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Become a Social Worker in Washington
Washington state offers scores of opportunities for a career in social work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 16,830 social workers and postsecondary social work educators in Washington in May 2024. The BLS also reports the national job outlook for social workers is projected to grow 6% between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than average compared to all positions.
With the growing need for social workers, Washington is rife with social work degree programs, with at least a dozen bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate-level programs. Students can choose from part-time, full-time, advanced-standing, and online programs.
To become a social worker in Washington, you need education, experience, and credentials.
This career guide for how to become a social worker in Washington explains educational requirements, how to get licensed, Washington social work organizations to join and more. Once you complete the steps to become a Washington social worker, you can embark on a meaningful, fulfilling career helping others.
Information below was retrieved November 2025 and is only meant to be a high-level overview. Requirements may change; always check with the state licensing board for complete and up-to-date information.
University of Denver • Denver, CO
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
54-81 graduate-level credits
Concentrations
Mental Health and Trauma, Health, Equity and Wellness
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to be considered for admission
- Minimum undergraduate GPA is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree
- Official transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Career goals statement
Syracuse University • Syracuse, NY
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 24 months
Credits
36-60
Concentrations
Advanced Integrated Practice, Advanced Clinical Practice
Admission Requirements
- Minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred
- Transcripts
- Resume
- Essays
- Prerequisite coursework
- Letters of recommendation
Simmons University • Boston, MA
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Accelerated and Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 9 months
Credits
37-65
Concentrations
Mental Health Practice Optional Certificate, Trauma Practice Optional Certificate, Clinical Practice with Active Service Members, Veterans, and Families
Admission Requirements
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Recommendation forms
- Statement of professional and educational intent
Howard University • Washington, DC
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 12 months
Credits
45+
Concentrations
Direct Practice, Community, Administration and Policy (CAP) Practice
Admission Requirements
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- College transcripts
- A personal statement
- An application essay
- A resume
- Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution, award within four years of first term start date
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all social work foundation and undergraduate coursework
Hawaii Pacific University • Honolulu, HI
Master of Social Work
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
12-36 months
Credits
30-57
Concentrations
Military and Veterans Affairs, Child or Adult Protective Services, Health Care, Mental Health, Individual and Families, Social Agency Administration
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with at least 30 credits in Liberal Arts from an accredited four-year institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA, but applicants below that will be considered for provisional admission
- Completed courses in Statistics and Research Methods
- Applicants must have completed each course with a grade of a "C" or higher
- Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited program within the past five years
- Minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale in social work courses
- Online application
If you’re wondering how to become a social worker in Washington State, it starts with education, then experience, then licensure and career advancement.
The first step is to acquire an associate degree or Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), or a bachelor’s degree in a related field like sociology or psychology. BSW programs include supervised field experience or an internship and prepare students for work in administrative roles like mental health assistant or caseworker.
To advance your social work career in Washington, you’ll need a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. MSW programs enable students to become more specialized and experienced in social work. An MSW is a requirement to obtain one of the three available social work licenses in Washington. When you’re choosing a social work degree program, make sure it’s one that’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). To get licensed, only CSWE-accredited MSW programs are accepted.
To become a Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), you’ll have to have a minimum amount of supervised, post-graduate social worker experience. Both of these credentials required you to complete a minimum of 3,000 hours of postgraduate experience.
To get licensed, you’ll have to meet rigorous standards set forth by the Washington State Department of Health. Some social work roles will require social workers to be an LASW, and any independent clinical social work must be practiced by an LICSW under the law. The Associate-Advanced and Independent Clinical Social Worker license enables someone with an MSW to work under an LASW or LICSW.
Fulfilling the previous steps, social workers can then look for jobs in Washington by using the National Association of Social Workers job search tool. Social work graduates can also connect with their college career center to get job leads.
Learn more on how to become a social worker.
Social Work Degree Programs in Washington
Washington state offers several social work degree programs to choose from. The state has seven CSWE-accredited BSW programs and four CSWE-accredited MSW programs for social workers. A few additional programs are currently pending accreditation.
Some students complete prerequisite coursework in an associate degree program first to save time in a BSW program. A BSW program will include general college coursework in non-social work-related classes, as well as social work coursework.
During their pursuit of a degree from a CSWE-accredited program in Washington, students learn about advanced social work topics more in-depth. Some programs offer social work concentrations, and others are more generalist. For example, the Eastern Washington University MSW program is an advanced generalist program, while the Seattle University MSW program offers sub-specializations such as addictions, medical/health social work and trauma-informed practice. An MSW prepares graduates for licensure and offers more field experience than a BSW program.
