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Behavioral HealthTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.Critical OccupationOccupation identified by industry partners as critical to business success.

Licensed Social Worker

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family care givers, providing patient education and counseling, and making referrals for other services. May also provide care and case management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare. A Licensed Social Worker provides their services under supervision until they obtain a LCSW license.

Annual openings

351

BLS median wage

$63,480

Typical education

A Master’s degree in social work (MSW) from a program accredited by the Council for Social Work Education is required.

10-year growth

+11%

Career requirements

What does this career require?

The education, credentials, and on-the-job competencies Colorado employers expect for this role.

Typical education

A Master’s degree in social work (MSW) from a program accredited by the Council for Social Work Education is required.

Credential requirement

The Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credential allows a social worker to provide clinical social work services under supervision while they are preparing for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure. To become a LWS, you will need to pass Colorado’s Mental Health Professions Jurisprudence Exam and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Masters or Clinical Exam.

Work experience

This does not require previous work experience; however, a person could work in a lower-level Behavioral Health role first.

Employer competency information

Feedback from employers identifies the following critical competencies and how they apply for this job

  • Customer Focus — Focusing on and understanding the client is the foundation for this job; for instance, planning group counseling sessions to address the different needs of each patient and adjusting treatments based on an individual’s needs.
  • Psychology, Therapy and Counseling — The knowledge and ability to understand a patient’s behavior, identify possible causes, and develop appropriate treatments and interventions.
  • Communication — The ability to quickly and concisely summarize and articulate the most pertinent patient-related information.
  • Interpersonal Skills and Teamwork — Examples are understanding a patient’s culture/background and how it impacts the treatment and the ability to an effectively run a group consisting of diverse backgrounds. In addition, treatment in a hospital setting is always a team effort.
  • Critical & Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving & Decision Making — The ability to look at multiple aspects of a patient objectively and subjectively and assessing, implementing and adjusting treatments.
  • Integrity — Ethical behavior to protect your patients and maintain appropriate boundaries are two key aspects of this job.
Employers greatly value the move from LSW to LCSW because LCSWs are able to operate and bill their services independently, including with Medicare patients.
The Council on Social Work Education has information on different social work specialty areas. They also have more general information on the social work workforce.
To learn more about Victim Advocacy, visit the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

  • With kids/peopleOccasionally
  • On a computerOccasionally
  • Outdoors / on-siteOccasionally
  • With your handsOccasionally

Interests it draws on

  • Healthcare
  • Mental Health

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
  2. Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
  3. Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
  4. Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
  5. Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
  6. Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.

Also includes

Specializations that share this occupation’s labor-market data.

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • Behavioral Health Social Worker