Alabama MSW Online Degree Program

Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida, but its online degree programs are available in states across the country, including Alabama. Florida State University master’s online program offers a clinically focused online Master of Social Work degree. The program was ranked one of the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

Earn an MSW that prepares you for the future licensure and MSW jobs in Alabama. Whether you have a baccalaureate in social work or are coming to the field with a degree in another concentration, FSU’s online program has a distinct curriculum focused on creating an engaging and supportive learning environment.

About the FSU Online MSW Program

You can take and complete your courses as your schedule allows
You’ll be joining an interactive virtual learning community through Blackboard, and gaining support from a Student Success Advisor throughout the entire program
You will interact with the College of Social Work’s Office of Professional Development
Gain in the field experience with innovative field placements

Two Online MSW Programs Available

The online Master of Social Work offers two programs for students:

An Advanced Standing program is available for students who have completed a bachelor’s of social work from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program.
A Traditional program is available for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a separate concentration from social work. Both programs are clinically focused and offer field placements that may align with students’ interests.

Courses are 16 weeks; summer may have 12- or 13-week courses, depending on the year. The average time to completion is two years for Advanced Standing Program and three years for Traditional Program.

Our Online MSW Admissions Requirements

Traditional program students must meet these requirements for admission:

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and be in good standing with the institution
A College of Social Work application, along with a personal statement and four letters of recommendation (two personal, two academic)
A transcript with all undergraduate and graduate courses, including a professional resume
A 3.0 GPA or better on everything past the first 60 hours of undergraduate courses (this is an upper-division GPA) or a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution

Advanced Standing program students must meet these requirements for admission:

Complete all general application requirements
Earn a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution
Submit a copy of a BSW internship evaluation or letter of recommendation from the field office
Have a minimum of 400 hours of field education in generalist practice

The Florida State University Office of Admissions will receive GRE scores from the Educational Testing Service; FSU’s code is 5219.

If the applicant is earning his or her bachelor’s degree and applying for graduate school, he or she must send a second official transcript with the degree posted.

For full admission details, visit this page.

How to Become a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Alabama

To become a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Alabama, an applicant must meet the following requirements at the time of application:

Must be at least 19 years of age.
Must be a United States citizen or, if not a citizen of the United States, you must be legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government.
Must ascribe to a professional code of ethics developed and adopted by the board (Administrative Code 850-X-9 Standards of Professional Conduct & Ethics).
Possess a degree in social work from a college or university approved, accredited, or in candidacy granted by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Have 24 months of LCSW-supervised social work experience
Hold a current active license at the master's level if applying as a candidate for the examination.
Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical exam.

Requirements for licensure may change, so be sure to frequently check Alabama state requirements to ensure you are on the correct path to licensure.

Social Work Job Outlook in Alabama

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the social work field is poised to grow 12% by 2024. Breaking that information down into professions, there will be a need for more than 300,000 child family and school social workers, 190,000 health care social workers, more than 130,000 substance abuse and mental health social workers and more than 65,000 social work jobs in miscellaneous fields. An MSW salary can range between $40,000-$70,000 depending on the practice as well as the individual’s work experience. The standard average salary for Alabama social workers is approximately $38,000 per year.

When you delve deep into social work employment in Alabama, you’ll see the following jobs most frequently: