This guide has everything you need to know about online MSW programs in Texas. We emphasize master’s in social work (MSW) programs, particularly online MSW programs, because of their popularity and applicability to obtaining a social work license, which is needed if you want to practice social work in a clinical setting.
In this guide- Social work in Texas
- Social work programs
- MSW programs
- Common specialities
- Online MSW
- Advanced standing degree
- Dual-degree options
- How to become a social worker
- Licensed clinical social worker
- Frequently asked questions
Social work in Texas
As the second most populated state in the nation, there are many opportunities to work with diverse populations in Texas.
Texas has over 30 million residents and the Hispanic or Latino population is now nearly equal to the non-Hispanic population. Texans of color have accounted for 95 percent of the state’s population growth since 2010. Seventeen percent of the population are immigrants, with the vast majority coming from Mexico.
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Featured Online MSW Programs
| School Name | Program | More Info |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Baylor's Online MSW—Now Accepting Applications | website |
| Our Lady of the Lake | 100% Online—CSWE Accredited BSW or MSW | website |
| New Mexico Highlands University | CSWE Accredited Online MSW Program | website |
| University of Southern California (USC) | Accredited Online MSW Program from USC | website |
| University of Kentucky | CSWE Accredited Online MSW Program | website |
| University of West Florida | Career Focused CSWE Accredited Online MSW | website |
Bilingual social workers are more common in Texas than in many other states due to the large Spanish-speaking population. Social workers interested in serving immigrant families can find employment in community organizations, healthcare facilities, schools and legal/advocacy organizations.
Over twenty-eight percent of the population in Texas is 19 or younger, so opportunities are plentiful to work with children and adolescents in child development programs, schools, community organizations, child protective services, and the juvenile justice system.
By the year 2030, more than 20 percent of Texans will be age 60 or older. Gerontology social workers are in high demand, working in medical facilities, assisted living/nursing homes, hospice organizations and in community-based agencies that help the elderly live independently.
Social work degree programs in Texas
There is ample opportunity to study social work in Texas, with a total of 52 social work programs in the state. Thirty-three are baccalaureate degrees (BSW), and nineteen schools offer Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees.
Online social work degrees are popular in Texas. In fact, there are more online MSW programs available (11) than strictly on-campus programs (8). Five schools offer online BSW programs.
All 19 MSW programs in the state of Texas offer advanced standing so that students with BSW degrees are able to complete the master’s program in about a year. All but one school offers part-time MSW study and six offer evening and weekend MSW classes for maximum schedule flexibility.
MSW programs in Texas
As is the case with most clinical social work positions across the country, the majority of Texas social work positions also require a master’s of social work (MSW).
The MSW is a professional degree that combines both academic or classwork experience with clinical or fieldwork experience. Upon graduating, aspiring social workers will be eligible for licensing examinations so long as they’ve completed a set number of clinical hours.
The actual classes, hours, and other inclusions within an MSW program can vary from university to university. There are no standardized course offerings, although general curriculums will be relatively similar to one another.
This is because all MSW programs need to prepare a student for social work licensure, which carries with it set requirements. Accredited MSW programs typically include:
- General coursework: These courses cover a variety of social work topics including human development, micro practice, macro practice, ethics, social work policy and advocacy, statistics and research methods.
- Specialized coursework: Specialized courses are most often included with MSW programs that allow aspiring social workers to focus on a particular field of social work. For instance, students may take dedicated classes that enable them to become a child, family and school social worker.
- Field education: All MSW programs will include hands-on clinical experience requirements. These generally average between 600 to 1,000 hours of work over the course of a two-year standard MSW program. Field education placements can be completed in two different settings (one for each year of the program), allowing students the opportunity to explore different agencies and populations to determine where they’d most like to work after graduation.
- Electives: All MSW programs include elective credits for students to further specialize their areas of study. While most students complete electives within the school of social work, some take classes from other university departments such as public health as their electives.
