Reflect on social work licensing as they approach the end of MSW field education. Social work licensing establishes a standard of education, ethics and values for our profession, but it is interpreted differently in clinical practice and macro practice settings and varies from state to state. Students will examine licensing in the state they wish to practice in and explore where they are in the process of preparing for licensing. The history of licensing in our profession is included in this assignment to give students the opportunity to experience the context of licensing and how it impacts practitioners and the clients served by the profession.
Write a 1-2 page reflection paper answering questions 1-4 below. Base your responses on your own reflections, the readings for UNIT6, and specific information from reliable (i.e. NASW, ASWB) sources on the state of your choice.
- Look up the licensing requirements in the state in which you choose to practice. What are three things you learned?
- Where do you see yourself currently in the process of obtaining a license and what is your ultimate goal as you see it now?
- What challenges or obstacles, or unintended consequences do you see in regard to social work licensing overall?
- Reflect on how your field placement, practice classes, policy classes, student association activities, etc. have prepared you to enter the professional social work world.