Your guide to social work programs in Kentucky

First and foremost, it is important to confirm that an MSW program in Kentucky, or in any state, is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Currently, there are eight accredited MSW programs in Kentucky. Students can check the accreditation status on the CSWE website. In choosing an MSW program, students will want to ask about tuition and fees, the number of credit hours required to complete the program, how long it takes to complete the program, and perhaps if they have a part time program. Students may want to ask if they have an online option and if scholarships are available. If planning to attend online, ask if the curriculum is taught synchronously (in real-time, usually using video connection) or asynchronously (little to no in-person contact with students and faculty). Currently, tuition for MSW programs in Kentucky ranges from $559 per credit hour to $764 per credit hour.

If you plan to practice as a social worker in Kentucky, you should plan to get your license. Some graduates do go to work for agencies that are exempt from the licensing requirement, but I recommend that you pursue your license, nonetheless. Chances are very high that you will not always work for that exempt agency, and you don’t want to be in the position of needing to act quickly on a new job opportunity that requires a license or needing to take the exam five years after graduation when the material is no longer fresh in your mind. The good news is that you can apply for your license six weeks before you graduate. You can find the application forms on the Kentucky Board of Social Work’s. You will need to attach your unofficial transcript to your application. Note that there are three fees to be aware of: the application fee (that you send with your application to the Board), the examination fee (payable to ASWB), and the actual license fee (also payable to the Board). Once you are licensed, make sure that you are aware of the relevant laws in Kentucky that govern practice, especially the Code of Professional Conduct, and that you obtain at least the minimum continuing education hours: 30 units for each renewal period for MSW-level practitioners (CSW and LCSW). In your first renewal period, plan to obtain training in the Kentucky Code of Ethics (3 hours), Suicide Assessment, Treatment, and Management (6 hours), and Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (3 hours). Lastly, be aware that your license must be renewed every 3 years, so be careful not to let it lapse!

Students have many choices of where to invest in their education and their futures for a MSW program in Kentucky. The most important factors in those decisions are ensuring the faculty is still actively practicing in the areas most vital to the field to continue to infuse curriculum with current practice experience. A student should research that the faculty is actively involved across the spectrum of social work in each area from direct practice to macro/ policy practice and social justice work. Most schools will not have all these vital factors. Another important factor is class size and hybrid access to classes to reflect the nature of a post pandemic world.

The opportunities to become a social worker in Kentucky are endless. The civil unrest of 2020 made public the social injustices happening nationwide, and in our own state, in addition to the global pandemic. So, there are social workers responding to the needs of the times to create new processes at the macro-level and creating more robust interventions at the micro-level. This is an excellent time to become a social worker in Kentucky, change is happening here.

The future of social work in Kentucky is vast. Social work is showing up in a significant manner in every facet of our communities in ways that it was not visible before. There are countless new career opportunities partnering directly with law enforcement and the city government to have a physical presence and voice on community issues.

There is a huge need for diverse persons to become licensed clinicians in Kentucky. There is a place for your voice, your experience, and your knowledge here. Licensed clinical professionals need to reflect the diversity of the community in gender identity, race and ethnicity, and ableism. Bring your talents to Kentucky and be apart of making a difference in this changing landscape of social work.

When deciding on an MSW program, the students in Kentucky generally are looking for affordability and convenience. Most prospective students are looking for an MSW program that is primarily online and fits in with their already hectic life. Prospective students typically have families and many also work full-time.

We are also finding a great number of prospective MSW students are working in social services agencies, which already places a high demand on their time. Prospective students want to be able to work asynchronously as much as possible, allowing them the flexibility to complete assignments before work, after work, on the weekends, and after the kids have been put to bed.

Regarding affordability, in our current economy, families do not have extra income and see their education as an investment to both hone their skills and improve their financial situations. However, prospective students do not want to amass huge debt in obtaining an MSW so programs must keep costs as low as possible for students. For instance, students look for MSW programs that offer incentives such as free textbooks, as well as generous scholarships and stipends first.

The need for qualified social workers is one highest demand in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. While there are many different types of human services degree options, there is a shortage of licensable social workers, which requires a social work degree.

Kentucky, like many states, has a high rate of substance abuse and mental health challenges and not enough social workers to fill the void. The biggest challenge that students face in becoming social workers is the educational process and affording college, which many MSW programs in Kentucky are taking collaborative and innovative approaches in attempting to address.

Social work is a growing field in Kentucky and has a bright future. While our MSW program services students from all over the United States, most of our students do originate from the Eastern Kentucky and surrounding Appalachian region, which has an overwhelming shortage of social workers. This need will only increase as the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic become more apparent over time.

MSW graduates in Kentucky are finding a wide variety of job opportunities. Many of our MSW students are already employed in a social work setting, such as community mental health facilities, hospitals, and child welfare agencies and are using their MSW to advance their knowledge and career.

Those who are finding new jobs will work in private therapy settings under the supervision of an LCSW, hospitals, schools, community mental health providers, behavioral health clinics, state child and adult welfare agencies, community action agencies, foster care service providers, doctor offices and clinics, some health insurance agencies, child advocacy centers, higher educational settings, workforce development settings and integrated healthcare settings. MSW students who pursue their LCSW, are also eligible to open their own private practice, once licensed.

The licensure process in Kentucky has three types. The first type of license is the Licensed Social Worker (LSW), which requires a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE accredited school and passing the bachelors level licensure exam prepared by the ASWB.

An LSW in Kentucky cannot practice clinical social work. The second type of license is the Certified Social Worker (CSW), which requires a person to graduate with an MSW from a CSWE accredited school and pass the masters level licensure exam prepared by the ASWB. A CSW in Kentucky can practice clinical social work under the supervision of an LCSW by written contract approved by the Kentucky Board of Social Work. A CSW also cannot operate a private practice. The final type of licensure in Kentucky is the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

In order to become an LCSW in Kentucky the applicant must hold either an MSW or doctorate degree in social work, minimum of two years of full-time post MSW experience (30 hours a week) or 3 years of part-time post MSW experience (20 hours a week) and passed the ASWB exam for LCSWs. An LCSW can provide clinical social work services either for an organization or as a private provider.

Normally in Kentucky students who desire to obtain an LCSW will first obtain their CSW and enter into a contract with an LCSW for supervision working toward their LCSW. My advice to students is to determine what career path they wish to pursue and know the requirements. I would also advise students to take their CSW exam as soon as they can after they graduate and to use ASWB study materials to help prepare. The reason for this is because information is freshest in their mind and the exams are structured by the ASWB.

Finally, I would encourage students to at least pursue their CSW, even if they do not think right now that they wish to enter clinical practice. Having their CSW does not limit their opportunities, but rather opens them up to more opportunities.