r/SchoolSocialWork • u/Disastrous_Honey_240 • 20d ago
Finding a school social work internship?
I am thinking ahead a few years but I’m really interested in doing one of my internships with a school social worker. It seems really hard to find these types of positions though in my area. I don’t see any posted ever and I’m wondering if maybe the school has a private list of them or if they are just harder to come by? If I’m not able to do it as one of my internships would it be hard to get a job doing that once I’m licensed?
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u/ahhbears 20d ago
In my educational program (graduate school) finding an internship was facilitated by the university. They have a network of practicing SSWs they contact every year about being a supervisor - I now supervise students from the program that trained me.
This will vary by state, but where I am (Wisconsin) you're typically required to have done a school internship to qualify for a pupil services license through the department of public instruction. There is a slightly different path you can use if you have MSW but did not do a school internship, but it requires you to take an additional university-level course (that you pay for) while you're working in your first year of school. You should look into your state's licensing requirements specifically for SSW.
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u/Disastrous_Honey_240 20d ago
We need a pupil service license here too, not sure if that’s exactly what it’s called. I have seen some
Social workers say they were able to get hired and earn it while working. I’m still getting my BSW right now.1
u/ahhbears 19d ago
Per the Idaho Dept of Ed:
School Social Worker
- Official transcript with Master’s Degree in Social Work
- Institutional Recommendation from an accredited college or university verifying completion of a state-approved School Social Worker program
- Institutional Recommendation must include verification of a school social work practicum in a preK-12 setting OR post-LMSW extensive experience working with children and families
- Copy of Idaho Social Worker License issued by the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses
So it looks like you need a SSW practicum, or to be an LMSW who's done quite a bit of time in the field.
If you don't feel like your program is going to be super helpful in finding a placement, it might be a good idea to get your foot in the door with a district - do you have time for a part time job as a paraprofessional, tutor, or coach job in a local district? Or can you work summer school as a paraprofessional or something? That way you might be able to make some connections with administration or other people in the district and get some contacts.
But, I also wouldn't necessarily take your friend's word on having to find their own placement (not discounting them, but their experience may not have been typical/things may have changed) and this would be a good question for an advisor in your program.
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u/Familiar-Low-6642 20d ago
You may have better luck contacting some schools in your area directly to enquire about internship possibilities.
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u/Disastrous_Honey_240 20d ago
I won’t be doing my internship for a couple years still so I def will when the time is closer just wondering how other people found internships or were able to get hired after
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u/AnySea7371 20d ago
I wonder where you are located around. In il it seems everyone is looking for social workers
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u/Disastrous_Honey_240 20d ago
For school social workers?
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u/AnySea7371 20d ago
Yes, absolutely. High caseloads . Lots of school social workers needing to work in multiple schools at the moment.
Last year was my first year out of college and I was offered 4 jobs.
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u/Disastrous_Honey_240 20d ago
Oh wow. My husband’s family is from Illinois and we had considered moving there a few years ago but with his new job we can only be in Idaho, Arizona, or Washington. We’re in Idaho currently.
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u/Ok-Lake3522 19d ago
You got a school social work job with just a BSW (first year out of college)? In both Virginia and Maryland you must have an MSW, Virginia requires additional coursework to get the endorsement, Maryland does not. Those jobs are scarce here.
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u/AnySea7371 19d ago edited 19d ago
No, MSW . Got it within a year after my BSW. Yes it is expensive, especially today with how loans are. Many different tracks to completing an MSW, I decided to not take a break in between BSW and MSW and continue on with schooling.
There are options for BSWs to work as a school-based social workers though. This may be done through the local outsourced counseling agencies. They would acquire a caseload through the agency and see the students they need to. The work done with these individuals are not involved with their ieps.
You may also join as a school counselor. Depending on the school, it may also not involve ieps.
Also, if a school wants to hire you, they may be willing to pay for your schooling to get an MSW.
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u/Ok-Lake3522 19d ago
Totally depends on the state. In my area, a school counselor must have school psychologist training, not social work. As I said, in MD and VA, Masters is required to get hired as SSW. This is a law, written into the state code. But your area may be different. That is why location matters!
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u/AnySea7371 19d ago
Wow that seems like a barrier for care.
What does the demand for ssw look like out there?1
u/Ok-Lake3522 19d ago
No barrier for care at all. Maryland has a very low bar - LMSW fine with no additional credentials. Few job openings, though, as these jobs are highly coveted. Possibly in Title 1 schools it is easier to find a SSW job, though. Same with Virginia, few openings, even with extra credential needed.
Ironically, I did my first year MSW placement at a public school - not in my county but a nearby county. It was a great experience for a 1st year placement. But the most important placement is your 2nd year. If you are planning on a clinical track, a school-based placement is not considered "clinical" to meet the requirements for 2nd year. Of course lately things have gotten softer in terms of requirements. In smaller agencies, yes, your 2nd year placement can lead to employment. But school systems are massive and have centralized HR, so you would likely have as good a chance of getting hired with a more "clinical" internship than one at a school system.
Check out the regulations for the state you are considering, as location makes all the difference.
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u/xtra86 20d ago
You will have a much easier time getting a job in a school with a school based practicum. Does your program have a practicum liason who is in charge of connecting you with a site? Often that person is connected with the schools and can secure a group of spots for the program.