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Citizenship: Or are you looking for … Or do you want to find social worker jobs in the United States? US Social WorkersLicensing requirements vary from state to state for social workers. In general, one may have to take one or more of four categories of examination depending on the license applied for (Bachelor's, Master's, Advanced Generalist, and Clinical). The descriptions of these categories are: • Bachelor's – Baccalaureate
social work degree upon graduation;
• Master's – Master's
degree in social work (MSW) with no post-degree experience;
• Advanced Generalist –
MSW with two years post-master's supervised experience;
• Clinical – MSW
with two years post-master's direct clinical social
work experience. As explained by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), some jurisdictions regulate only one of these practice levels, while most regulate two or more levels of social work practice. Therefore, the required exams vary from state to state. Please follow the links below to get more information on each state's licensing requirements. Also note that the ASWB states: "Non-social work degrees are accepted in some instances at the Bachelor's level." Social Workers from Canada or MexicoCanadian and Mexican social workers looking to obtain licensure must go through the same steps as US social workers above with one additional requirement. Your social work degree must have been obtained from a program that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work (CASSW), or other nationally recognized accrediting agencies. If the degree was obtained outside of the US or Canada, the degree must then go through an evaluation process to determine if it is equivalent. VISA Information: Under NAFTA, social workers who are citizens of Canada or Mexico (and who have a minimum baccalaureate or licenciatura degree) are eligible for TN visas to work in the United States. Under NAFTA, Canadians receive TN-1 visas and Mexicans receive TN-2 visas. Canadians can apply for a TN-1 visa at Class A US Ports of Entry; Mexicans must apply for their TN-2 visa at a US Consulate. No sponsorship is required for Canadians or Mexicans. However, you will still need to provide proof of an offer of employment from your employer in the US, and meet the minimum education, experience and licensing requirements. Documents required:
The duration of the TN visa is set for an initial period of one year. An unlimited number of one-year extensions may be subsequently obtained so long as you can show that the employment remains temporary, and that you continue to be qualified to work in your profession. The VisaScreen requirement instituted in July 2004 for some healthcare professions does not pertain to social workers. Social Workers from Outside North AmericaNon-North American social workers looking to obtain licensure must go through the same steps as US social workers above with one additional requirement. Your social work degree must have been obtained from a program that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work (CASSW), or other nationally recognized accrediting agencies. If the degree was obtained outside of the US or Canada, the degree must then go through an evaluation process through the CSWE to determine if it is equivalent. Visa Information: You are required to have a US work visa before being allowed entry to the US and employment in the US, and usually sponsorship is required. Those who are not citizens of Canada or Mexico are not covered by NAFTA visa policies. Please contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate to inquire about obtaining a US work visa. You can also find more information about various types of immigrant and non-immigrant employment visas on the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website and on the State Department.
Updated on August 26, 2008. Discuss This ArticleHave something you'd like to say? Tell us what you think! Read and post comments for this article. Like this article? Read more! Browse our archive of 1,663 career resources. Also, see our master index of all MedHunters articles! Find a JobChoose your career: MedHunters is the world's biggest healthcare job board. Our job directory has 17,260 jobs with 2,476 hospitals and other direct employers. We want you to find your next job on MedHunters. Need Help? Call us at 1-888-884-8242, email us at info@medhunters.com or sign up now. Have an article or story for MedHunters? Email us today at submissions@medhunters.com. |
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