Licensed social workers can assist people with finding social and personal help during times of need.
Social workers in Virginia Beach must be licensed through the Virginia Board of Social Work. To become licensed, professionals must possess a combination of education, supervised work experience under the direction of a licensed social worker, and passing test scores through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Once licensed, social workers can pursue employment through Virginia Beach Human Service provider organizations, traditional local employment resources and online employment channels.
Instructions
1. Research the requirements for social workers in the state of Virginia. In Virginia, social workers must be licensed to perform their job. To qualify, individuals must possess at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and supervised case-management field experience that can be verified. Licensing requirements are provided by the state through the Virginia Board of Social Work. For more information regarding these requirements, visit the Virginia Department of Health Professions website.
2. Meet the educational requirements for a licensed social worker. In Virginia, you must obtain a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW). Acquire a degree from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. To search for an accredited program in the state of Virginia, visit the CSWE website (see Resources).
3. Get board-approved supervised work experience as a new social worker to supplement your degree. For licensing, you must complete 3,000 hours of work experience under the supervision of a social worker licensed in the state of Virginia. This experience must be verifiable through your supervisor; she will be required to sign verification documentation that will be included in your license application with the state. Consult your school adviser to assist you with locating suitable affiliated social-service providers willing to supervise your initial work as a recent graduate. For approval forms, visit the board website and download the "Verification of Casework Management and Supportive Services" form.
4. Apply for approval to take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) licensing exam for BSW-level social workers. Before you can take the licensing exam, your academic experience, supervised experience and background must be reviewed by the Virginia Board of Social Work. Complete the application materials on the board's website once you've completed your 3,000 hours of supervised work.
5. Take the ASWB exam for BSW-level applicants. Once your qualifications have been validated by the board, you'll be given instructions on scheduling and taking the ASWB licensing exam. Schedule and take the exam at a designated test site using the instructions sent to you once you've been approved to test.
6. Apply for employment as a social worker once you've received your state-issued licensed social worker credentials. When you've passed the licensing exam and have received your license, you can search for employment in the Virginia Beach area. The Virginia Department of Human Services is the primary resource listing for citywide social and human services providers for the city. Search the city municipal website for career listings across departments for the city, as well as employment listings through the "Norfolk Virginian-Pilot" news journal. Also consider national online social work career websites such as Socialservice.com.
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