How to Become a Social Worker in Minnesota
Social workers are now the ‘backbone’ of Minnesota’s mental health workforce, wrote journalist Andy Steiner, explaining that social workers provide the majority of mental health care in Minnesota. Calling social workers one of the fastest-growing segments of the state’s mental health workforce, they “just might be the answer to the state’s serious shortage of mental health workers,” Steiner adds.
Since they currently make up 75% of the entire state’s mental health care providers, asking the question about how to become a Social Worker in Minnesota is a question plenty of careerists are asking after learning that the state is coming late to the party. Not licensed to provide mental health services until the state legislature authorized the establishment of the Minnesota Board of Social Work in 1987, the state is working hard to boost its number of licensed professionals, thus if you’re interested in pursuing a degree and practicing, you’ll likely find a job waiting once you fulfill academic and licensing requirements.
Typical Steps to Become a Social Worker in Minnesota
1. Earn a degree
According to the National Association of Social Workers, there are currently 15 institutions of higher learning granting undergraduate and graduate degrees in this discipline:
- Augsburg University (Minneapolis)
- Bemidji State University (Bemidji)
- Bethel University (St. Paul)
- College of St. Scholastica (Duluth)
- Concordia College (Moorhead)
- Metropolitan State University (St. Paul and online)
- Minnesota State University (Mankato)
- Minnesota State University (Moorhead)
- Southwest Minnesota State University (Marshall)
- St. Catherine University (St. Paul)
- St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud)
- St. Olaf College (Northfield)
- University of Minnesota (Duluth)
- University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
- Winona State University (Winona; Rochester)
2. Complete Post-Graduate Field Hours
Minnesota mandates 4,000 hours to acquire credentials needed to practice once one of four college programs have been completed.
These are the four types of licenses and descriptors of mandated hours:
The Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credential requires 4,000 hours of supervised practice with 100 hours of supervision during those hours, so anyone who wants to learn how to become a social worker in Minnesota will find this license the easiest to obtain.
The Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) credential also requires 4,000 hours of supervised practice including 100 hours of supervision during those 4,000 hours. If you wish to work in clinical practice, you must log 4,000 to 8,000 hours of clinical social work practice, have 200 hours of supervised hours, and you must have at least 1,800 hours of direct client contact.
The Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) field hour requirement is also 4,000 hours of non-clinical supervised practice with 100 hours of supervision during those 4,000 hours. Additionally of the 4,000 hours of clinical social work practice, 100 of them must be supervised within the 4,000 hours logged. At least 1,800 hours must be earned via direct client contact.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), the highest level of licensure in Minnesota, also requires 4,000 hours of clinical social work practice, 200 hours of which must supervised and at least 1,800 hours must be in the form of direct client contact. Additionally, you’ll need to complete 360 clinical clock hours within a CSWE-accredited graduate program. These 306 hours are divided into 108 clock hours in bio-psychosocial assessment and psychopathology, 36 clock hours developing clinical treatment plans, 108 clock hours mastering clinical intervention methods, 18 hours demonstrating evaluation methodologies, 72 clock hours in social policy, social work ethics and values, and finally, complete 18 clock hours that show you can perform culturally specific clinical assessments and interventions.
3. Get Licensed
There are 4 types of Social Work Licenses in Minnesota
- To become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), you must earn a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, pass a criminal background check, and meet standards of practice by not engaging in conduct that’s in violation of professional ethics.
- To qualify for a Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) license, earn a master’s degree from an institution accredited by the Counsel of Social Work Education, receive a passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), pass a criminal background check, complete required clinical practice hours, and meet standards of practice by not engaging in conduct in violation of professional ethics.
- To become a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) you must earn a master’s degree, undertake nonclinical supervised practice, receive a passing score on the Advanced Generalist exam given by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), pass a criminal background check, complete a clinical supervised hours mandate, and not engage in conduct that’s in violation of professional ethics.
- Credentials for a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) include a master’s degree, documented 360 clinical practice hours, receive a passing score on the Association of Social Work Board exam (ASWB), pass a criminal background check, undertake the requisite number of clinical supervised practice hours, and meet professional ethics standards.
Bachelor of Social Work Programs in Minnesota
- Augsburg University: All campuses
- Bemidji State University: Bemidji
- Bethel University: St. Paul
- Capella University: Online
- College of Saint Scholastica: All campuses
- Concordia College: Moorhead
- Metropolitan State University: St. Paul
- Minnesota State University: Mankato
- Minnesota State University: Moorhead
- North Central University: Minneapolis
- Southwest Minnesota State University: Marshall
- St. Catherine University: St. Paul
- St. Cloud State University: St. Cloud
- St. Olaf: Northfield
- University of Minnesota: Duluth
- University of Saint Thomas: St. Paul
- Walden University: Online
- Winona State University: Winona; Rochester
Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Minnesota
- Augsburg University: All campuses
- Bethel University: Online
- Capella University: Online degrees
- College of Saint Scholastica: All campuses
- Minnesota State University: Mankato
- Minnesota State University: Moorhead
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota: Online
- St. Catherine University: St. Paul
- St. Cloud State University: St. Cloud
- University of Minnesota: Duluth
- University of Minnesota: St. Paul
- University of St. Thomas: St. Paul; Online
- Walden University: Online
- Winona State University: Online
Doctor of Social Work (DSW; PhD) Programs in Minnesota
- University of St. Thomas: St. Paul
- University of Minnesota: St. Paul
The Minnesota Department of Health recognizes 15 types of specialties:
- Mental and behavioral health
- Aging and age-related issues
- Family and child welfare
- Adolescent-specific
- Medical healthcare workers
- School social workers
- Developmental disorder and disability specialists
- Addiction remediation professionals
- Social workers focused on diversity, discrimination, and poverty
- Community organizers
- Specialists in research, education, and policy development.
- Bereavement/grief-loss/hospice specialists
- Workers focused on homeless/affordable housing,
- Trauma therapy practitioners
- Adoptions/foster care specialists.
Social Work Salaries in Minnesota
According to statistics reported on May 28, 2024 by Salary.com, the range of salaries paid to social workers in the State of Minnesota is between $67,281 and $81,904 per annum, resulting in an average salary of $74,284.
Education, licensure, specialty, and experience impact the amount of money a Minnesota social worker can earn.
What is the current ratio of specialties in the state of Minnesota?
- 50% of all social workers specialize in mental and behavioral health
- 21% focus on all aspects of aging and age-related issues
- 21% concentrate their efforts on family and child welfare clients
- 19% work exclusively with adolescents
- 18% serve in medical healthcare roles
- 16% are employed as school social workers
- 14% focus on developmental disorders and disabilities
- 10% of Minnesota’s social workforce is devoted to addiction remediation
- 9% specialize in diversity, discrimination, and poverty
- 6% are employed as community organizers
- 4% are committed to research, education, and policy crafting.
Social Work Scholarships in Minnesota
Minnesota’s North Star Promise is a scholarship that debuts in Fall 2024, offering eligible state residents a “tuition and fee-free pathway to higher education by covering the balance of tuition and fees remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends, and tuition waivers have been applied.” This new program is projected to impact between 15,000 and 20,000 students during its first academic year.
Minnesota Social Service Association (MSSA) awards scholarships in 5 categories: undergraduate, graduate, diversity (undergraduate and graduate) and the new (2024-2025) Children and Families Impact Scholarship underwritten by the Sauer Family Foundation
Social Work Organizations in Minnesota
- Minnesota Society for Clinical Social Work
- National Association of Social Workers/Minnesota Chapter
- Minnesota Social Service Association
- Minnesota School Social Workers
FAQs
Q: Does Minnesota have social work reciprocity?
A: There are currently no reciprocity agreements between Minnesota and other states
Q: What are the social work continuing education (CE) requirements in Minnesota?
A: Minnesota social workers are required to complete 40 hours of approved continuing education every two years
Q: What is the best way to look up my social work license in Minnesota?
A: Undertake a credentials search by visiting this page associated with the Minnesota Board of Social Work: