Clinical vs. Direct-Practice Social Work
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Social workers have many opportunities to work in different roles and settings with diverse populations. Both direct-practice and clinical social workers assist clients of all backgrounds, but they differ in licensure requirements and the types of services they can provide.
Before choosing the role that works best for you, use this guide to understand the differences between clinical and direct social work, including degree and licensing requirements, scope of practice, and career and salary potential.
What Is a Clinical Social Worker?
Every state establishes regulations and specific titles for clinical social workers, but most require a master’s in social work (MSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and a clinical social work license.
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, families, and groups with mental, emotional, and behavioral conditions. LCSWs work with clients in various settings, including hospitals, mental health and addiction recovery clinics, social service agencies, correctional facilities, and private practice. These professionals provide services and support different client populations, including children and adolescents, families and couples, military personnel, and other groups.
Payscale reports an average annual salary of $67,160 for licensed clinical social workers as of October 2024, with the highest earners making over $89,000 a year. However, the earning potential for LCSWs varies considerably depending on specialization, experience level, and geographic location.
Popular Online MSW Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Degree Do You Need to Work in Clinical Social Work?
In most states, clinical social workers must have an MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program and complete at least two years of post-master’s work experience in a supervised setting. To practice as a licensed clinical social worker, candidates must pass the clinical exam offered by the Association of Social Work Boards.
Each state set its own licensing standards in addition to the degree and ASWB exam requirements. Some social work licensing boards use the title of Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in place of the LCSW designation.
MSW programs often allow students to specialize in a particular area of practice, such as substance use counseling, child welfare, trauma-focused therapy, or psychiatric social work. While specializations are not usually required for licensure, they can enhance employment prospects by developing advanced knowledge and skills beyond a general MSW plan of study.
Clinical Social Work Master’s Curriculum
Students enrolled in a clinical social work master’s program often take courses that cover substance use and addiction, mental health practice, and research methods. However, the curriculum varies depending on the program and a student’s specialization.
- Clinical Social Work Practice and Assessment: This course examines a variety of therapeutic models and clinical strategies for analyzing and assessing mental and behavioral conditions. It also covers best practices for developing effective treatment plans for vulnerable and at-risk client populations.
- Social Work Practice and Addiction: Students learn and apply the major counseling approaches for substance use disorders in individuals, families, and groups. The course addresses screening, treatment plans, case management, crisis intervention, referrals, and consultation.
- Social Work Practice and Traumatic Stress: This course presents intervention and treatment techniques for working with clients affected by traumatic stress. Students examine psychological trauma through evidence-based practice, including primary and secondary (vicarious) traumatic stress; the nature of traumatic events and environments; and the impact of trauma on individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- Social Work Practice and Mental Health: Students examine the techniques used in clinical practice to assist individuals seeking mental health services. The course addresses the classification, symptoms, and treatment of mental health conditions and the impact of stigma surrounding mental health and care.
- Statistics and Research Methods in Social Work: Students apply and interpret various statistical procedures and research methods to analyze quantitative and qualitative data and design and evaluate treatment programs. This course emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practice in social work.
What Is a Direct-Practice Social Worker?
Direct-practice social workers assess clients’ needs, determine the types of services they require, and connect them with the appropriate resources. While they cannot diagnose or treat clients, these social workers fulfill various roles and responsibilities, including working as case managers and community health workers, making referrals, and advocating for their clients.
Most direct-practice positions require at least a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program and a state license. However, some states may require an MSW degree.
Direct-practice social workers offer services to diverse client populations, including military personnel, survivors or perpetrators of violence, and immigrants. They often specialize in assisting vulnerable groups such as children, older people, or unhoused people.
Social worker salaries, including those in direct practice, vary significantly based on specialization and type of employer. Healthcare social workers are among the top-earning social workers, making an average annual salary of $67,430, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Government agencies and educational services typically offer higher salaries than community and family service organizations.
What Degree Do You Need to Work in Direct-Practice Social Work?
You must have at least a BSW to enter most direct-practice positions. While most BSW programs take approximately four years to complete, some online and accelerated programs may allow you to finish faster.
Degree, licensure, and scope of practice requirements vary by state. In many states, you need to earn a licensed bachelor social worker credential or equivalent to practice. Depending on state social work board regulations, the license process may require you to achieve a passing score on the ASWB exam.
Generally, social workers with a BSW degree only practice under the supervision of a clinical social worker. However, some states permit licensed social workers to practice independently after fulfilling supervised experience requirements.
Advanced training and certifications help you advance in direct-practice positions. BSW and MSW programs often allow you to choose specializations in areas such as child welfare, substance use, and gerontology.
Direct-Practice Social Work Master’s Curriculum
Below are some typical examples of coursework students in a direct-practice MSW program might complete. Again, the curriculum will vary by program and specialization.
