker right now but have experience in private therapy and residential work. What jobs are usually for remote in the social workers field? submitted by /u/Less_Economist2672 [link] [comments]”

“First post sorry for any mistakes. I’m an LCSW currently in private practice in a VERY red state. I’m aware my LCSW will not convert as a therapist in the Netherlands as it’s a protected title for psychologists. So I’m just curious for any LCSW’s who have also moved to the Netherlands. What do you do for work?? submitted by /u/justicepanda8513 [link] [comments]”

“Have you applied to be a case manager? Most of those jobs do not require a masters, they’re needed for children or adults, nursing homes and hospitals and some schools. Good advice. My daughter works full time as a case manger for a local children's nonprofit organization in our area. She has an associates degree in human services. She earns about $45,000, and works from home except for her required weekly in office day, and meetings with families.”

“Hey all — Kind of a random question, but I have a need I just can’t put my finger on how to get met, so I thought I might as well ask my fellow social workers for some guidance. For background ~ I’m a clinical supervisor at a short-term residential crisis respite facility that serves (generally unhoused) folks experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. We are very low barrier, so as you can imagine, things get wild. In my role, I am kind of running from desk to desk. The facility is s”

“Hey all I am an LCSW and I am in the process of getting the certified mental health and nutrition certification. From there I may also do a general nutrition certification from national association of sports medicine (so I could technically call myself a nutritionist NOT dietician). Does anyone else know what types of roles I could do with the dual certification or ways I could leverage it for additional pay? Thanks! submitted by /u/tmnt28 [link] [comments]”

“I feel like I’m at a loss and don’t really have anyone in my professional life that could offer some guidance. But here is goes Is it possible to be a social worker and do telehealth as a military spouse who has to move constantly?? I feel like the obvious answer is yes but in practice this is starting to feel impossible. I’m a LMSW in Connecticut and my husband and I are relocating to CA for a few months per his orders to A-school and once he finishes we’ll have orders again to move. I’ve been”

“so i’m currently trying to pivot into a public health role/research based role because after a short amount of time being in the field, i’ve come to realize it’s not quite for me. for reference, i have a bsw, lsw, and am currently a child protection investigator. i understand that i am in a more challenging role of social work, but even the thought of continuing to work with mental health/behavioral health as a lifelong career fills me with dread. the thought of being a clinical social worker do”

“I'm an MSW student currently starting my field practicum, but I've realized through personal research that I'm really interested in the program evaluation/design side of social work. I like the idea of looking at a program and asking things like: Is this actually working? How do we know? What needs aren't being met? What could we change or build to address those gaps? I'm trying to get a better idea of what this actually looks like as a career, though, rather than the neat te”

“Just found out a client (adolescent girl) has an ED, specifically bulimia. I feel like i’m in over my head, i have zero experience working with EDs. I have both BSW and MSW but EDs were rarely covered at my school, just that they are difficult to navigate and treatment depends on the person. I’m doing as much research as I can, but my supervisor isn’t being super helpful. Any resources/advice anybody can offer would be greatly appreciated. submitted by /u/red_mersadies [link] [”

“I (25F) have spent the entirety of my young adult life building towards a career in mental health counseling, and halfway through a second master's where the end goal was to get my LPC/associate license and become a therapist, I realized I don't want a career in therapy anymore. My background is pretty all over the place; I have a MS in Counseling Psychology, non-accredited by CACREP or APA, and it is unusable when it comes to getting licensed as a clinician. It was an amazing opportunit”

“Hi! As someone who is leaning toward the mezzo/macro path, just curious to hear from anyone who got their LCSW and is in a mezzo/macro/policy job. Is it beneficial at all in the role you have now, do you regret spending time getting it? Any insight is appreciated thanks! submitted by /u/Firm-Celebration-593 [link] [comments]”

“I’m a social worker in supportive housing and lately I’ve been questioning whether this area of practice is still right for me. I care about my tenants, but I’m increasingly frustrated by interventions that feel like Band-Aids. For example, when someone is struggling with their mental health, we may arrange a hotel stay to give them a break from the environment. I understand the need for respite, but if their living environment is contributing to their distress—particularly exposure to heavy sub”

“Specially the 4,000 hours post masters social work experience. So far I’m counting supervision, client facing hours, admin such as emails and documentation, and research. I’m currently in private practice, what can I do to bulk up my hours? Can I count marketing, trainings, reading therapy books? submitted by /u/Federal_Fly_4390 [link] [comments]”

“Currently in my 3rd year out in the field after completing my degree. I feel so proud to be a social worker some days. There are times when i'm super inspired - i feel knowledgeable and i see the impact i'm having. But i feel like my emotions are constantly cycling through inspired, neutral and depressed. sometimes flicking between all these emotions in just one week. I feel like ever since i got into the field, it's been a constant battle to fight my burnout and protect my own menta”

“* therapist I am a generalist SWkr, my population is Medicaid recipients, serving them in all non-medical related issues. The clinical portion of my work is about 25%, as it is mostly resource providing. I am about half way for my hours to take the exam. I am in CA. After two years on this job and after grad school, I feel my job is not challenging - I like to start preparing to be a therapist. Through my own therapy work, I learned a lot about IFS, EMDR, CBT, mindfulness, etc, but I don't h”

“So I have a family member who is also in the same profession, but is now retired. I, myself have been in LCSW for over 10 years, postgrad 14 years I recently had decided to pursue doing clinical supervision on the side, which I have already been doing for the eight but only at work for my own colleagues. I had made a comment in jest , to that family member, about my goals and would appreciate professional referrals if they happen to come across them. No mention of kickbacks were mentioned and we”

“Hi all, The struggle is real out here! Iv been looking for some sort of part time after my regular 9-5pm side job. What ideas have any CYC’s done. I don’t have my masters or registered SSW. So I feel very limited! I’m also in Canada!🇨🇦 Thanks for the ideas. submitted by /u/Bubbly_Peace2581 [link] [comments]”