Explore one-year online MSW programs
Do you want to advance your social work career? A one-year online MSW program lets you start your program with advanced standing and graduate with half the credits. Find the right one-year MSW program for you.
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Why earn a one-year MSW online?
Join a fast-growing field
A one-year online master of social work (MSW) program can save you tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and transportation.
Graduate in half the time
A one-year MSW program allows you to apply some bachelor of social work (BSW) coursework as prior learning, enabling you to graduate in half the time.
Advance your social work skills
A one-year MSW program allows you to focus on advancing your direct and clinical social work skills.
See all one-year online MSW programs
Differences between a one-year online MSW and a traditional MSW
A one-year program prepares students for a direct or clinical social work career at the master's level.
The program allows BSW-holders to complete their MSW in one year and skip the foundational coursework they learned in their undergraduate program, making these and quicker to complete.
| Program type | Typical program length | Prior education required |
|---|---|---|
| One-year MSW or accelerated MSW | Around 16 months | BSW accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) |
| Advanced Standing MSW | 9-12 months | BSW accredited by the CSWE |
| Traditional MSW | 24-32 months | Bachelor's degree |
While a traditional MSW program may suit almost anyone with a bachelor's degree, advanced standing and accelerated MSW programs require candidates to have foundational social work knowledge in the form of a BSW.
If you earned your bachelor's degree in a different field or wish to continue working while you earn your MSW, a traditional or extended program may suit you best. Accelerated and advanced standing programs typically allow you to graduate in 9-16 months if you already have a BSW and can learn on a full-time schedule.
What can you do with a one-year online MSW?
An accredited one-year online MSW program qualifies students to become licensed master social workers (LMSWs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), or their state's equivalent.
LMSW requirements
To become an LMSW, you'll need:
- A CSWE-accredited MSW
- A clean background check
- A passing score on the master's exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
- Any state-specific course requirements, such as ethics or social justice
LMSW responsibilities
An LMSW allows you to practice direct social work either independently or under supervision, depending on your state. While practicing direct social work, you may:
- Research and refer clients to community resources
- Maintain case files
- Monitor clients' situations and find out whether they've improved
- Help clients adjust to changes in their lives
- Respond to crisis situations
LMSWs work in many settings, such as state and local governments and individual and family services. The client population you work with will help determine your work setting. You can work with children and families, veterans, or older adults.
As an LMSW, you can obtain the supervised experience you need to become an advanced generalist or clinical social worker. You'll need to complete 1,500-4,000 hours of supervised experience, depending on your state and license type. Clinical social work opens opportunities for you to work with people with mental health and substance use conditions.
How much can you make with a one-year MSW?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social workers earned a median annual salary of $61,330 in 2024. Most social workers earn between $41,580 and $99,500 a year.
This salary range includes bachelor's-level social workers and master's-level social workers. With an MSW, you can typically earn a salary on the higher end of this range.
An MSW and an LMSW qualify you for the supervised experience needed to become a clinical social worker. Clinical social workers work in some of the highest-demand .
The overall employment for social workers is projected to grow by 7% between 2023 and 2033, according to the BLS. Mental health and substance use social worker jobs are projected to grow by 12% in the same time period. Social workers need a master's degree and a license in clinical social work to qualify for these jobs.