The beautiful state of Washington, with a population of approximately 7.8 million, is known for featuring the headquarters to many large global companies such as Amazon and Microsoft, as well as being surrounded by nature due to their mountainous regions and forests.
Washington is home to over 13,000 social workers. If your goal is to join the ranks as a social worker in this bustling state, there are 13 social work programs.
Out of these, 11 programs are accredited according to the Counsel of Social Work Education. Seven of the accredited programs offered are for a bachelor’s degree, and four of the programs offered are for a master’s degree.
To become a social worker, you will need to understand the requirements of the state of Washington beyond receiving a degree. This article reviews different aspects of those requirements as well as other information that is important to know for those who are interested in the field of social work and earning their Washington social work license.
With all the great program options available to you in Washington, you might be wondering which one you should choose. Your options might depend partially on where you are starting in your education. Many of the available institutions have both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
In Washington, you must have your master of social work degree to become a licensed social worker. This means that you can start with earning your bachelor’s degree and continue there for your master’s degree program if you prefer.
The University of Washington offers a Bachelors of Social Welfare degree program and a Master of Social Work degree program.
The Bachelors of Social Welfare program is designed to train students on how to handle social problems through comprehensive coursework and hands-on training that is focused on social justice.
Students who enroll in this program will be prepared to take on a career and/or graduate school once they have completed their degree. The program consists of 67 total credits, with 65 credits in general education and courses such as sociology and psychology should be previously completed as a prerequisite for admission to the program.
The Masters of Social Work program prepares students for advanced social work practice and to become leaders within the profession. The MSW program is offered through a traditional (full or part time) or advanced standing program. The traditional program can be completed within about two years and consists of 75 credits.
The advanced standing program can be completed within one year. This program is intended for students who have previously received a bachelor’s in social work from an accredited university. University of Washington also offers a part-time program that can be completed in about three years,
There are multiple concentrations that one can focus on within the MSW program, including:
Students will complete a variety of courses and electives to prepare them for their social work career, and will apply their knowledge in a required internship.
Seattle University offers both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Social Work degree program. The bachelor’s degree program is designed to provide students with the tools and education needed to address inequality and help advocate for those in their community through generalist social work practice.
Students in the BSW program will complete 70 credits, which includes a 450-hour field practicum to apply what they have learned. This takes place in the student’s junior year. Those who qualify will be able to to take part in the honors social work program, which allows students the opportunity to complete a research project and have deeper interactions with faculty. Students can also choose to minor in Social Welfare within the BSW program.
The MSW program at Seattle University offers a full-time and advanced standing curriculum. Students qualify to apply for the advanced standing program if they have previously earned a BSW from an accredited university.
The MSW program is designed to prepare students to practice social work at a more advanced level, including preparing them to take their social work licensing exam after graduation. Before their second year, students in the program may choose a sub-specialization. The sub-specialization options include Addictions Counseling, Medical/Health Social Work, and Trauma-Informed Practice.
The electives that a student takes, along with their practicum, will be tailored towards the specialization that they choose. Students must complete 1,168 hours of practicum in the full-time program, and 720 hours if enrolled in the advanced standing program.
Walla Walla University offers three social work programs: a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW), and Doctor of Social Work (DSW). The BSW program prepares students for a career as generalist social workers and gives them foundational knowledge needed to go on to graduate school if that is the preference and complete a master’s degree within one year.
Students will complete 192 quarter hours total, and within that time will take courses in human behavior, social work, policy, and more. They will also complete field education.
The MSW program offers a hybrid experience to students with classes that are both online and in-person. Students are not required to take the GRE exam to enroll in this program.
The standard program is 79 credits and takes about two years to complete. In this program, students complete 300 generalist field hours and 600 advanced practicum hours. The advanced standing track is 49 credits and has a shorter timeline. In this version of the program, students just complete 600 hours of advanced practicum.
Students in this program meet the qualifications to have the opportunity to apply for the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship Program, which offers awards up to $25,750 per year.
The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program at Walla Walla University is offered online. This program focuses on helping social work students learn to develop leadership, teaching, and research skills to become better practitioners as well as scholars. The DSW program consists if 17 total classes for a total of 64 quarter credit hours that take place over two years, or 10 consecutive quarters.
Eastern Washington University offers a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) and Master’s of Social Work (MSW) degree programs. The BSW program consists of 76 credits and can be completed in two years of full-time enrollment. Students will complete courses and electives to prepare them for generalist social work practice in topics such as case management, social policy, data analysis, research, ethics, and more.
Students will also complete a three-quarter-long practicum in their second year of the program. They find a placement through a structured process within the BSW program, as the university is partnered with multiple local agencies.
The MSW program provides comprehensive education for clinical social work practice regardless of if a student graduates into a career in a rural or urban setting. By graduation, students will be prepared to work with individuals, populations, and families across areas of practice such as mental health, child welfare, housing, criminal justice, education, healthcare, and much more.
The program emphasizes a lens of diversity and equity to help promote social, environmental, and economic justice among those they are serving. The MSW program is offered in a two-year, 90-credit standardized format or a 51-credit advanced standing format. There is also the option for students to attend the program part-time in their Spokane and Everett locations.
