MSWGuide.org

Menu ☰
  • Home
  • Schools By State
    • All-Star Rankings: MSW Programs
    • Advanced Standing MSW Programs
    • Clinical MSW Programs
    • Online MSW Programs
    • Master of Science in Social Administration
    • Researching & Applying to MSW Programs
    • MSW vs MSSW | What’s The Difference?
  • Field Education
  • Careers
    • Online Therapy Platforms: They are Not All the Same
    • Social Work Career Insight from Janina Kwilos, MSW, LCSW
    • Child and Family Social Work
    • Criminal Justice Social Work
    • Medical Social Work
    • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work
    • Military Social Work
    • School Social Work
  • Licensure By State
    • Study Tips for the Social Work Licensing Exam
  • Blog
You are here: Home / MSW School Directory / Clinical Master’s in Social Work Programs

Clinical Master’s in Social Work Programs

What is Clinical Social Work?

Clinical social workers deal with interpersonal, psychiatric, or familial problems in an ongoing professional relationship with children, adults, couples, families, or groups, sometimes over several years. They work in hospitals, outpatient therapy practices, schools, the courts, and a variety of other settings, often in collaboration with medical and mental health experts. In many cases they are able to diagnose and treat clinical mental health disorders. They are essentially therapists, and in most states they possess licensure beyond the MSW that is dictated by state law.

Sponsored School(s)
Featured Programs:
  • Fordham's top-ranked Graduate School of Social Service Online Master of Social Work - Top-25 ranked online MSW offers both Traditional and Advanced standing programs. Both CSWE-accredited programs allow you to earn your degree full-time or part-time. Visit School's Website
  • Baylor University Master of Social Work - Bachelor's holders can prepare for social work licensure with Baylor's CSWE-accredited MSW program online. Complete in as few as 12-16 months. No GRE required. Visit School's Website
  • The University of Denver's Master of Social Work online - CSWE-accredited MSW online from a top-20 school of social work. Students with a BSW can earn their MSW in as few as 18 months in the advanced standing track. Visit School's Website
  • USC University of Southern California Online MSW - With options for both online and in-person field placement, USC's CSWE-accredited MSW program allows those with a BSW to earn their degree in as few as 12 months. Visit School's Website
  • Capella University's CSWE accredited online Master of Social Work program helps prepare students to enter the general or clinical practice role. An Advanced Standing MSW option is available. Capella also offers an online Doctor of Social Work. Click Here to contact Capella University about their Master of Social Work program or Doctor of Social Work program.

To be a clinical social worker, you must have an MSW, preferably with a specialization related to mental health and/or substance abuse, developmental disabilities, or marriage and family. Some careers in this field include inpatient psychiatric social workers, addictions specialists, marriage and family therapists, clinical supervisors, and private practitioners.

What Are the Benefits of Specializing in Clinical Social Work?

Having a specialization in clinical social work opens doors to careers previously limited to psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed professional counselors. You may be able to bill insurance independently for your work as a private therapist or may testify as an expert witness in court. Additionally, clinical social workers are often eligible to serve in supervisory capacities. They can hold licenses that allow them to operate their own clinical mental health businesses including group practices. In many cases, they receive higher pay than generalist social workers or other helping professionals doing the same job.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

How Does One Become a Clinical Social Work Practitioner?

The process for becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) differs by state, but it most commonly involves specific clinical courses during the MSW program (i.e. Diagnosis and Treatment, Clinical Work with Groups, Marriage and Family Therapy), completing ongoing supervision for a period of time after completing your MSW, and ultimately passing a state board examination. Some states’ requirements are more rigorous than others, with Texas, California, Florida, and New York being notoriously detailed. If you are considering a career as a clinical social worker, be sure to consult your state’s licensure board and your academic advisor to ensure the coursework you choose for your electives or specialization will meet the state’s requirements. You might even consider trying to meet the requirements of the aforementioned more rigorous states, in which case you may be eligible for licensure no matter where in the U.S. you move after graduation, provided you are able to pass the licensure examination. Most importantly, you must ensure your coursework is completed at a CSWE accredited School of Social Work.

Getting a clinical social work license is hard work, but it’s worth it. It opens up a world of careers beyond the generalist social work practice and there are definite financial perks, too. According to U.S. News & World Report, in 2011, clinical social workers made nearly $10,000/year more than mental health counselors and approximately $8,000/year more than their non-clinical peers.

MSW Programs with Clinical Social Work Specializations

For more information on licensure requirements and fees, visit our state-by-state guide to licensure.

FIND SCHOOLS
1
2
3
4
Sponsored Content

 

FIND SCHOOLS
1
2
3
4
Sponsored Content

Best of the Blog

Realistic Workouts & Stretches for Busy Students & Professionals

By: Jane Shersher, LSW & Founder of Counselors Autonomous, A Program within Ava Today Quick … read more

Sleep Hygiene | The Irregular Schedule of a Student

By: Jane Shersher, LSW & Founder of Ava Today Sleep Hygiene Sleep is not just about … read more

Saving Time and Being Productive Throughout Your Day

By: Jane Shersher, LSW & Founder of Ava Today Tips on How to Save Time Throughout Your … read more

Program Directory

  • MSW Programs in Alabama
  • MSW Programs in Alaska
  • MSW Programs in Arizona
  • MSW Programs in Arkansas
  • MSW Programs in California
  • MSW Programs in Colorado
  • MSW Programs in Connecticut
  • MSW Programs in Delaware
  • MSW Programs in Florida
  • MSW Programs in Georgia
  • MSW Programs in Hawaii
  • MSW Programs in Idaho
  • MSW Programs in Illinois
  • MSW Programs in Indiana
  • MSW Programs in Iowa
  • MSW Programs in Kansas
  • MSW Programs in Kentucky
  • MSW Programs in Louisiana
  • MSW Programs in Maine
  • MSW Programs in Maryland
  • MSW Programs in Massachusetts
  • MSW Programs in Michigan
  • MSW Programs in Minnesota
  • MSW Programs in Mississippi
  • MSW Programs in Missouri
  • MSW Programs in Montana
  • MSW Programs in Nebraska
  • MSW Programs in Nevada
  • MSW Programs in New Hampshire
  • MSW Programs in New Jersey
  • MSW Programs in New Mexico
  • MSW Programs in New York
  • MSW Programs in North Carolina
  • MSW Programs in North Dakota
  • MSW Programs in Ohio
  • MSW Programs in Oklahoma
  • MSW Programs in Oregon
  • MSW Programs in Pennsylvania
  • MSW Programs in Rhode Island
  • MSW Programs in South Carolina
  • MSW Programs in South Dakota
  • MSW Programs in Tennessee
  • MSW Programs in Texas
  • MSW Programs in Utah
  • MSW Programs in Vermont
  • MSW Programs in Virginia
  • MSW Programs in Washington
  • MSW Programs in Washington, D.C.
  • MSW Programs in West Virginia
  • MSW Programs in Wisconsin
  • MSW Programs in Wyoming
Our site does not feature every educational option available on the market. We encourage you to perform your own independent research before making any education decisions. Many listings are from partners who compensate us, which may influence which programs we write about. Learn more about us

Copyright © 2013-2023 · MSWGuide.org · About Us · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use