How to Become a Social Worker in Kentucky
Kentucky is best known for its horse racing prestige, scenic and natural beauty, the Mammoth Cave National Park, and bluegrass music. The social workers in this state earn a mean annual wage of about $68,800 as per the occupational employment and wage statistics of May 2023. All the social workers under the employment code 21-1029 had an estimated mean hourly wage of about $33.08.
Becoming a social worker allows individuals to serve others through advocacy and compassion. A social worker seeks to bring about social justice and equity by ensuring individuals have equal access to resources. As a social worker, you will champion the rights of marginalized communities and address cases of systematic and social injustices.
To become a social worker in Kentucky, you must possess the necessary academic and professional qualifications. Some of the CWSE-accredited programs you can pursue in Kentucky include a baccalaureate and master’s in social work. Understanding the critical steps on how to become a social worker in Kentucky is important. Here are the steps, types, licenses, and organizations for social workers in Kentucky.
Typical Steps to Become a Social Worker in Kentucky State
1. Earn a Degree
Getting the proper education is paramount to qualify as a social worker in Kentucky. According to the Kentucky Board of Social Work, any person interested in becoming a social worker must have an accredited bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in social work. The school offering the degree must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This training covers policy and research methods, human behavior and field experience.
Licenses require a master’s degree in social work. This level of education offers in-depth and advanced training in social work. The graduates under this program qualify to be certified social workers (CSW) or licensed clinical social workers (LCSW).
2. Complete Field Hours
To gain the required skill set and education, the state of Kentucky recommends that a student pursuing a bachelor’s in social work should complete a minimum of 450 field hours. Individuals pursuing a licensed clinical social worker accreditation must earn 3,120 supervised social work hours, must be master’s or doctoral degree holders in social work and must have passed the ASWB clinical exam.
3. Get a License
The state of Kentucky offers three different licenses to individuals who wish to practice social work. The licenses include licensed social worker (LSW), certified social worker (CSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
Social Work Degree Programs in Kentucky State
Kentucky has several education institutions offering a BSW or MSW degree program. The programs are available to students interested in either online or on-campus studies. Students pursuing a bachelor’s in social work qualify for entry-level jobs since it is the minimum qualification in Kentucky. Students pursuing a master’s in the same field qualify for the certified social worker and licensed clinical social worker licenses.
The state has about 15 universities with a bachelor’s program in social work. Below are some universities, their locations, modes of study and duration.
BSW Programs in Kentucky State (list)
- Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, full-time/part-time/online, 4 years
- Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, KY, full-time, 4 years
- Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, full-time, 4 years
- Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY, full-time/part-time, 4 years
- University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, full-time/part-time/online, 4 years
- Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, full-time/part-time/online, 4 years
- Asbury University, Wilmore, KY, full-time/part-time/online, 4 years
- Brescia University, Owensboro, KY, full-time/part-time/online, 4 years
- Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, full-time/part-time/online, 4 years
- Morehead State University, Mt Sterling, KY, full-time/multiple cohorts, 4 years
- Murray State University, Murray, KY, full-time/part-time, 4 years
- Spalding University, Louisville, KY, full-time/part-time, 4 years
- University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, full-time/part-time/online, 4 years
- University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY, full-time/part-time/online, 4 years
- University of Pikeville, full-time/part-time, 4 years
Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Kentucky State (list)
- Brescia University, KY, full-time, part-time, 2+ years
- Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights. KY, full-time, part-time, 2+ years
- University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, full-time, part-time, online, 2+ years
- Campbellsville University, full-time, part-time, online, 2 years
- Eastern Kentucky University, full-time, part-time, online, 2 years
- Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, full-time, part-time, online, 2+ years
- Spalding University, Louisville, KY, full-time, online, 2+ years
- University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, full-time, part-time, online, 2 years
- University of Pikeville, KY, full-time, part-time, online, 2 years
Online MSW Programs in Kentucky State
- Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, 2 years
- Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights. KY, 2 years
- University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 2 years
- Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 2 years
What Types of Social Workers are in Kentucky?
Licensed Social Worker
Social workers in this category are employed in entry-level positions. They possess a bachelor’s degree in social work and offer services under supervision. The Kentucky Board of Social Work sets the following requirements for these workers.
- Must have a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution
- Must pass the exam set by the board
- You must submit an online application through the Kentucky Board of Social Work
Certified Social Worker
These social workers are qualified to perform advanced tasks and responsibilities. They require supervision to conduct clinical practice. The following are the board requirements:
- Must have a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution
- Pass the master’s level exam set by the board
- Submit an online application through the Kentucky Board of Social Wor
- Must be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The licensed clinical social worker is a highly qualified individual who needs no supervision and can offer a diagnosis of mental health matters. The Kentucky Board requirements for the workers include:
- Must have a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution
- Pass the ASWB clinical level exam set by the board
- Complete at least two years of clinical experience after completing the master’s program
- Submit an online application through the KBSW with documents highlighting supervised experience.
- Must be supervised by an LCSW
Social Work Licenses in Kentucky State
The Kentucky State Board of Social Work is mandated with issuing licenses to qualified social workers in Kentucky. The official site allows you to renew, reinstate, apply, and verify licenses. The state of Kentucky has three different social work licenses. These include:
- Bachelors – Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
- Masters – Certified Social Worker (CSW)
- Clinical – Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
For an individual to qualify for licensing as a licensed social worker, they must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete a CSWE-accredited degree in social work
- The application fee is a non-refundable amount of $25
- Pass an examination prepared by the Kentucky State Board of Social Work
- Once the license is offered, it has to be renewed every three years.
Certified Social Worker (CSW)
According to the Kentucky State Board of Social Work, individuals who desire licensing as certified social workers must satisfy the following conditions.
- Complete a CSWE-accredited Master of Science degree in social work
- Pay a non-refundable fee of $25
- Pass an exam prepared by the board of social work
- Renew the license every three years.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
If you want licensing as a social worker under this category, here are the qualifications
- Be a certified social worker (CSW)
- Have at least two years of supervised post-graduate work experience through the Kentucky State Board
- Pay an application fee of $25
- Pass a test prepared by the state social work board
- Renew the license every three years.
For individuals who would want to renew or reinstate their licenses in Kentucky, the fees are as follows:
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW) – $75
- Certified Social Worker (CSW – $125
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – $200
Social Work Salaries in Kentucky State
The salaries for social workers in Kentucky vary based on your chosen occupation within the field. Some of the recent estimates listed by the role, number of employees and salaries are tabulated as follows:
| Social Worker Type | Amount Employed | Annual Salary |
| Child, Family and School Social Workers | 7140 | $46,390 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | 1690 | $62,040 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 1290 | $49,310 |
| Social Workers, all other | 730 | $62,670 |
| Social Work Teachers | 110 | $52,270 |
Social Work Scholarships
Kentucky has several scholarships available to students pursuing studies in social work. One of the key social work scholarships in the state include:
University of Kentucky College of Social Work Scholarships – This scholarship is available to students studying social work. The scholarship is available to both bachelor’s and master’s students.
Social Work Organizations in Kentucky
There are several social work organizations in Kentucky. These include:
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – formed in 1955, NASW is the largest group of professional social workers. The organization seeks to enhance the professional growth and development of its members.
Kentucky Society for Clinical Social Work (KSCSW): — This organization is mandated to promote a professional image, educate its clinical social workers and ensure ethics are upheld.
Kentucky Association for School Social Work (KASSW) – The mission of this organization is to ensure social work services in schools are effectively promoted.
National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) – Formed in 1968, NABSW seeks to improve the lives of individuals of African ancestry through research, service delivery and advocacy.
Social Worker Anti-Racist Coalition of Kentucky (SWARCK)— SWARCK is an organization that works to eliminate white supremacy ideologies in all levels of practice through reforms and policy activism.
Kentucky Association of Social Work Educators (KASWE) — KASWE is a social work organization that seeks to promote the standards of social work education in Kentucky.
FAQs
No, according to the Board of Social Work, Kentucky does not have reciprocity with other states. The board does not accept the ASWB advanced generalist exam category, although it does accept the bachelor, master’s, and clinical category exams.
The best way to look up your social work license in Kentucky is by:
- Visit the official site of the Board of Social Work
- On the home page, click on the licensure tab
- Navigate to the license verification tab and click on search
- In the Choose Category section, enter your license number, last name and the last 4 numbers of your SSN.
- Click search
This service is free of charge and will show the following information:
- Name of Licensee
- License number
- Date of expiry
- Effective date
- Current license status
- Sanctions