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EARN A MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (MSW) IN Florida
With a CSWE-accredited social work degree, you will be a force for positive change in Florida.
As ground zero for social and climatological challenges, Florida is a place where becoming a social worker means having a real impact on the world.
Social Work Schools in Florida Offer Degrees Designed to Empower
Education is the key to freedom and social mobility. This truth has inspired generations of social workers and leaders of social change to do the right thing for themselves and the communities they serve. Earn your CSWE-accredited degree through Florida’s globally-recognized schools of social work.
Designed for...
Career-readiness and a foundation for an MSW, whether right away or later in your career.
Special Benefits...
Qualifications for advanced-standing master’s admissions providing a shorter path if you choose to earn an MSW
The foundations of education come through traditional liberal arts-driven bachelor’s programs. Developing communication, historical knowledge, basic reasoning, and core social services foundations, these degrees can lead to unlicensed employment in social work or a fast-track to a master’s degree and state licensing.
Designed for...
Students with bachelor’s degrees in majors other than social work who want to build advanced skills and qualify for licensure.
Special Benefits...
Educational qualifications for clinical licensure as an LCSW or advanced generalist credentials as a CMSW
An MSW from a CSWE-accredited program is the standard for both the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential that grants legal authority to provide clinical diagnoses and counseling, and the voluntary Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) credential for advanced generalists. It’s also where you develop the elite skills to take on any sort of social services role in Florida, even if you elect not to pursue licensure.
Designed for...
BSW graduates looking for a fast-track to earning an MSW and meeting qualifications for licensure.
Special Benefits...
Skip the first year of generalist studies to qualify for clinical licensure or advanced generalist credentials in as little as one year
Advanced standing MSW admission is only open to BSW graduates. It allows you to start your graduate studies in year-two (specialist year), offering the same level of advanced knowledge and skill mastery as a traditional two-year MSW, but in half the time. With the same graduate-level coursework and practicum as any CSWE-accredited MSW, you’ll be credential-ready in less time and with less expense.
Designed for...
Students looking for flexible and affordable degree plans, and options outside their immediate area.
Special Benefits...
Select from a broader range of specialty tracks and earn your CSWE-accredited degree alongside work and family obligations
People come to careers in social work through some very non-traditional paths. When you need a college degree but don’t have the time or scheduling flexibility for a daily commute to campus, Florida’s seven online BSW and MSW degree options are there to provide an affordable alternative and more options to choose from.
You will also find social work degree options for students on either end of the educational spectrum, from undergrads to post-grads:
- Associate Degree Programs – As an entry-level option, a two-year education in human services sets the stage for a BSW or entry-level jobs
- PhD and Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Programs - The absolute highest level of education in social work, preparing elite researchers and professors in the field
- Social Work Undergraduate and Graduate Certificate Programs - Delivering vital specialist training and re-skilling options to active social workers in less time and with less expense than a full degree
Florida Social Work Schools Offering CSWE-Accredited BSW and MSW Options Where You Live
With fifteen universities throughout Florida offering CSWE-accredited BSW and MSW programs, students can build essential social work skills from any corner of the state.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Jacksonville, Duval County
JAX covers a giant footprint, making plenty of room for every kind of social ill to take hold. Social workers here respond with expertise in every area practice, from healthcare to substance use disorders to veterans’ services in a county known for having the third largest concentration of military bases in the U.S. This makes it a prime location to study and gain field experience through a CSWE-accredited BSW or MSW program.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Tampa, Hillsborough County
Tampa Bay is on the rise. Once overshadowed by Miami, its population is growing fast—and experiencing all the social troubles that come with it. Earning your CSWE-accredited BSW or MSW here through either online or traditional delivery formats will put you in a position to provide meaningful support to fellow Tampeños on the margins.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Fort Meyers, Lee County
Fort Myers and Cape Coral together represent a major healthcare center in south Florida, and an excellent place to take advantage of educational partnerships to get your field work at cutting-edge facilities. You will find a world-class school of social work here offering both a generalist BSW program and a clinically focused MSW with an advanced standing option.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Tallahassee, Leon County
