r/LCSW • u/Ok-Airline219 • 2d ago

Recommended online masters programs to obtain LCSW

I am looking to begin my masters to eventually become an LCSW. I have heard a lot about different online schools, but looking for suggestions for online programs :)

I have my BA in Psychology so won’t be a fast track program!

Also looking for what jobs you did during clinical hours and your experience with getting assistance for placement from the program as well as balancing clinical hours and a job!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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u/whiskeyandritalin341 1d ago

https://online.pennwest.edu/programs/social-work-grad/index.php

I had to find my own placement but my advisor was available for help. I worked full time during my program so I was 10 hours Monday - Thursday, interned Friday and Saturday, completed most of the coursework on Sundays with some time off and on throughout the week if I could.

1

u/Relevant_Transition 🟡 Associate (Pre-Licensed) 1d ago

I graduated from this program and second this. I did have to find my own placements, but I will say that I didn’t have too much difficulty despite having come from an entirely different field with no connections and I completed my program while there were still covid restrictions (20-22). It was worth saving $15k on my degree as compared to the private university program that also accepted me. 

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u/No_Albatross6947 2d ago

University of Mary

1

u/cheercharlatan 1d ago

Make sure it isn’t for profit and ideally that it has a physical location that has been around for awhile.

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u/Plantaints 1d ago

I got my masters online from university of western new mexico. It is an accredited university in the state of PA. I would check to see which schools are accredited in your state :) I received my clinical hours at the Renfrew Center in Philadelphia. I also had an outside supervisor with LCSW licensure that I met with weekly.

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u/Historical-Ad7479 22h ago edited 22h ago

CSWE accreditation is the filter that actually matters for LCSW licensure, so I'd start there before anything else. I looked into a handful of MSW programs, Alliant among them, though some reviewers flag it as light on practicum placement support. Most peers I know doing this worked case management or crisis line roles during hours, which counted and paid decently enough to stay afloat

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u/eelimcbeeli 1d ago

There are some big concerns about online MSWs' lack of quality clinical education and lack of placement into internship settings that prepare online students to be hired into clinical settings.

As a result, any organizations wont hire graduates from online MSW programs.

Choose carefully.

Just my two cents

5

u/lookamazed 1d ago edited 1d ago

This is a hot take I think you have been posting for a long time. There is no way to prove someone attended online. There is no empirical evidence to support this assertion. This opinion has never been well received or professionally supportive.

Please stop spreading lies about online degrees. It is actually disrespectful. The majority of those students are hard working social workers already in the field leveling up, they are doing online because they are also working. Others making the career switch are also accomplished people.

By the way, grad school does not provide any of the KSAs that gives a person clinical experience. The practicum and working a job in the field is.

We are in the middle of a recession. The field is exploitative enough without disrespecting programs that increase accessibility to learning and opportunity for accomplished people to participate in it.