My Story
36 seemed like a good year to completely shift careers, and I'm proud to say that after two years, 900 unpaid practicum hours, and thousands of pages of reading, I am graduating with my Master's in Social Work from Boise State's College of Health Sciences. The next two years will consist of me obtaining my post-graduate clinical hours in California as an ASW (associate clinical social worker) and I hope to go into forensic or medical social work. Eventually, I'd like to be a traveling social worker where I can work contracts throughout the country which will give me a holistic view of how gaps in services vary by state. Being in an online program, with a cohort spread across the country, has given me insight into the various needs throughout the country. I see a particular need for outside help in rural communities as not only are therapeutic services limited, but confidentiality can become tricky and fear of stigma can create barriers to care.
Luckily, California's social work licensure is considered the golden standard so once I complete my hours and pass my exam, I will be able to apply for a reciprocal license in New Jersey. New Jersey also recently passed AB2813 which granted membership into the Social Work Licensure Compact. This means that my reciprocal license will be valid in all 27 states that are current members of this compact.
