Transitioning From Social Work To A New Career

Education, guidance, and career counselors help students and job-seekers develop academic and career plans. Similar to social work, these counseling fields require exceptional listening skills to fully comprehend the needs of their clients. These professions have become increasingly popular for social workers, with 18% transitioning into these fields from 2021-2023.

School and career counselors need master’s degrees in counseling, psychology, or other related fields, and graduate-level social work programs likely qualify. Public school counselors must hold credentials issued by their state boards, and some schools may look for candidates with classroom teaching experience or licensure. Career counselors may need licenses in some states.

These counselors help clients with addiction recovery, behavioral modification, and mental health stabilization. Like social workers, they manage caseloads and refer clients for other services. Social workers and substance misuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors share common skill sets, including active listening and compassion, to understand and empathize with clients.

These counseling professionals are also in demand, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting an 18% employment growth rate from 2022-2032. A social work degree should provide the necessary background to enter these counseling fields. A master’s is required to become a licensed professional counselor, along with post-master’s supervised clinical experience and a passing score on the national licensing exam.

Three percent of social workers who changed careers during 2021-2023 became marriage and family therapists (MFTs). An occupation with projected strong employment growth, MFTs work with families and couples experiencing cognitive, behavioral, and addictive disorders, formulating treatment plans and providing referrals to specialists and community resources.

An MFT needs a master’s degree in a mental health field and a state MFT license. A master’s and background in social work may offer sufficient preparation for a marriage and family therapy career, but the transition will likely require additional supervised experience. Social workers bring applicable experience to MFT work, including interpersonal and organizational skills.

Registered nurses (RNs) provide patient care, support for patients’ families, and health education. They consult and collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals. Social workers bring skills like emotional stability, critical thinking, and problem-solving into careers as RNs. Registered nursing ranks among the top 10 career changes for social workers from 2022-2032, and RNs enjoy high earning potential.

An RN needs specific training through a diploma, certificate, or undergraduate degree program. Social work degrees likely provide transfer credits toward an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. The transition to RN work also requires a passing score on the National Council Licensure Examination and state licensure.

One of the more seamless career transitions for social workers is clergy or religious work. Nearly 12% of social workers who changed careers moved into these roles. Social workers share many of the same job duties and responsibilities with clergy, including counseling clients, conducting home visits, referring clients to social services, and responding to crisis situations. Clergy and religious workers include ministers, pastors, and rectors, who offer spiritual guidance individually and through worship.

Clergy hold bachelor’s or master’s degrees and receive training on the job. States typically do not regulate clergy, but state laws may require ministers to be ordained to perform specific duties, such as weddings.

Social workers bring numerous skills to the teaching profession, including communication, patience, and resourcefulness, along with an educational background in the social sciences. State licensing boards require each public high school teacher to have at least a bachelor’s degree, with some requiring a master’s after earning teaching certification and finding employment. Private schools typically require a bachelor’s degree with a major in a subject area, but these schools do not require licensure.

Licensure or certification criteria for high school teachers vary by state but usually include student teaching and exams.

Human resources specialists recruit applicants and place new hires into positions. Other potential duties include handling compensation and benefits, employee relations, and staff training. Skills that transfer well from social work to human resources include judgment and decision-making, interviewing, organization, and time management.

These professionals usually hold bachelor’s degrees in business, communications, and human resources, but employers more typically emphasize work experience than undergraduate majors. Social workers interested in this occupation can earn professional certification, which is not required but can help with career transitions.

Social workers’ backgrounds helping diverse populations can lead to careers as diversity and inclusion specialists. These professionals work with human resources departments and focus on organizational strategies and programs to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Skills gained in social work, including compassion, communication, problem-solving, and advocacy, can help career-changers. A diversity and inclusion specialist typically needs a bachelor’s degree in a human resources field, but employers may consider work experience more important than formal education. An optional inclusive workplace culture specialty credential can also help with the occupational shift.

Social and community service managers coordinate human services programs and direct staff who provide services to the public. These managers identify needed services, secure funding, and analyze program effectiveness. Organizations may focus on specific populations, such as veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, or people with substance use, food insecurity, and mental health needs.

Most employers in this field require a bachelor’s degree, but some may prefer candidates with master’s degrees. Work experience can occur in social work and counseling. Shifting into a social and community service manager role should not require additional education or training for social workers.