Guide on Becoming an Oncology Social Worker

In supporting the care of oncology patients, social workers in the field provide psychosocial services and programs throughout all phases of cancer treatment. Oncology social workers may also provide education to organizations and communities to strengthen programs, support, awareness and advocacy.

If you think you’re interested in how to become an oncology social worker, read on. This guide will provide details on the career, common steps to get there, education requirements, skills that may help your career, work settings, job and salary outlook, and more.

Should I Become an Oncology Social Worker?

Oncology social workers are licensed professionals who provide various levels of care to people who are or have been affected by cancer via emotional and psychosocial services. With counseling, case management, support groups and community programs, an oncology social worker helps patients and their families deal with their “new normal.”If you aren’t sure whether oncology social work is your calling, there are plenty of other social work career paths within the field of social work that fill vital roles in society. Considering a speciality is just one decision you will make when pursuing a social work degree.

What is an Oncology Social Worker?

Oncology social workers almost become extensions of their clients; they are concerned with every aspect of the cancer patient’s treatment and recovery. These social workers may:

• Provide direct counseling and emotional support.
• Help a patient find outside support groups.
• Find financial resources or financial assistance.
• Connect patients with transportation services for treatment or home care.
• Assist with applications for Social Security disability.
• Translate the detailed medical language that can be hard to understand.

In other words, an oncology social worker is a client’s advocate on the journey. During a busy, often confusing, and emotional time, the oncology social worker becomes a bridge between the medical care itself and impacts of cancer and treatment on one’s life.

Degree Programs Oncology Social Workers

If you’ve decided that you want to pursue a career in social work, there are different social work degree options available to you:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW): A bachelor’s degree in social work includes a minimum of 400 hours of supervised field education (per CSWE accreditation standards) and may help prepare you for entry-level, generalist roles working with clients, connecting them to resources, and supporting case management. With a BSW, you can provide many supportive, case-management, and advocacy services, but independent clinical practice (including psychotherapy and diagnosis) typically requires an MSW plus clinical licensure, and the exact scope of practice varies by state.
• Master’s degree in social work (MSW): A master’s degree in social work includes a minimum of 900 hours of supervised field education (per CSWE accreditation standards) and prepares graduates for advanced practice, including clinical assessment and intervention, depending on state licensure. A MSW degree is required for master’s level ASWB exams, which may help you apply for licensure as a clinical social worker. One can also obtain an MSW online and there are some programs that do not require the GRE standardized test.
• Advanced-standing MSW programs: These programs are for those with a BSW who want to earn an MSW. These programs may be faster than traditional MSW programs.
• Doctoral degree in social work (DSW or PhD): Social work doctorates generally fall into two tracks, the PhD, which is research- and academia-focused, and the DSW, which is practice-focused and often emphasizes advanced leadership, teaching, and applied scholarship. A doctorate is not required to open a private practice; it typically depends on your state's clinical licensure requirements.
• Graduate certificate programs: Some colleges and universities offer graduate certificates designed to educate social workers in high-demand areas. Topic areas for these programs include advanced social work (individual and family treatment), drugs and addiction, women’s and gender studies, assessment of integrative health modalities, criminal sentencing and advocacy, gerontology, social work administration, and telehealth.

Skills

Social workers tend to be passionate about helping people, and they use a combination of skills to accomplish it. Besides being an active listener and a good communicator, it helps to have high critical-thinking skills, organizational skills and the ability to set boundaries. Time management is important, as is emotional intelligence. For a role in oncology, you may need to be versed in:

• Interdisciplinary communication
• Case management
• Counseling
• Psychoeducational services
• Resource allocation
• Mediating crisis

What is the role of an Oncology Social Worker?