Leon County is a part of Florida where social justice causes hit close to home. Earn your social work degree in the shadow of the state capital, where the biggest debates in America are happening over race, sexuality, and citizenship. Here you can attend one of only two schools in the state that specialize in macro social work aligned with CMSW (Certified Master Social Work) roles, and complete your practicum in the epicenter of legislative action.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Miami-Dade County
Behind the art deco and beaches of Miami, there’s a world of refugees, retirees struggling with the cost of living, and kids growing up amid crime and addiction. The wide selection of online and campus-based CSWE-accredited MSW and BSW programs from schools in Miami-Dade impart the skills to provide meaningful support and identify workable solutions.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Orlando, Orange County
Orlando may be one of the best-known tourist destinations in the world, but issues of addiction, housing insecurity, and migrant plight are all found here too. Social workers trained in the needs of central Florida’s marginalized groups draw on skills developed through CSWE-accredited BSW and MSW programs found right here in Orange County.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach is known as a retirement mecca. Whether you’ll be helping older adults negotiate the challenges of aging or tackling complex issues of mental wellness and addiction for other demographics, you’ll find the CSWE-accredited BSW or MSW you need right here in Palm Beach County.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Lakeland, Polk County
Lakeland in Polk County serves as a focal point for social work education in clinical psychotherapy. Here you will find a BSW and both a traditional and advanced-standing MSW that are fully accredited by CSWE.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in Pensacola, Escambia County
Up in the very tip of the panhandle, military social work is front and center for a county that hosts a population that is made up of more than 13 percent veterans and another 16,000 active-duty personnel. Pensacola offers CSWE-accredited social work degree options to hone your skills and make you job-ready.
CSWE-Accredited Social Work Degrees in St. Leo, Pasco County
More than just a commuter bedroom community for Tampa and Orlando, Pasco County comes with its own elite options for studying social work and human services at every degree level. Branch out in your own direction with a CSWE-accredited BSW or MSW from a school in this fast-growing corner of Florida.
Social Work Licensing in Florida
Clinical licensing in Florida follows a mandatory two-tier process, taking you from registered intern to Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
At the mezzo- and macro-level of practice, the voluntary Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) credential is reserved for those with advanced expertise on the administrative and management side of the field.
Applying for RCSWI status is the first necessary step after earning a CSWE-accredited MSW for anyone on track for the LCSW. The temporary RCSWI credential sets you up for two years of intensive supervised practice anywhere in the state.
Digging in deep to the psychosocial factors behind many individual problems takes special training, extra education, and years of experience that only come through a Florida LCSW license.
The secret advantage for social workers in the Sunshine State is their ability to take on major issues of social inequity not just at the individual level, but through advocacy, community organizing, and leadership. The CMSW shows you have what it takes to deal with the biggest problems at the highest levels—a credential other states can’t match.
Degree Specializations to Serve the Diverse Needs and People of Florida
CSWE-accredited BSW and MSW degrees throughout Florida offer these specialized tracks as options in clinical or generalist programs, as undergraduate minors, and even as graduate certificate programs available alongside or after you earn your MSW.
The most intensive and direct therapy interventions sometimes help the most. A clinical track combines the methods of psychotherapy with the comprehensive cultural and resource expertise only social workers bring to the table. Read more…
Florida’s children have been impacted by horrific events like Parkland as well as more routine issues of bullying, abuse, and neglect. Social workers stand ready to help Florida kids and families through any challenge in modern life. Read more…
There is no way to overlook the turn Florida leadership has taken lately. And if you are a social worker in this specialty, you will be on the front lines trying to restore justice and equity for all in the Sunshine State. Read more…
Florida ranks second in the nation for incarceration rates. The prison population of more than 330,000 are mostly minorities, many with mental health or addiction issues. All deserve dedicated social work specialists to aid their rehabilitation and reentry to society. Read more…
Since the 1950s, Florida has welcomed waves of immigrants from the Caribbean and around the world. International social workers reach back out to the world, helping those populations where they live and connecting cultures to promote peace and equity. Read more…
No one needs to tell you that Florida is getting grayer by the year; in a state where more than 21 percent of the population is over 65, social workers smooth the path to healthy and graceful golden years along Florida’s golden shores. Read more…
Every rural enclave and urban alleyway reveals the substance abuse problems that Florida social workers deal with. This is the specialization that takes on opioid overdoses and alcohol addiction with counseling and sociocultural prevention techniques. Read more…
