Texas Social Work Certification & Licensing + Jobs & Salary
If you are thinking about starting a career in social work in Texas, you need to think about what that job truly entails. Because you will work directly with various members of the population as a social worker, it is very important that you understand the demographic makeup of the area where you intend to work. Additionally, you will need to look into the state regulations surrounding the social work profession.
The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that some 26.5 million people live in the state of Texas. This is a growth of 5.2%, which is more than twice as high as the national average. Texas has always seen above average population growth, which is an important factor if you want to work in the field of social work in this state. It is also interesting to see that 7.3% of the population is under the age of 5, which is higher than the national average. Yet, only 11.2% is over the age of 65, which is significantly lower than the national average.
People of working age seem to migrate to the state regularly. This means that there are very specific demands on social services, including health care and social work. Under the law in Texas, there are four different types of social workers and these are: the LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), the LMSW-AP (Licensed Master Social Worker – Advanced Practice), the LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) and the LBSW (Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker). This means that, unlike in many other states, someone with a bachelor’s degree can work as a social worker, although often only in limited fields. Regardless of whether a student chooses the bachelor’s or master’s degree option, the program must be Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited in order for the graduates to be allowed to take the licensing examination.
Texas Degrees in Social Work
- Texas State University School of Social Work. Students can take part in both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in social work. The master’s degree program has recently been awarded a $1.5 million HRSA Grant.
- The University of Texas at Austin offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate programs in social work. Graduates from this university have been in high demand since the 1950s.
- University of Texas at Arlington offers a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate program. They also take great pride in their students who are offered federal grants and fellowships. Furthermore, they provide their master’s degree program fully online to encourage working students to take part in further education.
Texas Social Work Employment
The social work career in Texas is very interesting. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that salaries for social workers vary tremendously depending on the sector in which they work. Additionally, those with a master’s degree tend to earn at least $15,000 more than those with a bachelor’s degree.
At present, the average salary for a social worker in the child, family and school sectors is $37,230. For those working in medical services and public health, it is $47,520. Those who work in mental health and substance abuse generally earn around $34,610. Finally, those who work in other areas of social work tend to earn around $45,490 per year.
Texas Social Work Jobs
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
Address: Houston, TX
Telephone: 713-442-0211
Website
Kelsey-Seybold has 21 different clinics, serving some 400,000 patients. They look for social workers who are able to deal with high risk patients in a variety of settings. Additionally, the social workers are there to liaise between patients and physicians across the board.
Burke
Address: Lufkin, TX
Telephone: (936)639-1141
Website
Burke always has a variety of positions on offer that are suitable for social work graduates. One position, for instance, is the mental health clinician. They will work mainly with adults, providing rehabilitation care to patients.
Inner Wisdom, Inc.
Address: Houston, TX
Telephone: 713-592-9292
Website
Inner Wisdom offers intensive outpatient treatment as well as partial hospital programs. They focus on adults with various degrees of mental health difficulties, including those with substance abuse problems.
Texas Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants
Scholarships
- The National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, Inc. Graduate Scholarship Program delivers scholarships to students who work towards improving outcomes for children and young people. Their motto is “Care today – Character tomorrow,” which students must also fully believe in.
Fellowships
- The Agencies for Gerontology Intercultural Field Training (AGIFT) Fellowships are offered to those who work in gerontological and culturally sensitive social work. The application process is incredibly competitive. The University of Houston, which offers this fellowship, also offers a range of other fellowships to look into.
- Additionally, the University of Texas at Austin has a full listing of fellowship opportunities that currently exist for students. It is very important to look through these offerings if you intend to further your education and career.
