How to Become a Social Worker: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Skills, Salary

Qualifications to Become a Social Worker

There are certain qualifications that candidates are required to fulfil to become a social worker in India. The general qualifications are as follows.

• Candidates must clear class 12 from a recognised board and then obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work or related disciplines. There is also an option of a master’s degree for better career prospects.
• Candidates have to qualify for entrance exams if they are targeting top colleges for education in social work.
• Candidates should possess the skills and expertise necessary to excel in the role of social workers. 

Eligibility to Become a Social Worker

There are different eligibility criteria for various social worker courses. The details for some of the major courses are as follows.

• For diploma courses, candidates are required to clear class 12 from a recognised board. 
• For bachelor’s programs like BSW and BA, candidates have to clear class 12 with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised board.
• For master’s courses like MSW and MA, candidates are required to have a bachelor’s degree in social work or related disciplines from a recognised university.
• Candidates with master’s degrees can also apply for higher courses like M.Phil and PhD in social work. 

Types of Social Workers

Social work is a diverse field with different designations to address the wide-ranging needs. Some common types of social workers are as follows. 

• Child and Family Social Workers: These workers focus on children and family support facing challenges like abuse, neglect and counselling.
• Clinical Social Workers: These workers provide services to individuals dealing with mental health issues, trauma and other behavioural concerns. 
• Medical and Healthcare Social Workers: These workers work in healthcare settings to provide care and support to individuals and families facing medical challenges.
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: These workers specialise in dealing with mental health issues, addiction and related problems. 
• Geriatric Social Workers: These workers focus on the unique needs of older people facing issues related to ageing, health, housing and more. 

Steps to Become a Social Worker

Becoming a social worker in India involves a combination of education, training and professional development. The general steps are mentioned in the following points.

• After completing class 12, candidates have to obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work or related fields like sociology and human services. Candidates can also opt for master courses for higher roles with better pay.
• Candidates should look to gain practical experience during and after the coursework through internships and field placements. This will help them in understanding real-life social work scenarios. 
• Candidates can also choose from different specialisations in social work to focus their career on a particular cause.
• While not necessary, candidates should look to obtain certifications from recognised bodies to improve employability.
• After completing education and developing the necessary skills, candidates should join professional associations and seek employment in different institutes and organisations. 

Social Work Courses

There are many courses that candidates can enrol in to learn the basics and different concepts of social work in India. The details for some of the top courses are mentioned in the following table.

Entrance Exams

Candidates looking for top colleges to pursue social work courses have to appear in entrance exams. The details for some of the top entrance exams are as follows.