An aging society is also a society with increasing health and wellness issues. Social workers in this role are trained to navigate the complexity of modern medicine, insurance, and cultural challenges in healthcare. Read more…
Dealing with the transitions to civilian life and the long-term effect of serving the country isn’t easy. Social workers trained in trauma and crisis intervention meet that challenge daily in a state with nearly 100,000 active-duty service members and more than1.5 million veterans. Read more…
More than 100,000 nonprofit organizations call Florida home, and many of them are led by social workers with expertise in management, coordination, and communication. Read more…
If, like many people, you think that Florida’s welfare policy needs a radical readjustment, then this role will put you in the driver’s seat with research skills and policy ideas to build a better future. Read more…
When Florida is hit hard by tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods, a critical workforce of social workers steps in to offer comfort, resources, and referrals. In disaster situations, all Florida social workers are trained to step up and stand strong for Floridians in crisis. Read more…
When the people of Florida are ready for real change, they look to social workers who have the education, expertise, and experience to lead the way. Read more…
Resources for Social Work Students and Professionals in Florida
Support for students and active social workers in Florida extend further than you might think. Tap into these resources as you first learn how to become a social worker in Florida, and later as you look for the best ways to serve your clients.
Editor’s Choice: Top Social Work BSW & MSW Degrees in Florida
Your social work education will set the stage for every aspect of your career, from licensing to salary to specializations. When you absolutely must find the very best degree to build your career, our list of top CSWE-accredited social work programs will be your ideal resource.
Most Affordable MSW and BSW Degrees in Florida
A BSW or MSW degree doesn’t need to be expensive to meet your education needs. When big-ticket tuition costs aren’t an option, we can point you toward outstanding CSWE-accredited programs that come in with total costs below the state average.
Resources Florida Social Workers Can Use to Build Cultural Competency
Growing up in Florida exposes you to an incredible diversity of cultures and backgrounds, but it takes more than just exposure to develop real cultural sensitivity and respect. This collection of resources will cultivate your cultural humility and help you navigate the straits of intersectionality.
Social Work Resources for Marginalized Groups in Florida
Much of the magic of social work as a force for social change comes through knowing where to get clients the help they need. This list of resources for people on the margins of Florida society may be something you reference throughout your career.
Military Service Member & Veteran Resources Guide
With more than 1.5 million veterans and military personnel calling Florida home, some will choose to become social workers themselves. Perhaps you are one of them. This guide will help you tap into the unique resources available for vets and service members on the path to professional social work.
Scholarships, Grants, & Other Financial Resources for Florida Social Workers
The Florida College Access Network had a good news/bad news report in 2024 for Florida social work students: while Florida’s college costs are low compared to other states, almost half of students graduate with debt. Lean into the resources found in this guide to keep your financial burden to an absolute minimum.
Mental Health Resources for Florida Social Workers and Students
Even in the Sunshine State, the demands of social work can take a real toll. Social workers and students getting into the field need to take their own mental health seriously. These resources are custom-built to counter the unique stressors Florida’s social services workforce experiences every day.
Continuing Education Resources for Florida Social Workers
Earning a license or certification to practice social work in Florida is a big accomplishment. But the growth and learning doesn’t stop after achieving that goal. Keep your skills and credentials current with the continuing education resources you’ll find here.
Social Work Careers in Florida
With the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating a seventeen percent rate of growth for social work jobs in Florida over the next decade, you don’t have to look far to find career opportunities here in this high-needs, high-demand field.
Salaries for Florida Social Workers
See what you can expect to earn in every part of Florida, from the panhandle to Key West, with breakdowns of social work salaries by role, education, and area of expertise.
Build Niche Skills and Credentials with Professional Certification
A state-issued license is all you need to practice clinical social work in Florida. But professional certification signals you have demonstrated a high-level of specialty expertise even beyond licensure. Learn about the national certifications for social workers that are best suited for Florida social workers.
Keep Pace with Social Work Practice in a State That’s Changing Fast
Florida makes a lot of headlines. Keeping up with the latest developments in social justice, human services research, and cultural shifts is just part of the job. We make it easy with articles on what today’s news means to social workers like you.