MSW program listings in Texas
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX
Credits: 64
Tuition: $75,342
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Dual degree option: Theology or Divinity
Certification: Non-profit management
Program Highlights:- Program length: Standard program takes two years. The advanced standing program can be completed in one year
- Advanced generalist program with an evidence-based practice emphasis
- Offers paid part-time and full-time graduate assistantships
Angelo State University
San Angelo, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $27,840 in-state | $45,540 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Dual degree option: Theology or Divinity
Certification: Non-profit management
Program Highlights:- Specializations: Advanced generalist practice and clinical practice
- Complete in as little as 12 months
Baylor University
Waco & Houston, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $66,000
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year
Area of Specialized Practice: Clinical or direct practice, community and social systems
Dual degree options: Business administration, theology or divinity
Program Highlights:- Focused on social justice and the ethical intersection of faith and practice
- Specializations: Clinical practice and community practice
- 10:1 student-to-professor ratio
Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio & La Fera, TXCredits: 57
Tuition: $54,834
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year, weekends/evening
Area of Specialized Practice: Clinical or direct practice
Program Highlights:- Concentration in social work practice with Hispanic children and families
- Offers a Certificate in Business Essentials for Health Care Professionals through the advanced standing program
- Can be completed in 12 months
Stephen F. Austin State University
Woodland, TXCredits: 64
Tuition: $38,368 in-state | $64,480 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year, weekends/evening
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist, rural social work
Certification: International social work
Program Highlights:- Program curriculum includes generalist practice and specialized practice content
- Complete in 2 years
- Strong focus on rural communities, addressing the needs of people with rural lifestyles and cultural diversity
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, Waco, & Fort Worth, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $24,960 in-state | $40,920 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Integrated practice
Program Highlights:- Offers full- and part-time options with flexible cohort model
- Focuses on community-based and service-learning
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Commerce, Mesquite, & McKinney, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $25,648 in-state | $50,100 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Certification: Management
Program Highlights:- Complete in one year
- Featured courses:
- Clinical practice in mental health
- Organizations, communities and social policy
- Foundation of social welfare policy
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Kingsville, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $24,628 in-state | $57,380 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- Two tracks offered:
- Regular
- Advance standing
- Prepares students for advanced social work practice in the border region
- Focuses on clinical/activist social work content
- Two tracks offered:
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $112,200
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Dual degree option: Pastoral studies
Certification: Gender studies
Program Highlights:- No GRE required for admissions
- Opportunities for internships that provide stipends and tuition assistance
- Offers tailored degree plans for students who are studying part-time
Texas State University
San Marcos, TXCredits: 62
Tuition: $21,420 in-state | $47,450 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- Emphasis on professional ethics and social justice
- 2 tracks:
- Foundation degree
- Advance Standing Tracks
- Offers intensive supervised agency-based practice internship opportunities
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TXCredits: 51
Tuition: $14,688 in-state | $32,334 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- The program focuses on health and well-being
- Complete in 1 year
- Offers part-time schedules
Texas Woman’s University & University of North Texas Collaborative
Denton, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $27,732 in-state | $63,060 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- Opportunity to receive a master's degree jointly awarded by the two universities
- Focuses on ethical practices and leadership training
- Two programs of study:
- Generalist
- Advanced
University of Houston
Houston, TXCredits: 63
Tuition: $24,822 in-state | $56,826 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year, weekends/evening
Area of Specialized Practice: Clinical or direct practice, management or administration, macro social work
Dual degree options: Business administration, doctorate in social work, law, public health, public policy
Program Highlights:- Two programs offered:
- Full Program
- Advance Standing
- Part-time is also available with hybrid and online options
- Focused Learning:
- Trauma education program
- Global leaders of behavioral health education
- Political social work
- Abolitionist social work
- Mental health advanced-practice in social work program
- Nonprofit leadership alliance
- Two programs offered:
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington & Fort Worth, TXCredits: 61
Tuition: $26,779 in-state | $66,746 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, weekends/evening
Area of Specialized Practice: Children, youth, and families, health, management or administration, mental health, aging and gerontological practice
Dual degree options: Business administration, criminal justice, public administration, public health, urban planning
Certifications: Administration or management, military
Program Highlights:- Military/Veteran-friendly
- The program provides various advantages, including access to a strong job market and opportunity to work with professors at a top-tier research institution
