One of the biggest benefits of getting your MSW is that you have the opportunity to take a test to be licensed. For example, a person with a BSW in North Carolina can take a test to be a Certified Social Worker (CSW).
Although the decision to pursue a master's degree in social work may come easy to some, others may have lots of questions as to whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Getting to this level requires working as an associate at first (typically labeled an LCSWA) in which you receive supervision from an eligible supervisor. In fact, I highly recommend that you ask yourself these five questions before pursuing an MSW program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyPYPtwxdFI
To better help you organize the pros and cons, I wanted to provide you with some benefits of getting your MSW. It typically takes two years for an individual to complete their supervision requirements so that they can be eligible for the LCSW exam. Every state does this differently, so it's important to learn what your state's social work licensing requirements are. Have you found yourself asking whether the investment is going to be worth it? How about the amount of time you will have to sacrifice to complete homework, readings, and your field work? These questions commonly arise in prospective MSW students who are ready to take the next step in their career. The next step would be the Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) which requires the MSW degree. These licenses are a great thing to have, but they do not provide the opportunity to work in clinical settings.
In order to work in clinical settings, you will need to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). After successfully passing that, you are able to practice in a clinical setting and even have the option of opening your own private practice.
. This list is not exhaustive and is just a starting point in the decision process
