How to Become a Medical Social Worker in the Healthcare Industry

No matter their specialty, social workers help people deal with and overcome problems. They may specialize in working with families, students, or individuals with a substance use disorder. Medical social workers help people experiencing illness, injury, or end of life.

Learning how to become a medical social worker represents the first step toward a fulfilling career in which you can help people at their most vulnerable. Use the information in this guide to explore resources beneficial to prospective and current healthcare social workers.

Although medical social workers perform tasks similar to social workers in other specialties, working in the healthcare field makes the position unique. Typical day-to-day responsibilities may include:

These and other responsibilities help people deal with a confusing, unexpected, and sometimes painful moment in their life. Medical social workers make sure patients and families return home with the resources necessary for short- and long-term recovery.

Your journey begins in an on-campus or online bachelor’s in social work program. Introductory classes answer important questions about the field, such as what is a medical social worker and these professionals’ impact on healthcare outcomes. Graduation requirements beyond foundational coursework may include fieldwork placements and other in-person experiences.

Use your junior and senior years to research and apply to MSW programs. Make sure these programs hold accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education.

You may not need a bachelor’s in social work to apply to an on-campus or online master’s in social work program. Some MSW degrees offer a longer track for incoming learners without undergraduate prerequisites in social work.

Your program may feature a medical social work concentration or track. Advisors may also let you create a custom concentration aligning with your career goals.

All aspiring social workers must complete supervised experience to qualify for a state-issued license. Some states issue a temporary, restricted license so you can fulfill this requirement under an experienced professional’s supervision. Meeting your state’s experience requirement may take two years if you work full time.

The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) develops and administers an exam all 50 states use. You must also pass a second, state-developed exam covering social work best practices, regulations, and state laws governing the profession. Check the ASWB websites for the latest test dates, requirements, and fees.

Congratulations on meeting your state’s education, experience, and examination requirements. You then submit the required documents to your state licensing board. Other forms may include a criminal background check. First-time applicant fees vary by state and may change without notice.

You maintain your license through continuing education (CE) classes. Check your state licensure board’s website for a list of approved CE providers and licensure renewal deadlines.

Healthcare social workers’ day-to-day responsibilities depend on their job site and the type of patients they serve. Their role within a healthcare setting may extend beyond what this section describes.

Hospitals feature a rapidly changing work environment, one where medical social workers help patients and families dealing with unexpected illnesses or injuries. These professionals provide support alongside the services and resources people need to overcome this difficult time.

Clinics and private doctor offices may provide a more predictable work environment than hospitals. However, healthcare social workers provide many of the same services, such as giving patients and families the necessary support after a diagnosis or another life-changing medical event.

Hospice medical social workers help residents make end-of-life and continuing care decisions. They encourage people to remain vocal about their needs and connect residents with emotional, financial, and spiritual support. Social workers also perform these same services for residents’ spouses and children.

Answering what is a medical social worker involves exploring the hard and soft skills the career requires. Hard skills undergraduate or graduate social work classes emphasize include mental health and psychology fundamentals, social work best practices, and case management techniques.

Soft skills include communication, listening, and advocacy. These skills help medical social workers gain patients’ trust and collaborate with other healthcare providers. Collaboration promotes effective patient care and positive long-term outcomes.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that healthcare social workers earn a median salary of $62,940 as of May 2023. States with the highest medical social worker salary include California, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey. Professionals in these states make a median salary exceeding $82,000.

As you compare state salary data, remember that the best-paying states may also feature a higher-than-average cost of living. You may struggle financially as a new professional, especially if you live and work in a large metropolitan area.

The BLS projects the need for healthcare social workers to grow by 10% between 2022-2032. This figure exceeds the BLS projection for social workers as a whole. However, recessions and other economic developments may significantly impact actual job growth.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 11, 2024.