- Offers part-time and full-time basis curriculum
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $28,216 in-state | $54,120 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Clinical or direct practice, management or administration, social policy
Dual degree options: Law, public administration, public health, public policy, theology or divinity
Program Highlights:- Supervised field internship
- Students will gain credentials in cross-disciplinary academic fields that align with their interests
- Offers flexible options that enable students to complete it within one year
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $29,760 in-state | $53,940 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist, international social work, immigrants and refugees, practice with a specific racial or ethnic group, leadership
Program Highlights:- Students are eligible for need-based and merit-based programs
- Field faculty assist and direct students in locating placements
- GRE is not required
University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $14,820 in-state | $25,680 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year, weekends/evening
Area of Specialized Practice: Other, practice with a specific racial or ethnic group
Certification: Non-profit management
Program Highlights:- Focuses on transformative, culturally competent practice
- Offers part-time or full-time
- Students who meet the eligibility criteria can receive a program stipend to alleviate expenses
University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TXCredits: 63
Tuition: $28,000
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year
Area of Specialized Practice: Children, youth, and families, clinical or direct practice, community development and social systems, management or administration, immigrants and refugees, practice with a specific racial or ethnic group
Certification: Public health
Program Highlights:- Scholarship of up to $1,000 for one academic year available
- Concentrations:
- Direct practice with Latino people, families, and groups (micro-practice)
- Community practice and administration (macro-practice)
West Texas A&M University
Canyon & Amarillo, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $22,224 in-state | $25,224 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, weekends/evening
Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- Program Tracks:
- Standard
- Fast track
- Can finish degree in one year
- Program offers students a broad curriculum that encompasses both clinical and macro practice elements
- Program Tracks:
Common MSW specialities
MSW students in Texas are able to select from a number of social work specializations, depending upon the offerings of the school they’re attending. Indeed, many students select an MSW program based on the area in which they believe they’d like to specialize.
Almost a quarter of Texas MSW students are advanced generalists, which means they receive training in both working at a micro level (directly with clients) and at a macro level (addressing injustice at a community, state, or national level). Other specialties include:
- Clinical/Direct practice – this is for students wanting to work directly with clients, perhaps even becoming licensed and opening up their own therapy practice.
- Management/Administration – this is for students wanting to have leadership roles in nonprofit or community organizations
- Children, Youth and Families is the specialization for most students interested in working with child protective services or as a school social worker.
- Health is a broad specialization that prepares graduates to work in settings from community health clinics to hospitals to outpatient dialysis centers and everything in between.
- Mental Health specializations prepare students to work in settings such as mental health clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and community organizations. Some schools, such as the University of Texas, Arlington offer a specialization in Mental Health and Substance Misuse, preparing students to work in various rehabilitation programs or dual diagnosis programs.
Almost 27 percent of MSW students in Texas specialize or concentrate in areas other than what have been previously discussed. Some of these other specializations and an example of a school that offers this area of focus include:
- Baylor University:
- Diversity
- Gerontology
- Congregational social work
- International social work
- Trauma
- Our Lady of the Lake University:
- Direct practice with Hispanic children and families
- Stephen F. Austin University:
- Rural social work
Learn more about MSW programs in the Houston area in this comprehensive guide.
Online MSW programs in Texas
There are also plenty of online MSW programs that will allow you to get your degree while working a job or managing other obligations. Online MSW programs are just as rigorous as in-person programs, and must go through the same process to be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Online courses can be offered synchronously, which means everyone in the class logs on at the same time to listen to the lecture and discuss with each other in real time, or asynchronously, meaning that students log into the course platform at their convenience, watch a pre-recorded lecture and complete the assignments including discussion board posts with their classmates on their own schedule.
Online MSW programs in Texas still require a field education component, but you’ll likely be able to log these clinical hours at an agency in your local community. Many field education offices have connections with social work settings across the nation to accommodate students no matter where they live. In some instances, students already working in social work can complete their field education hours at the agency where they are employed, though the work done for field education must be different from their paid job duties.
Many online MSW programs have longer program completion windows — sometimes courses can be taken part time over three or four years instead of the typical full time, one to two year timeframe. This flexibility makes online MSW programs more appealing and accommodating to students with full time jobs, families or other obligations.
These Texas online MSW programs exist in three general formats or options.
