Find MSW programs that teach psychiatric social work
Psychiatric social work is an in-demand field of mental health. Learn more about how to become a psychiatric social worker.
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Why earn an MSW with courses in psychiatric social work?
Flexible degree options
Earn your online MSW at with flexible coursework and complete local internships or clinical fieldwork requirements.
Qualify for supervised mental health practice
An MSW program with a psychiatric focus qualifies you to become an LMSW and practice under the supervision of an LCSW until you earn LCSW licensure.
Make a difference
Train for a meaningful and impactful career as a licensed social worker in the mental health field.
What is psychiatric social work?
Psychiatric social work is a specialized type of social work that provides mental health support. Social workers in this field help clients manage mental health conditions through counseling, education, and coordinated care, often with clinical psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals.
They can help clients better understand pharmaceutical treatment options and connect them to critical mental health social services, including inpatient, aftercare, and family counseling programs.
Browse MSW programs that teach psychiatric social work
What does a psychiatric social worker do?
Psychiatric social workers can find employment in various settings, most commonly in inpatient or hospital practice locations, to assist people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness. They provide diagnostic assessment, therapeutic intervention, and client advocacy to help connect clients with important resources, like housing, medical care, and peer support.
Working on a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, mental health aides, case managers, and other medical or community-based professionals, these professionals collaborate to ensure adherence to prescribed medications and other treatment plan components. Social workers may provide individual therapy and psychoeducation to empower the client and their loved ones with information about their diagnosis.
Salary and career outlook for psychiatric social workers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), mental health and substance use social workers make a median annual salary of $61,330 per year. Actual earnings depend on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, areas of specialty, and practice location.
The BLS projects employment for this field of social work to grow significantly, tripling the average for all occupations. With more than 20% of the adult population in the United States facing a mental health disorder, psychiatric social workers play an integral role in meeting the need for mental health care.
How to become a psychiatric social worker
Here are the steps you will need to take to become a psychiatric social worker:
- Earn a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related discipline.
- Earn a master's degree in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
- Apply for limited licensure in your state, and earn the required number of supervised clinical hours for full licensure – typically around 3,000 hours.
- Pass the ASWB Clinical Social Work exam.
- Apply for full in your state.
Licensing requirements for clinical social workers vary by state, so check with your local professional licensing board for more information. If you plan to pursue a career in psychiatric social work, you can prepare by obtaining a social work internship and post-graduate employment at a hospital or psychiatric inpatient program under the supervision of a fully licensed psychiatric social worker.
What to expect from an online MSW that teaches psychiatric social work
Most programs (MSWs) require students to complete foundational courses in social justice, human behavior and the social environment, and social welfare policy and services.
An online MSW in psychiatric social work may also include specialized coursework in subjects like assessing mental conditions, mental health policy and services, and social work practice in health settings.
Online MSWs in psychiatric social work also include a field practicum, as required by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which accredits all advanced social work degrees leading to licensure. Some MSWs may split the fieldwork into generalist and specialized training instead of requiring a field placement specific to psychiatric social work.
After completing your CSWE-accredited MSW, you can sit for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) master's exam, which qualifies you to gain usually about two years of supervised clinical experience and meet the additional licensure requirements in your state.