There is also a PhD program in social welfare offered by the University of Washington School of Social Work. A social work doctorate enables a social worker to pursue social work research or obtain leadership roles in large-scale social work organizations.
Master of Social Work (MSW) programs
MSW programs in Washington are available in full-time and part-time structures. There are also advanced standing programs, which allow students to apply coursework from a BSW to complete the MSW program quicker.
The following are CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Washington. Available social work concentrations include administration and policy practice, community-centered integrative practice, clinical social work, integrative health-mental health advanced practice and multigenerational practice with children, families and elders.
| Institution & Program | Location | Study Length | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
Southeastern UniversityMaster of Social Work | Lakeland, FL | 2 years | Full-Time |
Wayne State UniversityMaster of Public Health/Master of Social Work | Detroit, MI | 2 years | Full-Time |
Online MSW programs Washington
As far as online MSW programs in Washington, Eastern Washington University currently offers the state’s only program. Instead of having an MSW clinical focus, the program has an advanced generalist concentration.
It’s a part-time, weekend, hybrid program that enables students to complete an MSW in three years and includes an advanced standing online MSW. The program combines online and in-person instruction, with in-person courses held three weekends per quarter at the Eastern Washington University Spokane campus. Students complete their social work practicum at an agency within their own community.
| Institution & Program | Location | Study Length | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
Arizona State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Phoenix, AZ | 2+ years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Northeastern Arizona UniversityMaster of Social Work | — | 2 years | Full-Time, Part-Time |
Social Work Licenses in Washington
There are three types of social work licenses in Washington: a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), a Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) and an Associate-Advanced and Independent Clinical Social Worker license. Each license qualifies you to become a social worker in Washington at different levels and work settings. The requirements for each license vary, so consider your career goals when completing your degree and field experience.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Washington
To practice unsupervised clinical social work in Washington, a social worker must have an LICSW.
- Education requirements: CSWE-accredited MSW or doctorate social work degree and official transcripts.
- Field requirements: Minimum of 3,000 hours of post-MSW or post-doctorate supervised experience.
- Exam: American Association of Social Work Board (ASWB) Clinical exam.
- License renewal: Every year.
Learn more about how to become an LICSW.
Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) in Washington
A Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW) is another type of social worker license in Washington.
- Education requirements: CSWE-accredited MSW or doctorate social work degree and official transcripts
- Field requirements: Minimum of 3,000 hours of post-MSW or post-doctorate supervised experience.
- Exam: ASWB Advanced Generalist exam
- License renewal: Every year
Associate-Advanced and Independent Clinical Social Worker in Washington
The Associate-Advanced and Independent Clinical Social Worker license enables social workers to do social work under the supervision of an LASW or LICSW and gain hours for field experience.
- Education requirements: CSWE-accredited MSW or doctorate social work degree and official transcripts
- Exam: None
- License renewal: Every year
Social Work Salaries for Washington
Social worker salary in Washington is determined by the type of licensure, experience and education a social worker has and the role and work environment. The following are the May 2020 state occupational employment and wage estimates for social work careers in Washington.
Washington Social Work Careers | Number of Social Workers in Washington | Average Social Work Salary |
|---|---|---|
Child, Family and School Social Workers | 10,570 | $73,080 |
Healthcare Social Workers | 4,970 | $77,320 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 3,490 | $71,660 |
Social Workers, All Other | 870 | $91,410 |
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 280 | $83,370 |
Information on the above social work salaries in Washington was retrieved in November 2025 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Washington, as of May 2024.
Washington Social Work Scholarships
If you’re interested in attending social work school in Washington, there are social work scholarships in Washington that can help you pay for school.
- AAUW Fellowships & Grants
- Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship
- Fastweb social work scholarships
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
- Scholarships.com Washington scholarships
- Scholarships.com social work scholarships
- University of Washington School of Social Work scholarships
- Verne LaMarr Lyons Scholarship
Washington Social Work Organizations
There are several social work organizations in Washington to check out for networking opportunities, job leads, news and resources.
FAQs
Washington state has a reciprocity program that takes into consideration substantial equivalency to other states’ clinical social worker licenses based on their scope of practice. If the department considers your license from another state substantially equivalent, you can apply for a temporary probationary license to work as an LASW or LICSW. Applicants must meet all Washington state licensure requirements to retain social worker licensure.
Begin Your Career as a Social Worker in Washington
Washington state has plenty of opportunities for social work students and current professional social workers alike. With numerous social work education programs and licensure reciprocity you can start and build a career as a social worker in Washington.
Information last updated: November 2025