What Degree Do I Need to Be a Social Worker
Teachers Vs. Social Workers
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Although teaching and social work were once considered traditional women's careers, the two professions have both some other similarities and some differences. Teachers teach subjects ranging from basic literacy and math skills to postgraduate topics in general areas such as social sciences or specialized areas such as medicine, astronomy or business. Social workers provide either direct service or clinical – primarily mental health – services.
Teachers
Teachers are generally grouped into kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers and post-secondary teachers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The minimal educational preparation for all teachers is a bachelor's degree, and most post-secondary teachers need at least a masters; many are required to have a doctorate. In the lower grades, a teacher often covers a variety of subjects, but by middle school, it is more common for teachers to specialize in one or two subjects. At the college or university level, teachers often specialize in only one subject. A license or certification is usually required to teach in a public school.
Social Workers
Although either might perform similar tasks such as referrals for medical care or other support services, clinical social workers focus primarily on mental health issues. Direct service social workers help people solve problems or issues related to daily life. Clinical social workers must have a master's degree and be licensed in all states. Requirements for education and licensure vary for other social workers, but all must have at least a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Similarities
Teaching and social work are professions in which the occupant works with other people on an individual or group basis to assist them in learning skills that will promote their health or ability to support themselves economically. Some teachers and social workers work in the same settings, often in collaboration with one another. Child social workers, for example, may work in school settings. Teachers might work with children of preschool age or with adults in post-graduate settings, as well as children and adolescents of varying ages. General and clinical social workers might also work with any age group.
Differences
Salaries are one area in which teaching and social work can differ dramatically, according to the BLS. Social worker salaries varied from $43,340 for mental health and substance abuse social workers to $54,870 for clinical social workers in 2012. Preschool and kindergarten teachers earned an average of $37,800 in 2012, while elementary and middle school teachers earned $56,180 and high school teachers earned $57,710. The average annual salary for post-secondary teachers was $73,770 in 2012. Social work offers six possible specialty options, while teaching offers dozens of specialties as well as specialties at different grade levels.
Other Considerations
Both teaching and social work involve constant exposure to other people. In terms of demand, the social work profession is expected to grow much more strongly than any teaching profession, with a projected growth rate of 25 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to the BLS. Teaching professions are expected to grow at about the national average of 17 percent, except for high school teachers, who have a projected growth rate of about 7 percent. Teaching offers opportunities for advancement in areas such as school administration, but social workers have the option to go into private practice and work independently.
References
Writer Bio
Beth Greenwood is an RN and has been a writer since 2010. She specializes in medical and health topics, as well as career articles about health care professions. Greenwood holds an Associate of Science in nursing from Shasta College.
What Degree Do I Need to Be a Social Worker
Source: https://work.chron.com/teachers-vs-social-workers-22248.html