How to Become a Military Social Worker in North Carolina

The VA is America’s largest employer of master’s level social workers, with over 11,000 military social workers serving nationwide.

Military social work provides a rewarding career path that pays between $50,000 to $90,000 yearly, based on your education and experience. Social work ranks among the top career choices for the 200,000+ veterans who pursue higher education each year. Your path to becoming a military social worker requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution, which opens doors to long-term career growth.

Military social workers are essential lifelines that guide service members through the complex challenges of military life. We need to explore this specialized field to understand its unique aspects and how these professionals shape military communities.

What military social workers do

Military social workers deliver a complete range of services to support the mental and emotional well-being of people connected to military service. These experts provide clinical interventions that address everyday challenges and military-specific issues.

Their responsibilities typically include:

• Clinical counseling and therapeutic interventions
• Crisis intervention and critical event debriefing
• Resource guidance and benefit assistance
• Case management and care coordination
• Advocacy and education
• Suicide prevention and intervention
• Support for substance use disorders

Military social workers help service members prepare for major life changes, such as deployment or the transition to civilian life. They offer mental health therapy for conditions that military personnel commonly face, especially depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Many military social workers go beyond direct client services. They take part in research about deployment resilience and complete healthcare. Some contribute to policy development, while others train medical personnel in military-specific care approaches.

Who they serve: active duty, veterans, families

Military social workers focus on three main groups: active-duty service members, veterans, and military families. Each group has distinct needs that require specialized knowledge.

These professionals help active-duty personnel throughout deployment cycles to maintain mental readiness under stress. They counsel individuals before deployment and step in during crises after traumatic experiences.

Veterans form another key client group. A 2020 report showed that about 1.3 million veterans faced substance use disorders. Military social workers help veterans handle post-service challenges by connecting them with key resources and providing therapy for service-related conditions.

Military families are the third essential group. These families often deal with unique pressures, including frequent moves, long separations, and adjustment challenges. Social workers help them cope with these specific military-life stresses.

Work settings: VA, military bases, private practice

Military social workers serve in a variety of settings that offer different service opportunities and professional experiences.

The Department of Veterans Affairs leads as America’s largest employer of master’s-level social workers. The VA has over 15,000 social workers nationwide. These professionals work mainly in medical care settings and homeless programs. They ensure continuous care through admission, evaluation, treatment, and follow-up processes.

Social workers at military bases work within the Department of Defense (DoD). They make up 45% of mental health professionals at military hospitals and clinics. DoD social workers conducted more than 770,000 behavioral health interactions with service members and their families in 2020 alone.

Some military social workers choose community organizations and private settings. Many start private practices that focus on military populations. Others join veterans service organizations or similar agencies dedicated to the military community.

The military’s unique cultural context shapes social work practice in every setting. Military personnel’s life within a hierarchical, structured organization affects how they access care and follow treatment plans.

Military social workers’ specialized knowledge and commitment create real change in service members’ lives.

Step 2: Start with a Bachelor’s Degree (BSW)

Starting your path as a military social worker requires strong educational foundations. The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree marks the first significant step in your professional development. This degree equips you with essential knowledge and skills you’ll need throughout your career with military populations.

Why a BSW is a strong foundation

A Bachelor of Social Work teaches core competencies needed to understand human behavior, social systems, and intervention methods. This foundation becomes especially valuable if you plan to work with military communities.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredits social work programs that meet strict educational standards. Most employers, including government settings like the VA and military bases, need degrees from CSWE-accredited institutions. A BSW from an accredited program can help reduce your MSW completion time through Advanced Standing programs.

BSW programs develop your critical thinking skills and ethical decision-making principles that apply directly to military social work scenarios. Students learn about human diversity, social justice, and service delivery systems. These elements help understand service members’, veterans’, and their families’ complex needs.

Several universities in North Carolina offer CSWE-accredited BSW programs, including UNC-Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, and Appalachian State University. Full-time students typically complete these programs in four years, while part-time options might take longer.

Relevant coursework to think over

Your BSW studies should include specific courses that benefit military social work:

• Human Behavior in the Social Environment – Shows how military culture shapes behavior
• Social Welfare Policy and Services – Teaches you about systems military members must direct
• Research Methods – Builds skills to assess intervention effectiveness
• Individual and Family Assessment – Helps you work with military families
• Crisis Intervention – Prepares you to address service members’ acute needs
• Trauma-Informed Practice – Applies directly to work with combat veterans

Look for electives related to military populations if available. Some programs offer specialized courses in military social work, trauma, or veteran services. Focus on courses covering PTSD, substance use disorders, and family systems – common issues in military settings.

Many North Carolina schools maintain ties with nearby military installations like Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. These connections shape course content and give practical insights into local military communities.

Opportunities for early field experience

Field education is the foundation of BSW training. Your program should include placements that connect with military populations, even indirectly.

Field experience settings might include:

• Community agencies serving veterans
• Healthcare facilities near military installations
• Family support organizations working with military families
• Mental health clinics with veteran programs

Volunteer work can greatly improve your understanding of military culture beyond formal practicums. Organizations like the USO, military family support groups, or veteran service organizations offer great opportunities. This experience strengthens your resume and cultural competency.

Skills learned while working with populations facing trauma, transition, or family stress transfer well to military social work contexts, even without direct military-related placements.

Student membership in professional organizations like the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) offers additional benefits. NASW-North Carolina’s chapter provides military social work interest groups and continuing education at student rates.

A carefully chosen BSW program, relevant coursework, and meaningful field experiences create a solid foundation. This preparation sets you up for the specialized graduate education needed in clinical military social work practice.

Step 3: Earn a Master’s in Social Work (MSW)

A Master’s in Social Work (MSW) is a vital next step in your military social work career after your BSW. This advanced degree will give you clinical skills you need to help service members who face complex challenges.

Choosing a CSWE-accredited MSW program

CSWE accreditation is a must-have when you pick an MSW program for military social work positions. The Council on Social Work Education will give a seal of approval that meets strict standards—you’ll need this for VA employment and clinical licensure.

North Carolina has several CSWE-accredited MSW programs that fit different needs:

• Traditional MSW programs take two years of full-time study
• Online and hybrid formats work well for busy professionals
• Evening and weekend programs help you balance other commitments

Here’s what you should think over as you look at programs:

1. Military focus or concentration options
2. Faculty expertise in military/veteran issues
3. How close you’ll be to military installations or VA facilities
4. Links to military-affiliated field placement sites
5. Scholarship options if you’re committed to military social work

You need specialized courses to prepare for military social work that address service members’ unique challenges. Look for programs that offer:

• Methods to curb combat-related trauma and PTSD
• Military culture and family systems courses
• Treatment approaches for veterans with substance use issues
• Military transition and reintegration services
• Crisis help for combat-related stress

Certificates and concentrations can boost your credentials. UNC-Chapel Hill offers a Certificate in Military and Veteran Health, while ECU has integrated their Military-Focused Certificate Program with their MSW curriculum.

Field placements are a crucial part of MSW education, with 900+ supervised hours. Future military social workers can choose from:

• VA Medical Centers in Asheville, Durham, Fayetteville, or Salisbury
• Military bases like Fort Bragg or Camp Lejeune
• Veteran service organizations across North Carolina
• Private practices that focus on military populations
• Community agencies serving veterans

These placements let you experience military culture firsthand. You’ll learn about common challenges and evidence-based treatments. This hands-on experience will boost your job prospects after graduation.

Advanced Standing options for BSW holders

BSW graduates from CSWE-accredited programs can take a faster route through Advanced Standing. This quick-track option values your social work background and lets you:

• Finish your MSW in about one year instead of two
• Pay less in tuition
• Start your career sooner
• Jump right into advanced clinical courses

Advanced Standing requirements usually include:

• A BSW from the last five years (this varies by program)
• Good grades (3.0 GPA or higher)
• Strong undergraduate field work
• Solid recommendations from BSW faculty

UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Charlotte, East Carolina University, and NC State University all offer Advanced Standing in North Carolina. These programs are competitive, so good grades in your BSW really matter.

Some programs offer summer bridge courses to help Advanced Standing students prepare. These courses refresh your knowledge before you start specialized clinical training.

Your MSW with military focus will give you advanced clinical skills to help service members, veterans, and their families. This degree sets you up for a rewarding career in military social work.

Step 4: Complete Fieldwork and Internships

Hands-on experience serves as the life-blood of your military social work education. Strategic internships will help you develop specialized skills to support service members and their families who face unique challenges.

Importance of military-related placements

Field placements in military settings are a great way to get hands-on experience that classroom education alone can’t match. These internships work as an essential “educational bridge” between your MSW program and independent practice. You’ll apply theoretical knowledge in ground military contexts.

Military-specific placements give you several distinct advantages:

• Immersion in military culture and terminology
• Exposure to common conditions like PTSD and trauma from service
• Experience with military healthcare systems and regulations
• Supervised application of evidence-based treatments for military populations
• Direct mentorship from experienced military social workers

Your credibility grows when you apply for military social work positions. Employers look for candidates who understand military structures and have shown competence working within them.

Examples of fieldwork settings in North Carolina

North Carolina’s significant military presence creates a variety of fieldwork opportunities. Notable placement settings include:

VA Medical Centers in Durham, Fayetteville, and Salisbury provide complete training experiences. The VA runs the largest clinical training program for social workers nationwide, training approximately 1,500 MSW interns annually. Students typically need 500+ practicum hours over two semesters.

Fort Bragg runs the U.S. Army Social Work Internship Program (SWIP), a 26-month complete training program that prepares social workers for military practice. The program rotates through:

• Social Work Leadership and Management
• Behavioral Health clinics and embedded units
• Family Advocacy Program
• Addiction Medicine services

Camp Lejeune and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base offer additional options. The Air Force conducts its Clinical Social Work fellowship at these locations.

Community agencies supporting veterans provide valuable experience too. These settings might include veteran service organizations, homeless programs for veterans, or community mental health centers with military-specific services.

How to find VA or DoD internship opportunities

Finding military-focused internships needs careful planning and knowledge of specific application processes.

Your university’s Field Placement Coordinator should contact the Social Work Education Coordinator at your preferred VA facility for VA placements. The VA partners with over 230 graduate schools of social work. Some VA facilities offer student stipends.

Check these basic eligibility requirements before applying:

• Enrollment in a CSWE-accredited MSW program
• Good academic standing (usually 3.0+ GPA)
• Advanced Standing or second-year MSW status for many placements
• S. citizenship (needed for most DoD positions)

Department of Defense internships like the Army’s SWIP program need:

• A CSWE-accredited MSW degree
• Passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master’s level examination
• State licensing body recognition as a master’s level provider

The application process remains competitive. Military internships often need interviews, background checks, and extra onboarding steps like fingerprinting and physical examinations.

Military placements offer exceptional preparation for your career. These experiences help you develop specialized skills in military-unique curriculum, evidence-based treatments, and leadership. You’ll also accumulate hours toward licensure requirements.

After completing these internships, you’ll be ready to pursue clinical licensure and employment in various military settings. Your career as a military social worker will take off from there.

Step 5: Get Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker

A clinical license is your key credential to practice military social work independently. The North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board has laid out specific steps and requirements to get this license.

Licensure requirements in North Carolina

You need a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential to legally practice clinical social work in North Carolina. Most practitioners start with the Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) status before getting full licensure.

The LCSWA requirements include:

• MSW, DSW, or PhD from a CSWE-accredited social work program
• A complete application with three professional references
• Payment of application fee ($145)
• A supervision plan with a qualified LCSW supervisor

Your associate license lets you build supervised clinical experience toward full licensure. The LCSWA license lasts two years and you can renew it once, giving you up to six years to complete your supervised hours.

Your journey from LCSWA to LCSW status requires meeting specific supervised experience requirements. As an aspiring military social worker, you must:

• Complete a minimum of 3,000 hours of post-MSW paid clinical employment
• Build these hours over at least two years but no more than six years
• Get at least 100 hours of supervision from a qualified LCSW
• Keep a ratio of one hour of supervision for every 30 hours of clinical practice
• Group supervision can’t exceed 25 hours of the total requirement

You must submit documentation to the Board every six months using the mandatory Six-Month Review Form. You become eligible to take the ASWB Clinical exam after documenting two years of clinical practice.

The ASWB Clinical exam costs $260 and tests your knowledge of clinical social work practice. You can apply for full LCSW status using the LCSW Short Form application with the required fee once you pass this exam and complete your supervised hours.

Military employers, especially in the VA system, look for this independent clinical license when considering promotions. Your full LCSW credential lets you practice independently and supervise other social workers – skills that are valuable in military leadership roles.

Maintaining your license

LCSW status comes with ongoing requirements to keep practicing legally. North Carolina requires:

• Biennial renewal with a $150 fee
• 40 continuing education (CE) hours every two years
• At least 4 hours must cover social work ethics
• Records of all CE activities, which might be audited

CE hours give military social workers chances to expand their specialized knowledge. You can complete up to 20 hours through distance learning, with the rest coming from in-person or live synchronous training.

North Carolina doesn’t automatically accept licenses from other states, which might affect military social workers who move with service members. All the same, you can get licensed through substantial equivalency if your previous state’s requirements match North Carolina’s standards.

This licensure process builds your professional credibility. It opens doors to various roles in military social work, from VA hospitals to military installations and private practices serving military communities.

Step 6: Explore Career Paths and Salary Expectations

Getting your clinical license opens up new career paths, and you’ll want to know what to expect in terms of pay. Military social workers can work in many settings, and each role comes with its own rewards and pay scale.

Military social worker salary ranges

Your pay as a military social worker depends on where you work, your experience, and location. The median annual wage for social workers was $61,330 in May 2024. Working for the Department of Defense can boost your earnings – enlisted military social workers earn $118,872 on average.

Military social workers in North Carolina earn around $69,310 yearly. Charlotte leads with $74,490, while Raleigh follows at $74,136. New professionals start at $53,600, but experienced practitioners earn up to $83,200. Top performers can reach $96,787.

Roles in VA, DoD, and private practice

The VA employs more master’s-level social workers than any other organization in the country. They need professionals in:

• Primary medical care units
• Homeless veteran programs
• Mental health services
• Substance use treatment
• Family advocacy

The Department of Defense has positions on military bases where you can provide counseling, help with crises, or run workshops for active-duty personnel. These jobs come with great benefits beyond your salary – you’ll get health insurance, retirement plans, and education benefits.

Private practice is another path you might consider, with nationwide average salaries of $91,730. Many private practitioners work exclusively with military populations and provide specialized care outside the military system.

Job outlook and demand in North Carolina

The future looks bright for military social workers. The field should grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than most other jobs. About 74,000 positions will open up each year.

Military social workers are needed more than ever. Nearly half of the 4 million veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan wars still need mental health support. This creates steady opportunities in this specialized field.

To sum up, military social work gives you a chance to make a difference while earning competitive pay, especially if you have specialized training and clinical licensure.

Become a Military Social Worker in NC Today

Military social workers need dedication, specialized education, and a genuine desire to help those who serve our country. This piece outlines the key steps you’ll need to take in North Carolina to enter this rewarding field.

Military social workers play a vital role in supporting active duty personnel, veterans, and their families in settings of all types. A BSW and MSW from CSWE-accredited programs will give you the knowledge base to address complex challenges in military communities.

Practical experience with military populations is vital. Classroom education alone isn’t enough. Working at VA medical centers, military installations, or veteran-serving organizations in North Carolina will substantially improve your career prospects.

Getting licensed is a major milestone. You’ll need to complete supervised clinical hours and pass the ASWB exam to earn your LCSW credential. Many advanced positions in military settings require this license, which you’ll maintain through continuing education.

The job market for military social workers looks promising. You’ll find positions at VA facilities, Department of Defense settings, and private practices. These roles offer competitive salaries ranging from $53,600 for entry-level positions to nearly $97,000 for experienced practitioners in North Carolina.

Military social work provides more than financial benefits. You’ll have a chance to help service members deal with trauma, transition challenges, and family stress. Your expertise will meet critical needs among people who have given so much to our country.

Building cultural awareness of military communities takes time and dedication. Every step – from education through licensure and beyond – helps you become more effective. The path can be challenging, but supporting service members and their families makes it worthwhile.