How long does it take to become a social worker?

The conventional path to a social work job is a four-year bachelor's degree in social work. Similar degrees in psychology and sociology may also land someone a position. People may also have to gain state-required certifications to perform certain social work roles.

Some aspiring social workers complete a one- or two-year master's degree on top of their undergrad. Licensed clinical social workers are usually required to have a master's degree. Some states make exceptions for those who work for government agencies. On top of the advanced degree, a clinical social worker also normally needs to spend two years or 3,000 hours working in a supervised environment.