Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Becoming a licensed social worker
Social workers in the state of Texas are required to be licensed by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners. To learn more about the requirements for a becoming a licensed social worker, visit the Association of Social Work Boards Social Work Licensing Exam. The Association of Social Work Boards exam is offered several times throughout the year, and you can register to take the test at any of several locations throughout Texas.
Need help preparing? The Association of Social Work Boards website offers a variety of exam prep materials, including study tips, practice tests and more.
Working for the greater good
Our social work majors go on to find careers in a variety of settings, including state and government agencies, schools, hospitals and nonprofits. The School of Social Work provides a combination of coursework and hands-on training that's needed to become a qualified, competent social worker. Our school’s focus on rural populations ensures that our graduates are prepared to work in the communities that need them most.
Why study social work?
If your idea of a “dream job” involves helping others and making a difference, social work is a rewarding field of study. A degree in social work will give you the tools to address real-world needs and issues like promoting social and economic justice and helping to alleviate poverty and oppression.
As a social work student at SFA, you’ll get out into the community and gain valuable experience through internships and fieldwork with state and local agencies. By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to become a licensed social worker or advance your studies with a master’s degree in social work.
What kind of jobs can I get with a degree in social work?
Our graduates typically work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to provide interventions and solutions to social issues related to poverty, inequality and injustice. Your social work degree qualifies you to provide services in a variety of settings, including:
- child and family agencies
- employment and occupational health organizations
- hospitals and medical facilities
- mental health facilities
- police departments, courts and prisons
- political and nonprofit organizations
- substance abuse programs.
Job availability and growth
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that social work jobs would grow by 12% from 2014 to 2024, which means that demand for social workers will continue to increase. The average salary for a social worker is around $47,000 per year. The demand for bilingual social workers is typically higher.
Social workers who obtain a Master of Social Work can expect to earn higher salaries and have more job opportunities and potential for advancement.
Rewarding careers in social work
Our social work graduates leave SFA prepared to do amazing things. They find rewarding careers in health care facilities and schools, and many are active in community organizations that serve populations in need. Here are just a few success stories from graduates of SFA’s School of Social Work.
Jacob Thomas, Class of ‘17
Social Services Supervisor, Hospice in the Pines
Jacob Thomas played football and worked as a model while earning his master’s degree in social work at SFA. After he graduated, Jacob traveled through Europe and did volunteer work in Chennai, India, where he learned Ayurvedic medicine/yoga (holistic medicine). Currently Jacob works with terminally ill patients at in Hospice in the Pines. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in The Netherlands or Berlin. His primary areas of interest are mental illness and emotional intelligence.
Ruby Ramon, Class of ‘07 and ‘06
Lead Social Worker/Homeless Liaison, Nacogdoches Independent School District
Ruby Ramon is a first-generation college graduate. She earned bachelor’s degrees in social work and psychology from SFA in 2006, and she earned her Master of Social Work from SFA in 2007. In her role as a social worker and homeless liaison at Nacogdoches Independent School District, she works to remove barriers to education for middle school and high school students through group counseling, crisis intervention and advocacy. She is also an adjunct instructor and field liaison for SFA’s School of Social Work.
Ruby is an American Red Cross volunteer and serves on the board of her local Salvation Army. She is a member of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council’s Nacogdoches Community and Neighbors Coalition, as well as the Pineywoods Pride Coalition and the Healthy Nacogdoches Coalition.