When comparing social workers vs. psychologists, it is important to note that, while these professions do have distinct differences, they both are subdisciplines of human services. Human services professions are jobs that exist to improve the lives of disadvantaged members of society through delivery of essential social services.
Social workers contribute to the human services field by providing holistic solutions to the social, behavioral, economic or health problems faced by their clients. Whereas, psychologists focus their efforts specifically on helping their patients address potentially damaging mental health issues.
For individuals contemplating a career as a psychologist or social worker there are many different factors to consider such as the responsibilities of each role, the educational requirements and career outlook.
What does a psychologist do?
According to the American Psychological Association, psychology is the study of the human mind for the purpose of learning how it functions and influences behavior. Clinical psychologists generally work with a medical team to treat individuals who are dealing with mental health conditions. They use their advanced understanding of the mind to develop and implement interventions that can stimulate changes in a patient’s mental state.
Some psychologists may opt to stay out of clinical psychology and instead focus on performing research or conducting scientific studies of behavior and brain function. There are many options for specialization, including the following:
- Cognitive: Cognitive psychology focuses on understanding how people process information by investigating a person’s ability to think, communicate, remember and learn.
- Social: Being around other people can influence a person’s mind. Social psychology is a means of understanding exactly how and why this happens. It can be used to help understand the role that social interactions play in governing someone’s feelings, thoughts and emotions.
- Developmental: Developmental psychology, which is sometimes referred to as human developmental psychology, has an expansive scope. It focuses on the study of mental structures that humans develop over the course of their lives, from infancy to old age. This often entails deeply examining how external factors, such as the environment, shape a person’s mental state at any age.
How to become a psychologist
There are several steps involved in the process of becoming a licensed psychologist. Candidates must first obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, and then pursue the appropriate graduate degree.
A Doctor of Psychology or Ph.D. in psychology is a requirement for most clinical and research psychologist positions. These doctoral degrees often include internships so that students gain practical work experience. It should be noted that there are some psychologist positions where a master’s degree is sufficient, such as organizational psychologists who work in business environments and apply their training to improve employee-based challenges or problems.
The final step to becoming a qualified psychologist is passing the Professional Practice in Psychology examination and completing the required work experience necessary to obtain state licensing. All states require that practicing psychologists are licensed.
What does a social worker do?
Social workers seek to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities, particularly those who are marginalized, oppressed or impoverished. By this definition, social work is a broad profession that diverges into a variety of specializations, including substance abuse, child welfare, schools, elderly, community or rural oppression and more. But regardless of their field of expertise, successful social workers must be able to draw from a range of interdisciplinary skill sets, including psychology, counseling and education.
Although many social workers are employed through dedicated human services agencies, social work services are also offered by a range of other institutions, including schools, prisons and hospitals. Clients in each of these settings have unique needs, and social workers must be able to adapt their treatment strategy on a case-by-case basis.
For instance, when social workers work with children who are suffering from neglect or abuse, they likely need to take a radically different approach than if they were working with families who only need financial assistance. While both of these processes require a direct assessment of the client’s needs, followed by the development of an action plan, the steps taken to create those plans change based on the client’s specific circumstances. Therefore, the extent of the services offered in the action plan depend equally on the social worker’s work setting, available resources and the clients’ needs. The services offered by different social work agencies vary, but some common ones include diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues, advocacy for jobs and housing, and future planning.
How to become a social worker
The path to becoming a social worker starts with earning a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). This degree allows graduates to legally qualify for jobs that involve working with larger groups of people in publicly run community organizations, or to provide casework services to select populations. With this level of education, social workers are typically prohibited from administering direct one-on-one psychotherapeutic services.
After graduating from a BSW program, it helps to complete social work-related internships and earn industry-specific certifications. But to truly accelerate career advancement, BSW-educated social workers should continue their education with a Master of Social Work degree, such as the degree offered by the University of Nevada. Completing graduate-level curriculum can make them eligible for more advanced jobs that involve performing in-depth clinical assessments and administering evidence-based social interventions.
With a Master of Social Work degree and two years of practice, professionals can sit for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam. Passing this exam allows them to provide therapy directly to individuals and smaller groups, such as couples or families.
Career outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) there are positive career prospects for both psychologists and social workers with the appropriate education and experience.
The BLS states that in 2017 the median annual salary for psychologists was $77,030, and $47, 980 for social workers.
Employment of psychologists is expected to grow by 14 percent from 2016 to 2026. During this same time period, the number of social work jobs available is projected to grow by 16 percent. To claim the higher-paying jobs in these fields, graduates are encouraged to obtain significant work experience and pursue opportunities for continuing education as often as possible.
Social Worker vs. Psychologist: How Do They Relate?
Social work occupations entail a wide range of human services, while psychology emphasizes administering mental health treatments. This does not mean, however, that they are not inherently similar in some ways. For example, when confronted with a mentally distressed person, both a psychologist and social worker will need to conduct an assessment to develop a complete understanding of the client’s needs. This includes recognizing when it is necessary to get another mental health professional involved in the client’s treatment.
Above all else, social workers and psychologists share a similar goal — helping people achieve healthier and more productive lives. By earning a Master of Social Work degree, ambitious human services professionals can equip themselves with the expertise necessary to tangibly improve their clients’ lives through a diverse range of services that extend far beyond just helping them cope with mental health issues.
Learn More
Are you interested in taking the next step in your social work career? To help you expand your technical expertise and acquire the advanced skills important for professional growth in the field of social work, find out more information about the University of Nevada, Reno online Master of Social Work program.
Recommended Readings
How to Find Work-Life Balance as a Social Worker
Understanding the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work
Human Trafficking: A Social Worker’s Role
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
BLS, Psychologists
National Association of Social Workers
American Psychological Association
Psychology
Social worker vs. psychologist: Which human services path is right for you?
As you search for a rewarding and people-centric career, rest easy knowing there are many humanistic professions you could pursue. If your career goals involve helping others overcome their challenges, it’s natural to be curious about social worker versus psychologist roles.
Both social workers and psychologists are trained to tune in to a person’s cognitive, social and emotional behaviors. They aim to provide guidance, strategies and resources to help individuals cope with the difficulties they face.
Although these professions do overlap, there are also some notable differences between social work and psychology. Understanding these distinctions can help you decide which of is right for you. We dug into the data to outline these two impactful career paths below. You just might find you’re a natural fit for one over the other.
What is the difference between social worker and psychologist duties?
There are numerous subfields within social work and psychology. Practitioners can specialize in working with school children, marriage and families, mental health, or substance abuse, to name a few. With this wide range of services, each professional’s job description may vary, though there are core elements specific to both of these roles.
Social workers not only help people cope with challenges, but they also dedicate ample time and energy to advocacy. They help raise awareness and advance causes both with and on behalf of their clients at the local, state and even national levels. Social workers typically work with families and individuals to help improve their quality of life.
Some of the typical social worker duties include the following:
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Assessing a client’s needs, situations and strengths to determine their goals
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Helping clients adjust to major life changes, such as illness, divorce or the death of a loved one
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Researching, referring and advocating for community resources on a client-by-client basis
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Responding to crisis situations, such as mental health emergencies or child abuse
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Identifying people or communities in need of help
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Following up with clients to ensure improvements are made
Psychologists, on the other hand, observe, interpret and record how people relate to one another and their environments by studying cognitive, emotional and social behaviors. Their goal is to understand and explain complicated thoughts, feelings and actions. A psychologist’s process for doing so can include controlled laboratory experiments, psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Rather than working with families or community groups, psychologists typically work with clients in a one-on-one capacity.
Psychologists are generally responsible for the following job duties:
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Conducting scientific studies of behavior and brain function
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Identifying psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnosing disorders
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Identifying and testing for patterns that can help them better understand and predict behavior
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Discussing treatment plans with clients and other medical professionals
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Writing articles, research papers and reports to share findings with others
What is the career outlook for a licensed social worker vs. psychologist?
You may plan to pursue a particular career based solely on your passion for the topic, but you still want some assurance that there will be jobs available once you finish school. In the case of social work and psychology, both are steady careers with ample job opportunities.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment of social workers is expected to increase 13 percent through 2029—that’s more than triple the rate of all occupations nationwide. Mental health and substance abuse roles are also projected to rise substantially in that time frame, with a growth rate of 17 percent, closely followed by a 13 percent spike in health care positions.
The BLS forecasts a stable job market for psychologists. Overall employment of psychologists is projected to grow three percent through 2029, with similar rates for clinical, counseling and school psychologist specialties.
Some experts hypothesize demand for psychology services will increase particularly for two groups: aging populations and those within schools. As the population ages, additional services can help people deal with the mental and physical changes that occur as they grow older. And as more people become aware of the connection between mental health and learning, school psychologists’ expertise will be in high demand.
Social worker vs. psychologist: How do you become one?
There are multiple education tracks that could lead you to careers in psychology and social work. The most common requirement for entry-level social work positions is a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). According to the BLS, a BSW prepares students for direct-service positions, such as a case worker or a mental health assistant.
Clinical social work positions require a Master of Social Work (MSW). This program typically prepares students to work in their chosen specialty and requires students to complete a supervised practicum or internship. You’ll also need two years of supervised training and experience. You can then take a clinical exam to become licensed. Licensure requirements vary by state, so be sure to look into the specifics in your area.
Most psychologist positions require a doctoral degree in psychology, but the BLS reports a master’s degree in the field can be sufficient for some roles. A Master of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy, like the one at University of Massachusetts Global, for example, can qualify graduates who obtain proper licensure to work in marriage and family counselor positions.
For the clinical, counseling and research psychologist positions that require further education, you have the option of pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. Ph.D. psychology programs are research intensive and culminate in taking a comprehensive exam and writing a detailed dissertation. The Psy.D. is a clinical degree often based on practical work and examinations rather than a dissertation. Many psychology doctoral programs will include a one-year internship.
In most states, you must be licensed to practice as a psychologist. State-specific licensure requirements can be found at the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards site. Practicing psychologists must complete continuing education courses to maintain licensure in many states, as well.
Is your future in social work or psychology?
This social worker versus psychologist comparison should have you one step closer to determining where you can make your impact. Whichever of these rewarding professions you choose, you’ll need to further your education to make the career your own.
If you find yourself drawn toward social work or psychology, check out the undergraduate and graduate degrees at University of Massachusetts Global’s School of Arts & Sciences for online programs that fit your schedule, budget and career ambitions.