The Association of Oncology Social Workers (AOSW) outlines the role of an oncology social worker by describing the scope of standards of practice that are expected. While the social worker’s comprehensive services to their patient-clients and families may seem obvious, the AOSW also lists:

• Services to institutions and agencies: Helping those organizations better understand the resources a cancer patient needs
• Services to the community: Including education, volunteerism and research
• Services to the profession: Advancing the knowledge in the profession

A day in the life of an oncology social worker means understanding cancer and its multifaceted effects, working with patients and families on a personal basis to provide information and support, addressing their changing psychological, emotional and financial needs, reviewing the medical situation with the patient’s medical team, talk with family caregivers, find needed resources and set up appointments and encourage self-care and life-affirming choices.

Work Settings of an Oncology Social Worker

Oncology social workers are found in many arenas, and while the most common work settings are cancer centers and hospitals, they may also work in support programs, hospice programs, healthcare finance offices, oncologists’ offices and clinics and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Some specialize in an age group, such as pediatrics.

Depending on the position, your work environment and job responsibilities will adapt to meet the needs of patients and your team. A pediatric oncology social worker would have a very different job description than that of a hospice social worker or one working with veterans and a social worker in a clinic may interact with fewer patients than would a hospital social worker.

How Much Do Oncology Social Workers Make?

Social workers had a median salary of $61,330 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This means half of the workers earned more than that amount and half earned less. There is no specific category for oncology social workers on the BLS, but salaries for healthcare social workers show they can earn the same or more, depending on where they work. Those in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals earned a mean of $79,110; in other ambulatory health care services, $79,510; in general medical and surgical hospitals, $81,760; in agencies, brokerages, and other insurance-related activities, $86,270; and in specialty hospitals (except psychiatric and substance abuse), $86,930.

The job outlook for social workers is good; 6% growth is expected between 2024-2034, which the BLS terms “ faster than average.” The top paying states for healthcare social workers are California ($97,090), the District of Columbia ($92,240), New Jersey ($87,110), Connecticut ($85,570), and Oregon ($84,830).

Oncology Social Work Certification

Each state has specific license regulations for its social workers. Our state-by-state licensure requirements list each level of social worker, exam details, education and field experience requirements, salary numbers, scholarship possibilities and links to the appropriate licensing boards. Be sure to check with your specific state for more licensure requirements.

In addition, the OSW-C® (Certified Oncology Social Worker) credential, administered by the Board of Oncology Social Work Certification (BOSWC®), helps patients, families, and employers recognize a social worker’s specialized oncology-focused training, experience, and commitment to high standards of practice. The oncology social worker requirements for the certification, as of February 2026, include:

• A CSWE-accredited MSW (MSW/MSSW/MSSA).
• A current, active, unencumbered master’s-level social work license (requirements can vary by jurisdiction and applicant type).
• Current employment in an oncology-related social work role.
• A minimum of 4,000 paid oncology social work practice hours within the most recent five (5) years, verified through supervisor attestation.
• Agreement to follow the NASW Code of Ethics.
• Required professional attestations/references aligned with OSW-C® competency areas.
• Documentation of 10 hours of accredited social work continuing education (CEUs) completed within the two (2) years prior to application.
• Completion of three (3) oncology specialty-related “Demonstrated Practice” activities within the two (2) years prior to application.

Be sure to check with the AOSW website for more up-to-date information.

Oncology Social Work Resources

There are two national organizations that are resources for oncology social workers:

• Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW): An organization dedicated to supporting and improving services to people with cancer. It was created in 1984 by national cancer organizations and social workers interested in oncology. They have more than 1,300 members (both professionals and students) who work in hospitals, community wellness organizations, clinics, hospice programs and more; their mission combines networking, education, advocacy, research and resource development. Their website includes professional resources and educational offerings (including webinars and other training opportunities). Additionally, AOSW also offers POWER (Psychosocial Oncology Worldwide Educational Resource), an online directory that helps people locate oncology psychosocial providers.
• Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers (APOSW): An organization that emphasizes the role of pediatric oncology social workers for children with cancer and their families. APOSW is a diverse organization with a membership that includes social workers and allied health professionals working in hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, private practices, and organizations that support children and young adults with cancer and their families. Their website includes member resources, professional networking, information on their annual conference, and training and education opportunities.