Studying social work involves hundreds of hours of education and hands-on experience supporting various individuals with different needs. However, Bachelor’s or Master’s education isn’t enough if you want to hone your skills to their fullest potential. Thankfully, there are numerous courses you can take right now that can elevate your knowledge regarding social work and its branching sciences.
If you’re ready to take certifications now, you can get a new online care certificate that you can study directly at the comfort of your home. These certificates are catered to social workers aiming to advance their careers. Furthermore, the majority of online training programs are accredited. Often, courses are CPD certified and endorsed by Skills for Care. Listed below are other BSW and MSW certifications you can take.
BSW Certifications
Finishing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work requires hours of work and studying. If you still want to enhance your skillset, get ready to dedicate more hours of studying to finish the courses below.
Basic requirements for BSW certifications are:
- Twenty or more continuing education units (CEU) related to the chosen specialisation.
- Three years’ experience of social work-related the chosen profession.
- Social work license
Hospice and Palliative
This certification concentrates on preparing social workers for the science of hospice and palliative. Social workers who underwent this course will learn how to enrich, maintain, and address the needs of patients and families affected by severe and life-threatening illnesses. This course aims to educate social workers on the importance of administering activities that strengthen all affected patients’ physical and mental health.
Social Workers who completed this course will be a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker.
Youth and Family
This course focuses on teaching social workers the importance of instilling education into youth (classified as individuals under 18). Social workers who are versed in this course will know the optimal practice of enhancing children, youth, and families’ social and psychological health. Furthermore, taking this course will involve direct application of the specialisation through research, advocacy, program development, supervision, education, program evaluation, and administration.
Social Workers who completed this course will be a Certified Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker.
Case Management
This course aims to educate social workers on analyzing the patient’s biophysical state and the social system’s state. Social workers who have studied this course can scrutinise the strengths and challenges of a systems framework. Furthermore, social workers can improve a patient’s wellbeing by challenging how the system naturally takes care of the patient.
Social Workers who completed this course will be a Certified Social Work Case Manager.
MSW Certifications
Acquiring a Master’s degree opens up a more diverse and unique specialisation that’s otherwise unavailable to individuals with Bachelor’s degree. Hence, finishing a Master’s degree is a surefire way to advance your career in social work. However, if you wish to further enhance your career, there are advanced specialisations you can take with your Master’s.
Aside from a Master’s degree in social work, the other requirements for MSW certifications are:
- MSW-level license
- Two years and three thousand hours of post-Master social work experience related to the specialisation
- Some certificates require twenty contact hours of continuing professional education.
Health Care
Unique to MSW, the health care course for social workers focuses on advancing the practice of administering healthcare services for patients and their families. Social workers who have finished this course will have vastly improved knowledge regarding the optimal service they can provide to patients with various needs. Furthermore, social workers in health care can directly apply their knowledge by recommending health policies, improving health programs, and enhancing practice standards.
Social Workers who completed this course will be a Certified Social Worker in Health Care.
Addiction
This course prepares social workers to support individuals affected by tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. Social workers who have studied this will know how to assess all the patient’s needs, create social change interventions, provide support and discourage addiction further.
Social Workers who completed this course will be a Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Social Worker.
Education
Unique to MSW, this course aims to educate social workers on student populations’ characteristics, public education laws, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary activities, and social work ethics. Furthermore, school social work specialists provide conflict mediation and resolution, community organising, effective educational stratifies, and advocacy.
Social Workers who completed this course will be a Certified School Social Work Specialist.
All of the certifications listed above are open to all social workers willing to dedicate their time and efforts. Note that some MSW certifications above aren’t unique to social workers with a Master’s degree. BSW counterparts are available, albeit not classified as advanced certifications.
If you’re still deciding on what certification you’ll take, relax and research what courses you can take. From all the options above, there’s a specialisation you’ll adore and love. After all, being a social worker is challenging and demanding, but it’s one of the most rewarding practices you can study.
