There are over 8.2 million people living in Virginia, many of whom live in large cities like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. In addition to the numerous larger cities in Virginia, there are also a lot of suburban and rural communities like Petersburg and Fredericksburg.
Although the cost of living in Virginia is 9% above the national average, Virginia remains a very affordable state to live in. Life in the rural areas is considerably less expensive than life in the big cities.
One of the most important parts of being a social worker in Virginia is your ability to provide culturally-appropriate care to a variety of populations. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Virginia has larger than average African-American and Asian populations.
Earning your MSW in Virginia involves attending one of the nine MSW programs in the state. They have an average tuition cost of $13,222 and an average scholarship award of $9,013, so you can often complete your degree with a very small amount of student debt.
To earn your MSW, you’ll need to complete two years of full-time study or four time of part-time study. The first half of your program is considered your core year, where you build a foundation in the fields of social work practice methods, human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy, research methods, and field practicum. Your time is evenly split between classroom courses and practicum hours.
In your second year of school, you may have to choose a concentration. This may allow you to focus on a specific type of therapy, a certain demographic group, or a theoretical approach to social work. Your elective courses and practicum hours will center around the concentration you choose to pursue.
It’s clear that practicum hours are an important part of your degree. You can expect to complete between 900 and 1200 hours of field work over the course of your degree, leading to a depth of experience that can help you meet any of your career goals.
After earning your MSW degree and becoming licensed as a social worker, you have myriad career opportunities you can explore. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over 70% of social workers work in healthcare or government settings. This is reflected in Virginia’s largest social work employers, which include Humana, Saber Healthcare, Carriage Hill Health and Rehab Center, and SouthernCare Inc.
If you pursue clinical licensure in Virginia, you may have a wider array of career opportunities. Clinical social workers can work independently in private practice, which allows you to open your own counseling clinic wherever you want in Virginia.
In Virginia, all social work licenses go through the Virginia Board of Social Work. You can fill out an application and send in a $100 check to take the Master’s-level licensing exam. Once you pass this exam, you can work as a Licensed Master Social Worker.
If you want to offer clinical services, you need to become licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. This process involves completing 3,000 hours of supervised work experience and then passing an advanced licensing exam.
As a Virginia social worker, your salary is influenced by a number of factors, including licensure level, experience, and field of concentration. Healthcare, mental health, and family social workers earn average salaries of $42,900 per year to $49,500 per year (O*Net, 2012). You may be able to earn even higher salaries after getting your clinical license.
In general, social workers are in high demand throughout the country. O*Net predicts that this trend will continue at least through 2020. Healthcare social workers are experiencing the most growth, with anticipated job growth of 32% (O*Net, 2012). Mental health social workers are also in high demand, with expected growth of 23% (O*Net, 2012). Family social workers can anticipate job growth of 20% (O*Net, 2012).
Schools in Virginia Offering Masters in Social Work Programs
College of William and Mary
(Williamsburg, VA)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $8,677 Tuition Cost
- $12,002 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
George Mason University
(Fairfax, VA)
- Masters in Health Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $7,010 Tuition Cost
- $8,113 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Hollins University
(Roanoke, VA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $31,490 Tuition Cost
- $20,239 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Norfolk State University
(Norfolk, VA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,540 Tuition Cost
- $6,882 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Radford University
(Radford, VA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $5,702 Tuition Cost
- $6,213 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Regent University
(Virginia Beach, VA)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $14,850 Tuition Cost
- $5,039 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Virginia-Main Campus
(Charlottesville, VA)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $9,622 Tuition Cost
- $14,346 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Virginia Commonwealth University
(Richmond, VA)
- Masters in Social Development
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $7,943 Tuition Cost
- $3,887 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(Blacksburg, VA)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- $9,187 Tuition Cost
- $4,398 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting