Online MSW Programs with a Clinical Social Work Concentration (Online LCSW Programs)

In an MSW program, students learn how to use advanced assessment techniques to identify and assess psychosocial problems. They also learn how to diagnose and treat these problems, develop and implement interventions to promote mental health and social functioning and evaluate their own practice and intervention techniques.

In This Article:

• List of Online MSW Programs with Clinical Social Work/Mental Health Concentration
• What Is Clinical Social Work?
• Requirements for Clinical Social Work Licensing
• Coursework for Programs with a Clinical Concentration
• Detailed Insights into All Master's in Clinical Social Work Programs
• FAQ

What Is Clinical Social Work?

Clinical social work is a specialty practice within the field of social work. Clinical social workers provide specialized support services to individuals and families experiencing problems with serious mental illness, substance abuse or domestic conflict. Clinical social work differs from other social work roles as it requires an MSW, supervised clinical experience and a license to practice.

While non-clinical social workers offer counseling and support to clients, clinical social workers use specialized skills such as assessment, diagnosis, and interventions. Clinical social workers may provide counseling services for clients, in addition to psychotherapy, behavioral therapies, and other therapeutic clinical strategies.

What Does It Mean to Be a Clinical Social Worker?

Clinical social workers provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention education for those with mental illness or behavioral disturbances. A clinical social worker must be licensed or certified within their state to practice. There is a range of settings in which clinical social workers may work, including community mental health centers, hospitals, primary care facilities and private practice.

Professionals in the field of clinical social work were interviewed about their roles:

Samantha Roberts, LCSW, is a clinical case manager at the University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) Citywide program. Roberts was compensated to participate in this interview.

“I take on a number of roles; therapist, advocate, case worker and crisis manager, to name a few,” says Roberts. “I work with clients 18 years and older who have a severe mental illness (i.e. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder with psychotic features and delusion disorder are some of the diagnoses) and are involved in the criminal justice system.”

Roberts explains that her role as a case manager is to help teach each client to live a healthy and stable life, to the best of their ability. “The modalities used with clients are different for each client and each CM. Personally, I find CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to be the most useful, since the majority of my clients have poor insight and respond better to concrete tasks.”

Beth Jakubanis is a licensed clinical social worker currently working within the field of immigration. Jakubanis was compensated to participate in this interview.

“Being an immigration social worker is a little bit like being a detective,” explains Jakubanis. “It is my responsibility to assemble all of the necessary clues which the client gives me to identify the biological, psychological and social welfare concerns which will support their immigration application.”

Jakubanis explains that sometimes clients who go through the immigration process interface with a system which has become accustomed to processing people.

“A well-composed letter or evaluation can build empathy and humanity for the client while establishing their mental health functioning. An evaluation that does not capture the client’s experience accurately can result in a missed opportunity for the client,” she says.

What Are the Benefits of Specializing in Clinical Social Work?

Clinical social workers provide vital assistance and support to some of the most vulnerable members of their community. Those who work in the field point out that the work can be emotionally demanding and requires the ability to thrive in sometimes challenging circumstances.

In addition to providing clinical support for populations and clients, clinical social workers often also undergo training, perform administrative work, liaise with institutions such as hospitals or the justice system or undertake managerial roles. The work is highly varied, with the potential to practice in diverse fields. One distinctive benefit is that clinical social workers can sometimes schedule their work with greater flexibility.

Requirements for Clinical Social Work Licensing

To become a licensed clinical social worker in the United States, you must earn an MSW from a graduate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). While the terms “LCSW program” and “MSW program” are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference. An LCSW program is a specific type of MSW program that prepares students to take the licensure exam to become an LCSW. However, not all MSW programs are LCSW programs. Students who want to pursue licensing after graduation may want to consider an online MSW program with a clinical concentration, depending on their state of residence.

Learn about additional programs and other CSWE-accredited online MSW degrees.

Licensing requirements for social workers vary by state. Each state has its own social work licensing board that sets the criteria for licensure. Students should research the requirements for licensing in their state of residence to ensure that the MSW program they choose will meet them. In some states, it is not required to complete an MSW program with a clinical concentration to become an LCSW. In these situations, students may have to complete additional coursework to meet the requirements for licensure.

It’s important to keep in mind that certain states have specific requirements that students need to know if they plan to pursue a career as an LCSW after graduation.

For example, New York requires applicants to have completed at least 12 semester hours of clinical coursework. LCSW applicants in Florida are required to have specific clinically oriented graduate coursework and completion of supervised clinical experience; in Florida, qualifying clinical social work experience includes providing psychotherapy and counseling services directly to clients for at least 50% of the required hours.

Learn more about how to become a licensed clinical social worker. Earning an MSW is just the first step. Licensing typically takes two to three years post-graduation and can require a significant amount of work experience in the field.

Resources:

• American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABSCW)
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Social Workers

Coursework for Online MSW Programs with a Clinical Concentration

While specific classes in online MSW degree programs may vary, students can expect to take courses in the following core areas:

Clinical Social Work Practice: Individuals (Children, Youth and Adults) and Small Groups (Couples and Families)
This course focuses on the transactional relationships between people and their social environments. It provides students with the skills to use social work practice methods to restore, promote and maintain functioning for individuals, families and small groups. The course is grounded in behavioral and social science theories and informed by social work values and ethics. It may also cover clinical interventions as they relate to individuals, families and small groups.

Mental Health and Human Behavior
This course explores key aspects of mental health, such as mental ill-health and mental illness, within a conceptual framework. The classification of mental illness is also explored.

Psychopathology
Psychopathology focuses on the study of mental illness to best diagnose and treat it. In a psychopathology course, students typically learn about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-5) which provides categories of mental disorders, such as the schizophrenia spectrum, and the criteria needed to evaluate them.

The course helps students to recognize some of the major mental disorders and appropriate treatment practices.

Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
This course helps to build assessment competency in students. There is a strong focus on the use and application of the DSM-5 in understanding mental disorders. The limitations of the DSM are also explored.

A course in clinical assessment and diagnosis often considers the history of diagnosis. Diagnostic criteria are usually studied from a biopsychosocial perspective that also integrates neurobiological understanding. This course may also cover clinical interventions and treatment approaches.

Evaluation of Research Methods and Social Work Practice
A solid foundation in research methods is critical for clinical social workers to enhance their understanding of client needs and improve the services offered. This course provides an overview of different theoretical frameworks and methodologies to help students use a scientific and analytic approach to building knowledge and evaluating clinical services.

An MSW program in research methods explores the importance of ethical standards in research to protect vulnerable and marginalized populations.

In addition to coursework, students usually have to complete field education at a local health services agency. Typically, students in traditional MSW programs complete their clinical field rotation in the second year for full-time programs.

Clinical Social Work Program FAQ

What can you do as a licensed clinical social worker?

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) can work in a variety of settings, including the criminal justice system, with children and their families, in schools, geriatric communities, LGBTQ organizations, hospitals and psychiatric settings.

What is the difference between an MSW and LCSW?

An MSW refers to a graduate degree program accredited by the CSWE. An LCSW is a social worker who holds a Master of Social Work and is licensed by their state to provide clinical services to patients. To practice as a clinical social worker in the United States, you must first earn a master’s degree and a professional license. Learn more about the difference between an MSW and LCSW.

How long does it take to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)?

The title of LCSW is the highest level of licensure available to social workers in most states. Licensed clinical social workers are permitted to practice in private settings. To become an LCSW, candidates must obtain a master’s degree from a program accredited by the CSWE, which typically takes two years.

After getting their master’s degree, social work students need to complete two to three years of clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed clinician. Once they have met the required experience hours, they can take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Examination. To be eligible for licensure, they will need to submit documentation of their work experience to the licensing board, including hours logged on the job.

Is clinical social work a good career?

Clinical social work can be a rewarding career for those looking to work directly with clients in a therapeutic setting. Clinical social workers can help to change the lives of individuals and effect positive change within social structures.

Becoming a clinical social worker also can help advance a career in social work, potentially leading to higher pay and more challenging work in the field.

How much does a clinical social worker make a year?

The salary for a licensed clinical social worker depends on factors such as their location and field of practice. The BLS reported the median annual salary for social workers was $61,330 in May 2024. Median salaries also reported for social workers in specific areas include:

• All other social workers: $69,480
• Healthcare social workers: $68,090
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers: $60,060
• Child, family and school social workers: $58,570

Licensed clinical social workers within these fields may earn more than the median salary.

What is the difference between an LCSW and LPC?

An LPC refers to a licensed professional counselor. While the roles of LPC and LCSW may be considered functionally similar in that they provide psychotherapeutic services, social work encompasses additional responsibilities. That said, scope varies by state and job setting: professional counseling is also defined around helping clients meet mental health and wellness goals and can include education and career-related goals, and many counselors coordinate referrals as part of treatment in practice.