- Traditional Texas-based schools that have an online component. These programs, like the University of Houston or Texas State University, offer online programs with full-time and part-time options. However, since some schools like the University of Houston do not have online education agreements with all states, this means some out-of-state students would not be eligible for admission. It is important to check your eligibility for a specific program before beginning the application process.
- Colleges and universities outside of the state that admit students from Texas. There are a number of really good options that fit this category, ranging from top-tier MSW programs to popular state schools. The key part of finding the right fit is to first confirm that students from Texas are eligible for out-of-state online programs.
- Hybrid programs are offered at the University of Texas, Arlington and the University of Houston. Hybrid MSW programs in Texas require some on-campus time (usually 30 to 50 percent of the coursework is completed in-person) and some online learning. Increasingly, hybrid programs are offering more flexibility, like evening or weekend classes to work around busy student schedules.
Whether you live in Texas and want to attend an in-state school fully online, are an out-of-state student interested in attending a Texas school online, or would be best served by a hybrid program, you are sure to find a Texas MSW program for you.
Online MSW program listings in Texas
Angelo State University
San Angelo, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $27,840 in-state | $45,540 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of specialized practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- Two specializations available:
- Advanced generalist (emphasis on mezzo and macro-level practices)
- Clinical practice (emphasis on micro-level practice)
- Curriculum includes coursework in social work theory, research, and practice
- Two specializations available:
Baylor University
Waco & Houston, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $66,000
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year
Area of specialized practice: Clinical or direct practice, community and social systems
Dual degree option: Business administration, theology or divinity
Program Highlights:- Focuses on service, justice, and empowerment
- No GRE requirement
- Faith-based perspective
Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio & La Fera, TXCredits: 57
Tuition: $54,834
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year, weekends/evening
Area of specialized practice: Clinical or direct practice
Program Highlights:- One to three years to complete
- No GRE/MAT requirement
- The program is one among just three in the nation that places a strong focus on issues facing the Hispanic community
Stephen F. Austin State University
Woodland, TXCredits: 64
Tuition: $38,368 in-state | $64,480 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year, weekends/evening
Area of specialized practice: Advanced generalist, rural social work
Certification: International social work
Program Highlights:- An undergraduate degree in social work is not required
- Curriculum:
- Generalist practice (emphasis on problem-solving method in the helping relationship)
- Specialized practice (emphasis on rural context)
- Offers part-time program of study
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Commerce, Mesquite, & McKinney, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $25,648 in-state | $50,100 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year
Area of specialized practice: Advanced generalist
Certification: Management
Program Highlights:- Two tracks available:
- Foundation (two to four years to complete)
- Advance Generalist Practice (complete in one year)
- A need-based financial aid program available to qualified students
- Hands-on experience from faculty through every step of the program
- Two tracks available:
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Kingsville, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $24,628 in-state | $57,380 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, advanced standing
Area of specialized practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- The program does not require or consider GRE in admissions decisions
- Field practicum is agency-based practice experience
- The program promotes activism in terms of organizing, volunteering, or participating in community events
Texas State University
San Marcos, TXCredits: 62
Tuition: $21,420 in-state | $47,450 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing
Area of specialized practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- Integrates practice and administration skills to prepare students for advance-level leadership
- Provides agency-based internship opportunities
University of Houston
Houston, TXCredits: 63
Tuition: $24,822 in-state | $56,826 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year, weekends/evening
Area of specialized practice: Clinical or direct practice, management or administration, macro social work
Dual degree options: Business administration, doctorate in social work, law, public health, public policy
Program Highlights:- Hands-on social work practice experience
- Focuses on social, economic, and political justice, emphasizing critical thinking skills
- Available to outside students on military bases
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington & Fort Worth, TXCredits: 61
Tuition: $26,779 in-state | $66,746 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, weekends/evening
Area of specialized practice: Children, youth, and families, health, management or administration, mental health, aging and gerontological practice
Dual degree options: Business administration, criminal justice, public administration, public health, urban planning
Certifications: Administration or management, military
Program Highlights:- Web-based instruction by prominent national and international scholars
- Tailored degree plans for part-time students
- One to three years to complete
- Completion of the program does not require students to be part of a cohort
University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TXCredits: 63
Tuition: $27,999.72
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, multiple cohorts per year
Area of specialized practice: Children, youth, and families, clinical or direct practice, community development and social systems, management or administration, immigrants and refugees, practice with a specific racial or ethnic group
Certification: Public health
Program Highlights:- Financial aid is available for those who qualify
- Emphasis on greater equity and social justice for all individuals
- Estimated duration of the program is 12 months
West Texas A&M University
Canyon & Amarillo, TXCredits: 60
Tuition: $22,224 in-state | $25,224 out-of-state
Plan of study: Full-time, part-time, advanced standing, weekends/evening
Area of specialized practice: Advanced generalist
Program Highlights:- Numerous scholarships and financial aid programs available
- Utilizes a variety of theoretical frameworks
- Does not require an undergraduate social work degree
Advanced standing MSW programs in Texas
Students who have already earned a BSW degree from an accredited school of social work are eligible to apply for advanced standing. This allows BSW graduates to skip some of the foundational level courses within the MSW program (because this content was already covered during their BSW courses). Advanced standing students are thus able to complete their MSW degree in a shorter amount of time, typically one year, if attending full time.
For example, Texas A&M University Kingsville accepts a student into the advanced standing program if they have completed their BSW from a CSWE-accredited program within the previous 7 years, and have an undergraduate GPA of 3.2. Advanced standing students earn their MSW in three semesters (one calendar year) of full-time study.
Texas State offers advanced standing to both their traditional and online students. Online advanced standing students can attend classes part-time or full-time to complete their degree.
Advanced standing students are able to complete the same specializations or concentrations that traditional students complete. Thus, it makes sense for undergraduate students to earn a BSW if they already know they want to eventually earn an MSW, as having advanced standing status will save both time and money in completing the graduate degree, and allow the graduate to enter the workforce earlier than if they were a traditional student.
According to CSWE, nineteen schools of social work in Texas offer advanced standing. These programs are:
Online only:
- University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley
On-campus:
- Abilene Christian University
- Tarleton State University
- Texas Christian University
- Texas Tech University
- Texas Woman’s University & University of North Texas Collaborative
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Texas at El Paso
- University of Texas at San Antonio
Both online and on-campus:
- Angelo State University
- Baylor University
- Our Lady of the Lake University
- Stephen F. Austin University
- Texas A&M Commerce
- Texas A&M Kingsville
- Texas State University
- University of Houston
- University of Texas at Arlington
- West Texas A&M University
Social work dual-degree programs in Texas
Another educational option available to MSW students is to pursue a dual-degree. Combining another professional discipline with social work is a great idea because it not only teaches you to see the world from a different academic perspective, but it opens the doors to even more job opportunities and settings in which you can make a true difference in the lives of others.
Six schools in Texas offer at least one dual degree program, and a total of 9 different dual degree options are offered in Texas. Here are examples of the kinds of dual degrees available for social work students in Texas and examples of career paths for graduates.
Three schools offer MSW/MBA (Master of Business Administration) dual degrees. Graduates of these programs are prepared for careers in organizational development or nonprofit management, to name a few.
Three programs offer MSW/MPH (Master of Public Health) dual degrees. Graduates can go on to work as policy analysts, researchers and hospital administrators.
Theology is another popular dual degree option at Texas schools. Graduates of MSW/MIT (Master in Theology) or MTS (Master of Theological Studies) dual degree programs often serve clients within religious organizations or congregations.
MSW/MPA (Master of Public Administration) graduates work in positions of management and leadership, often as social service agency administrators.
Public Policy is another degree offered along with MSW degrees. MSW/MPP students work in social welfare policy.
Social Work is a field that blends well with criminal justice, and MSW/MCJ dual degree graduates thoroughly understand the criminal justice system and the policies that influence the field of corrections. Graduates can work in diversion programs, within correctional facilities or with inmates after release to prevent recidivism.
A law dual degree (MSW/JD) is offered at the University of Texas at Austin. Graduates of this dual degree program have deep knowledge of social justice and experience in client advocacy.
MSW/MAPS (Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies) graduates typically provide pastoral counseling within religious organizations or faith-based settings, or serve as a chaplain within a hospital or other care setting.
