What Does a Medical Social Worker Do & How to Become One

Key takeaways

A medical social worker assists patients and their families in understanding and coping with a diagnosed illness and the associated emotional turmoil.

• The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that social workers can expect employment opportunities to grow by 6 percent between 2024 and 2034, which is above average [1].

• Key workplace and technical skills for a medical social worker include case management, crisis intervention, and communication.

• You can become a medical social worker by earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work, completing fieldwork, receiving clinical and state licensure, and obtaining specialized certification.

Learn more about what a medical social worker does and how to become one. If you find medical social work particularly interesting, consider enrolling in the Caring for Others Specialization from the University of Colorado Boulder. In as little as four weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to understand the individual experience of suffering and care in a larger social context and develop a deeper appreciation of the centrality of care in human society. Upon completion, you will gain a shareable certificate to include in your resume, CV, or LinkedIn profile.

What is a medical social worker?

A medical social worker assists patients and their families in understanding and coping with a diagnosed illness and all the emotional turmoil that comes with it. They direct families to resources that assist with financial burdens, social needs, and emotional stress resulting from a diagnosis, and they work as advocates for patients to support them in navigating the medical system. Becoming a medical social worker requires graduate-level education, experience, and a license.

What does a medical social worker do?

Medical social workers work with patients of all ages, from children on up, and with all kinds of diagnoses. Your duties and responsibilities will vary slightly according to your role, but typically, a medical social worker's job description may include the following:

• Working closely with doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals

• Reviewing new patient admissions to assess the needs of patients and their families

• Assessing the patient’s social and psychological status to determine mental and emotional stress

• Supporting patients and their families with education about their illness and possible treatment

• Counseling distressed patients and their families

• Helping patients understand the financial resources and social support available to them

• Offering crisis intervention

• Working as an advocate for patients and families to help them understand the medical system and the options available to make informed decisions

• Identifying any mental health concerns and making appropriate referrals

• Facilitating communication between patients and other health care professionals

• Assisting with hospital discharge to other facilities or return home

Work environment for medical social worker jobs

Medical social workers work closely with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, hospital administrators, and other health care professionals. Workplaces can vary, with many medical social workers employed in hospitals and others in hospices, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and home health agencies.

Working hours will vary according to a medical social worker's place of work, but typically hours are full-time and require weekend, evening, and overnight work.

Due to the fast-paced medical setting and the nature of the work of supporting people through emotional times, the role may be stressful. However, the opportunity to build relationships with patients and make a difference in their lives often creates a sense of fulfillment, making the role of a medical social worker rewarding. A survey by Payscale found that medical social workers gave a higher-than-average score of 4 out of 5 for job satisfaction [2].

What is the purpose of a medical social worker?

Medical social workers typically support patients and their families in understanding and processing a diagnosis. Your job may involve devising coping strategies, answering questions, and helping patients adjust to new environments, such as hospital stays or returning to their homes.

Medical social work skills 

You can learn many skills specific to the field of medical social work while on the job. However, to be more effective, certain essential skills can be beneficial:

Workplace skills:

• Problem-solving

• Decision making

• Verbal and written communication

• Interpersonal skills, including empathy, patience, and listening

• Cultural sensitivity 

• Excellent organization

Technical skills:

• Case management

• Crisis intervention

• Computer literacy

• Advocacy 

Is there a difference between a social worker and a medical social worker?

Although both social workers and medical social workers are trained professionals whose goal is to help people, social workers generally focus on a wider range of issues, whereas medical social workers typically work within health care specifically.

The field of social work is broad, with various career options in the industry. As a social worker, you might work within schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, private practice, prisons, corporations, or even as an elected official or in the military.

If you choose medical social work, you can expect to work in a hospital, clinic, or other health care setting. Medical social workers tend to focus specifically on helping people understand their illnesses and conditions and the resources available to help them cope. Social workers, on the other hand, might help clients find adequate housing, conduct research, advocate for improved services, or assist in instances involving serious domestic conflicts or abuse. 

Medical social worker salary and job outlook

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that social workers can expect employment opportunities to grow by 6 percent between 2024 and 2034, which is above average [1].

According to Glassdoor, the average base pay for a licensed medical social worker in the US is $67,000 per year [3]. Additional pay may represent profit-sharing, commissions, or bonuses.

The BLS identifies specialty hospitals other than those focusing on psychiatric care or substance abuse as the highest-paying industry for medical social workers, with an annual mean wage of $86,930 [4].

How long does it take to become a medical social worker? 

It takes, on average, six years of study to become a medical social worker and up to 1,000 hours of work experience before applying for a license. As an aspiring social worker, you will take fieldwork as part of your study.

How to become a medical social worker 

To become a medical social worker, you may need to complete a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, do fieldwork, and pass a licensure exam. You may also take specialized courses as part of professional development. 

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field.

The first step to becoming a medical social worker involves earning a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a bachelor's degree in a related subject, such as psychology or sociology. A BSW offers prospective medical social workers classes, such as case management, which is an essential part of the role, that are especially significant for this branch of the field. 

Read more: What Degree Do You Need to Become a Social Worker?

2. Earn a master’s degree in social work.

Most positions ask for a Master of Social Work (MSW). Choosing an accredited course by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may open more doors because this is essential in most states to receive a license if you want to work in certain areas, such as hospitals. However, a license is not required for work in nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and assisted living facilities.

In an MSW program, you have many options when it comes to classes relating to health care and the medical field. Classes such as bereavement counseling, crisis intervention, and general social work classes, including strengths-based therapy and problem-solving therapy, are common.

3. Complete an internship or fieldwork. 

Completing an internship or fieldwork as part of an MSW helps you gain hands-on experience and build up the hours needed to pass the program. Typically, students complete two placements alongside studying.

If you don’t have the opportunity to take an internship or choose not to complete an MSW, you can gain experience through volunteering. Relevant previous experience is also valid. Employers are looking for experience, so clocking some hours is necessary. 

4. Pass the ASWB exam to earn clinical licensure.

After completing a bachelor’s or additional master’s degree, you must take an exam to earn your social work license. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) administers the test for the license. To receive a clinical level of license (the highest level), you will need to have an MSW, pass the ASWB exam, and have years of experience working under a licensed clinician who can recommend licensure. 

5. Pass a state licensure exam.

Different states may have different rules when it comes to licensing. Some states require medical social workers to pass a state licensure exam in addition to the exam administered by ASWB. You can apply for your license after completing all the above steps. 

6. Consider a specialized certification.

In addition to qualifying and gaining a license, medical social workers can take specialized certifications to improve their knowledge in a particular area. This can be very beneficial for standing out against other candidates. Specialized areas may include pediatrics, oncology, or emergency and trauma.

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