Education · 1 of 5

The path

A 4-year degree gets you working. A master's gets you into hospitals and private practice.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   English and social sciences. Volunteer experience matters as much as marks.

2. 2

   BSW (bachelor of social work)

   4 years

   Four years, with 700 or more hours of supervised placement in real agencies. Some schools admit from high school; others take you after 1 or 2 years of general arts.

3. 3

   MSW (master of social work), optional but common

   1 to 2 years

   Two years, or one year if you already hold a BSW. Needed for most hospital jobs and for private counselling practice.

4. 4

   Register with your provincial college

   A few weeks

   In Ontario that is the OCSWSSW (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers). Registration protects the title social worker.

5. 5

   First job

   Right after registration

   Child protection agencies and hospitals hire constantly. Expect a police check and a heavy caseload from month one.