Greetings

[Makingmoves2014]

Hello everyone! I'm a little confuse about getting a license as a clinically Social Worker. I was just offered a job at the VA which was unexpected. My ultimate goal is to be a license clinical social worker and work with post traumatic stress disorder. My question is do I have complete a program that is clinically focus or can the program be generalized. The state I live in requires:

Basic Licensure requirements

Licensed Bachelor Social Worker

- Bachelors degree in Social Work from a CSWE accredited program or meets the requirements of K.A.R. 102-2-6
- References completed on Board provided forms from at least 2 social workers licensed at or above the Bachelors level, and a third reference from an on-site practicum supervisor (merits public trust)
- Transcript showing degree granted
- Passing the Basic Level competency exam The ASWB exam is offered daily once registered with the BSRB.

These requirements are an overview of the requirements for licensure at the Bachelors level. Please refer to the regulations for additional clarifying information.
Licensed Master Social Worker

- Masters degree In Social Work from an CSWE accredited program or meets the requirements of K.A.R. 102-2-6
- References completed on Board provided forms from at least 2 social workers licensed at or above the Masters level, and a third reference from an on-site practicum supervisor (merits public trust)

- Transcript showing degree granted
- Passing the Intermediate competency exam The ASWB exam is offered daily once registered with the BSRB.

These requirements are an overview of the requirements for licensure at the Masters level. Please refer to the regulations for additional clarifying information.Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker

- Masters degree in Social Work
- References completed on Board provided forms from at least 2 social workers licensed at or above the Clinical level, and a third reference from a work supervisor (merits public trust)
- Transcript showing degree granted
- 4000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical work experience in a clinical setting with supervisor’s attestation.
- Passing the Clinical competency exam The ASWB exam is offered daily once registered with the BSRB.

These requirements are an overview of the requirements for licensure at the Clinical level. Please refer to the regulations for additional clarifying information.

I was just wondering do I need to find a program that is clinically focused or can the program can be regionally accredited and CSWE accredited. Please share your views on this. Please no negatvie comments here. I'm just a little confuse on the licensure works with social work.
​

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[submarine1991]

Any program that is accredited by CSWE will put your on the right path to licensure. Clinical or generalist will not make a difference

For your intermediate license after graduation you just need to pass the competency exam. Both generalist and clinical programs should prepare you for that.

For your clinical license, you need supervised hours in a clinical setting, as stated above. If you endeavor to do clinical it may behoove you to attend a clinical program if at all possible. That being said, a generalist program won't hinder you. You should be fine either way.

Is this at all helpful?

 

[wesleysmith]

I have to second submarine on this one; although I thought I remember someone (pingouin?) stating that you must graduate from a program with a clinical concentration, perhaps this was more of a recommendation than a requirement. Regardless, if you want to go into therapy, it is important to look for a program that will prepare you properly, afterall, you do want to be a competent practitioner. Also, you'll want to make sure they have mental health field placements available, especially if the program is generalist, as this is an important aspect of your clinical education. If you spend two years working as a case manager studying policy and administration, you wouldn't have much in the way of an application for a position as a psychotherapist, let alone the ability to perform should you land one. Just my two cents.

 

[ikibah]

I'm going to double check but IF I'm not mistaking I believe my state requires one to have a number of clinical courses completed to be an lcsw-c. I bet it depends on the program but it could be that some generalist programs would not meet that requirement?

 

[Goobernut]

My state does not have any clinical coursework pre-reqs for the LCSW exam. This year they changed the licensing rules though. As of Nov, we have to take the LMSW and pass before we are allowed to begin supervision for the LCSW.

I also learned that when you go before the board with a proposal for supervision, you have to have your job description, and they decide if your job duties are clinical enough to warrant experience for the clinical license. I just thought that was an interesting piece.