How To Become a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker

What degree do you need

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Mental Health Social Workers or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Mental Health Social Workers what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers must have a master’s degree and two years of post-master experience in a supervised clinical setting. A bachelor’s degree in social work is not required to enter a master’s degree program in social work. A degree in almost any major is acceptable. However, courses in psychology, sociology, economics, and political science are recommended.

How hard is it

You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge and experience to be a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, a surgeon must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Careers in this difficulty category may need some on-the-job-training, but most of these careers assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, and work-related experience and training. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, neurologists, and veterinarians.

License and certifications

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers must also be licensed in the state in which they practice. All states have some type of licensure or certification requirement, which varies by state. However, some states provide exemptions for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers who work in government agencies. Becoming a licensed healthcare social worker usually requires a master’s degree in social work and a minimum of 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience after graduation. After completing their supervised experience, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers must pass a clinical exam to be licensed. Because licensing requirements vary by state, those interested should contact their state board. Most states also have licenses for non-clinical social workers. For more information about regulatory licensure board by state, contact the Association of Social Work Boards.

Skills required

We asked other Mental Health Social Workers if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Mental Health Social Workers are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

Explore other careers