MSW/MUP (Master of Urban Planning) students consider and address social service issues from both planning and direct service perspectives.
Important to note is that most dual degree programs require admission to both the school’s MSW program and the other professional program. Just because an applicant is accepted into one program and is interested in a dual degree offering, this does not mean they are automatically accepted into the other program. In order to graduate, students must complete all requirements from both programs, including internships and field education placements.
Completing a dual degree program requires a lot of planning. Often electives from one program can fulfill some requirements for the other, but this is not always the case. Students will need to work closely with the coordinator of the dual degree program to ensure classes are taken in the right order and at the proper times to meet all requirements and graduate in a reasonable amount of time.
How to become a social worker in Texas
Texas offers a series of licensed social worker pathways depending on your educational level and your desired career. In general, social work licenses with higher requirements lead to better pay and positions with more responsibility.
There are three types of masters-level educated licensed social workers in Texas: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Practitioner (LMSW-AP), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
MSW graduates from accredited programs in Texas are eligible to sit for the Texas licensing exam to become an LMSW. Graduates are well-prepared for the exam by completing a rigorous MSW program, and many are successful in their attempts to pass the exam. In 2018, 100 percent of Tarleton University’s MSW graduate students that took the licensing exam passed on their first try.
LMSW and LMSW-AP licenses do not require supervised clinical experience, but also do not let you practice independently in a clinical setting. Thus, your career options are much more limited.
Steps need to become a licensed master social worker
- Obtain an MSW and obtained transcripts verifying the program’s completion
- Take the online jurisprudence exam
- Complete the application for social work licensing in Texas along with all of the necessary verification
- Submit to a criminal history evaluation and fingerprinting
- Take and pass the ASWB masters exam
The LMSW-AP is the highest level non-clinical social worker in Texas. Steps needed to become a Licensed Master Social Worker – Advanced Practice include:
- Become an LMSW
- Complete at least 3,000 hours of supervised work and 100 hours of supervision.
- Submit your application for an upgrade to your social work license
- Complete the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam
Licensed clinical social worker
The LCSW designation is required if you want to work in private practice or provide direct clinical interventions. The LCSW is the highest social worker credential in Texas. Steps to become an LCSW include: is last social worker pathway is the only path if you want to work as a social worker in a clinical context. You must have an MSW from an institution already accredited by the CSWE or Council on Social Work Education. After obtaining this certification, you can practice independently.
- Earn an MSW from a CSWE-accredited institution.
- Complete at least 3,000 hours of clinical work, 100 of which are supervised by a Board-approved LCSW, over the course of 24 to 40 months.
- Submit an application to upgrade your licensure.
- Pass the ASWB Clinical exam: this is the most advanced form of the exam. Applicants can take the test multiple times but must wait a 90-day period between each attempt. All candidates must achieve a passing score of 70 to qualify for licensing.
Note that you will need to renew your license by taking the exam again and/or fulfilling additional requirements if you want to practice social work in another state. You’ll also need to retest or take up-to-date classes reflecting new social work practices every few years to keep your license over the long term. Current (2023) renewal requirements include 30 hours of continuing education to include six hours in ethics and social work values every two years.
Frequently asked questions about MSW programs in Texas
here are multiple options available to those who earn an MSW in Texas. In addition to working in a clinical setting, many graduates work in policy or administration. Since much of Texas is rural and has a high Hispanic/Latino and/or immigrant population, social workers with knowledge and training in working with these populations are in great demand.
The biggest differences between these two types of degrees are the setting, the format and the flexibility. Traditional students go to campus to learn in real time from instructors. The course schedule is very regimented, with little to no flexibility. Online MSW students can attend courses around their other life commitments, may take fewer courses per semester if attending just part-time, and may have additional time to complete their degree.
Students interested in earning another masters degree along with their MSW can apply for acceptance into a dual-degree program. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for each program, and understand that acceptance into one program does not automatically mean they will be accepted into the other program. Courses are taken within each program, and all requirements for both programs must be met before being allowed to graduate.
No. Both online and on-campus programs offer advanced standing status to qualified students. Each school has different admissions requirements for advanced standing, so be sure to thoroughly review each set of requirements before applying.