Social Work Careers
Happy National Social Work Month to future and current social work students, practicing professionals, and retired social workers out there!!
To kick off the month, today’s blog is going to give you an overview about everything you need to know about what is needed to work in the social work profession, and where you can find out more about social workers. Again, this is all based on Ontario, Canada, and may look different for your area.
Education
Social workers have either a Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW), a Master’s degree in social work (MSW), or both from accredited universities. There is also the ability to pursue a PhD. A BSW is traditionally a 4-year program in Canada, with an MSW being an additional 1-3 years. You do not necessarily need a BSW to obtain your MSW, although many find this beneficial; many MSW social workers began in other fields, such as psychology or political science, and use social work as an opportunity to shift or expand their practice. These programs typically involve rigorous classroom training combined with professional development opportunities and unpaid work experience, such as an internship or practicum.
Social Work Career Paths
Social workers can work at both the micro and macro levels in a variety of settings. They can work with individuals and families, communities, or in policy development that affects entire populations of people.
Advocacy and Community Activism
Healthcare (physical, rehabilitative, mental health, etc)
Immigration
Child Protection
Justice & Corrections
Employment
Housing
Education
Administration & Management
International Social Work
Policy & Planning
Politics
Research
Social workers can take a variety of roles across many different sectors. We can be therapists or counselors, advocates, case managers, or educators. Social workers can be leaders, managers, mediators, and facilitators. The field of social work is vast and includes the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
Costs to Consider
According to recent data, social workers in Canada make an average of around $58, 000 annually. This obviously fluctuates heavily based on your role, experience, and what area of social work you work in. This also varies from province to province, as well as from country to country.
Now, there are quite a few extra financial costs to actually practicing social work that must be considered.
If you ever want to call yourself a “social worker” or practice as such, you must be registered with your provincial regulatory body. In Ontario, this is the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Work (OCSWSSW). In order to register, there is a registration fee and then a yearly membership fee. This is often what is also talked about in other areas as your “licensing fee.” It is not cheap. There’s no sugarcoating that part. Many people also join their provincial association, which is the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) in Ontario; interestingly, in Canada this automatically now makes you a member of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) at no extra cost (yay free stuff!!). While each province’s association is different, they are designed to support professionals (unlike the College, which is designed to to protect the public) and many choose to join in order to support this effort and utilize their resources and community.
Those working in private practice typically earn a higher annual income. However, private practice (particularly if it is your own) involves start-up costs and operational costs, and does not come with many of the benefits of being an employee at an organization/agency or hospital. Working at a private practice typically means you are operating as an Independent Contractor, which includes your registration/license fee and liability insurance; it can also include legal costs, accounting fees, and marketing expenses.
If you own the private practice, there are definitely a lot more start-up and operational costs, including overhead (office supplies, rent and utilities, additional insurance, etc), ongoing legal and accounting fees, marketing costs, and potentially administrative staff. Private practice is also not considered an “entry-to-practice competency”, meaning that it isn’t recommended to open your own practice fresh out of graduation.
How to Find a Social Worker
There are many ways to find a social worker, whether that be to use their services or to even get a sense of what’s currently out there. Some helpful online registries include:
Many social workers are also utilizing social media platforms to share information about their services or raise awareness for a variety of topics, including mental health, social justice, and policy. So be sure to look on platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and YouTube!