Getting a higher education is investing into your future, and you want to receive the best education in return. One way to ensure that you are doing that is by attending a high-quality program. Accredited programs have been assessed for quality, so that you can be assured that you are receiving the education that will help you reach your goals.
CSWE accreditation is a quality check process that schools apply for to prove that they meet a certain standard of quality. CSWE stands for the Council of Social Work Education, which is the sole accrediting body in the United States.
The organization comprises over 800 programs as well as professionals who are passionate about innovation and quality in the social work field. Their goal is to ensure that future social workers and educators are being taught accurate and up-to-date information.
CSWE accreditation makes social work programs appealing to students because it guarantees that the program has been assessed for quality by the CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation (COA). The COA determines the quality standards the social work programs across the United States must follow to earn and keep their accredited status.
Students who are educated through a social work program that has been accredited by the CSWE are prepared to take their licensing exam, which means they are well-prepared to go into their subsequent social work careers. The CSWE’s goals towards constant improvement of social work education means that social work graduates will graduate as adequate social workers who can help their communities.
If you want to earn your first degree or further your education by attending a WA social work program, but need a flexible curriculum, then online coursework might be the best option for you. Many students have been successful for many students due to the benefits they hold. Washington has a few options for their online social work program, including:
There are many reasons why different students may benefit from the unique experience of an online social work program, especially for those who are unable to attend classes full-time.
Attending school online may be particularly advantageous to individuals who already work full-time and don’t want to quit their job (or can’t quit their job) to attend classes in-person.
Online classes allow them the flexibility to go to work and complete schoolwork afterwards.
An online program may also be helpful to students who have to take care of a family, or those who do better in a private learning environment instead of in a classroom. There are many circumstances where online learning is a great option.
In order to become a licensed social worker in Washington, one must have their master’s or doctoral degree. After graduation, they must fulfill certain requirements to become officially licensed.
There are two types of licensed social workers in Washington: The Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW), and the Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). The latter has higher requirements.
While the LASW can go on to become a LICSW at some point in their career if they so choose, they would need to go through the application process again. The application requirements for each of these credentials (LASW and LICSW) is below.
There are many factors that play a role in the salary that a social worker receives.
The average salary of social workers in the state of Washington may depend on certain aspects such as the degree that the social worker has obtained, their experience level, any additional qualifications they may have (such as any certificates or trainings), the organization they work for (nonprofit vs government), how long they have been employed at said organization, and many more.
Some social workers with an advanced degree may have a higher salary due to being employed in a leadership role.
According to O*Net Online, the median salary for social workers in WA was $59,950 in 2021.
Comparatively, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median salary for social workers was about $50,390 in 2021 for social workers in the entire United States.
Below is a summary of the average salary for Washington social workers based on the degree and credentials they have obtained.
According to O*Net online, the growth for the social work career in Washington is projected to be at 8-10%. The growth for social workers in the entire United States is projected to be about 12% over the next decade, which is faster than usual for all occupations.
About 74,700 jobs are projected to open up over the next year in the United States in the next ten years as well.
Medical Social Worker – This type of social worker performs a number of functions related to administration and client care in medical settings. This might involve background screenings of clients and interviewing patients to form medical histories, coordinating with other hospital staff and outside agencies to ensure smooth services for the client, and helping the client discharge from the hospital. The services that a medical social worker provides are varied in that, along with their administrative tasks, they might also provide emotional support to clients and families who are experiencing difficulties due to injuries and illness.
The cost of each university differs, as they each have different tuition, fees, and housing costs. Even so, when you are planning for the expense of attending your social work program, having a general idea of the average cost may still be helpful.
There are many options when it comes to funding your education through scholarships and grants. The main way that many people fund their education is through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines if you are eligible for any federal grants or loans based on your income and other factors, such as family size. This application should be filled out each year that you are in school.
The Council for Social Work Education, the social work program accreditation institution, offers scholarships and fellowships on their website as well. The website is updated as new opportunities arise.
Another option is to ask the schools that you are interested in if they have any scholarship or funding opportunities. Many institutions have financial assistance through their specific programs (such as social work). These opportunities can often be browsed online, or you can ask the school financial office or advisor of the program of your choice.
Some websites online compile scholarships that you can browse and apply to the ones that are relevant to your degree. For example:
Although Washington State is a beautiful place to live and attend school, the state is not without its problems that social workers may be able to address. One issue is the significance of homelessness in the state.
The homeless rate has recently risen 6.2%, and WA has one of the largest homeless populations in the USA, second only to California according to the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report. Homelessness can lead to increases in substance use issues and mental health struggles among the populations.
Social workers can address these issues starting at the root of the issue, which is housing. Helping individuals and families find housing, as well as advocating for affordable housing are some ways that social workers can be of use in the state of Washington.
Social workers can help those who are experiencing homelessness navigate complex social service systems through case management so they can find housing if they so choose. This can mitigate the potential risk for an increase of mental illness and substance use.
(Ellensburg, WA)
(Cheney, WA)
(Bothell, WA)
(Seattle, WA)
(Tacoma, WA)
(College Place, WA)
(Pullman, WA)
If you’re exploring MSW programs in Washington, it’s important to understand how program options, online formats, field education, and licensure all fit together. This guide […]
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