- Culturally Responsive Social Work Practice: Students analyze how power, privilege, and diversity impact ethical and effective social work practice with people of diverse backgrounds. The course emphasizes ways to address bias and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, social class, religion, age, sexual orientation, and disability in social worker/client relationships,
- Social Policy Analysis: This course offers an overview and critical analysis of the history and current aspects of public policy with an emphasis on the development, implementation, and assessment of social welfare policies and programs.
- Supervision and Leadership in Social Service Organizations: Students explore the skills and ethics required to supervise and lead others within social service and community organizations. The course explores administrative supervision models and practices, staff management, legal and ethical issues, and conflict resolution.
- Direct-Practice with Families and Groups: This course emphasizes evidence-based practice and intervention. Students learn and apply skills and techniques to work with diverse families and various types of treatment groups within a culturally sensitive social work framework.
- Direct-Practice with Children and Adolescents: This course introduces models and techniques to work directly with children and adolescents in social work settings. Topics include family context and dynamics, practice with special populations, legal and ethical issues, case management, and referrals.
Clinical vs. Direct-Practice Social Work
| Comparison | Clinical Social Work | Direct-Services Social Work |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Degree Required to Enter Field | MSW | BSW |
| Online Degrees Available? | Yes | Yes |
| Popular Career Paths | Mental Health Social Worker, Addictions Counselor, Couples Therapists | Case Manager, Community Health Worker, School Social Worker |
| Average Annual Salary | $50,713 – $74,241 | $48,323 – $63,749 |
| License Required? | Yes | Depends on the state |
Which Social Work Degree Is Right for You?
A major difference between clinical and direct social workers is their scope of practice. All social workers provide support and guidance to individuals, families, and groups in times of crisis, but only clinical social workers offer psychotherapy and counseling services without supervision.
If you envision providing direct clinical interventions with clients and developing treatment plans, consider a career as a licensed clinical social worker. As an LCSW, you may find employment in settings such as hospitals, addiction recovery clinics, and mental health facilities, or you may choose to set up your own private practice.
If you are more interested in assessing clients’ needs and connecting them with resources and services, then direct practice may be the right choice for you.
Although direct-practice social workers cannot provide one-on-one counseling, they provide case management, perform intake and screenings, and work collaboratively with other healthcare providers. Social workers in direct practice can find employment in nonprofit and community agencies, government organizations, schools, and healthcare facilities.
If you are interested in the fastest pathway to a social work career, many direct-practice positions only require a BSW degree. However, you need an MSW or a doctorate in social work to obtain the advanced preparation required for clinical social work or higher-level administrative roles. Both roles are in demand, but clinical social workers typically earn more.
Average Salaries for Clinical and Direct-Service Social Workers
Social Services Director: Social services directors administer social services and community agencies. Duties vary by type of organization but may include creating and implementing programs that meet client needs, developing policies, managing budgets, and seeking grants and funding.
Average Salary:$63,170
Social Worker, Hospice: Hospice social workers provide services for patients in the last stage of life. They help these patients and their families make end-of-life care decisions and may assist with funeral planning, insurance, and other services as needed.
Average Salary:$60,600
Licensed Clinical Social Worker: These mental health professionals assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They offer counseling and therapy services using a variety of therapeutic approaches. In most states, LCSWs must have at least an MSW and a state-issued license to practice.
Average Salary:$67,160
Social Worker: Social workers help individuals, families, and groups facing problems and challenges. They work in many settings, including schools, hospitals, social service agencies, and correctional facilities. Their duties may include assessing client needs, providing guidance and support, and advocating on their behalf.
Average Salary:$56,040
Frequently Asked Questions About Clinical vs. Direct-Practice Social Work
What is an example of direct practice in social work?
Case management is a common career path for direct-practice social workers. Case managers facilitate the delivery of services and resources to clients. They typically assess the needs of clients and their families, develop plans, locate and coordinate services and resources, and advocate on behalf of their clients.
What is the difference between clinical and non-clinical social work?
Clinical social workers assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, families, and groups with mental, emotional, and behavioral conditions. They typically engage in micro practice, providing one-on-one counseling and therapy using a variety of therapeutic approaches. Non-clinical social workers generally engage in macro practice focusing on systemic issues, developing and evaluating programs, conducting policy analysis, and performing administrative roles in nonprofit and governmental agencies.
What field of social work pays the most?
Social work salaries vary considerably, depending on several factors, including degree level and practice area. Clinical social work typically offers the highest salaries. Licensed clinical social workers earn an average annual salary of about $67,000, with the highest paid earning over $89,000. Social workers with a master’s degree in social work typically earn more than those with only a bachelor’s degree.
