A person approached me and asked if there is a fast track to Masters in Social Work degree for him if has BA and MA in Cunseling psychology? Any recomendations ? Thanks
I don't know if your friend was in Brighton Beach or London, but if it was the former then I'm sorry to say that I believe the answer is no. There is no fast track. They might get a few transfer credits but I mean "a few." This is unfortunate because their Masters training was probably quite good. Many MSW programs have part-time options that allow people to work while they study or they can explore the small number of DL PhD programs in Psychology. One factor that should play an important part in their decision will be a clear knowledge of the licensing laws in the place where they live/intend to live. Good luck to all. Jack (btw, if your friend is in England then I'm afraid that all of the above may well be irrelevant. I know nothing of how the British handle such matters)
In most of the USA, a master's degree in psychology is seen and licensed as a very rough equivalent of a master's degree in social work. With an M.A. in counseling psychology, one could be licensed as a Professional Counselor, and with two years supervised experience, as a Clinical Professional Counselor. the independent level where a therapist can hang out a shingle and have a professional practice. The MSW works similarly, one is eligible for Licensed Social Worker upon graduation of the MSW program and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 2 years' supervision. I say "rough" equivalent because it is hard to dispute that an MSW/LCSW is significantly more marketable than an MA/LCPC. For example, an LCSW can provide supervision for a professional counselor but never vice versa, LCSW's are usually more accepted for insurance reimbursement, and LCSW's can easily work in non-mental health fields such as child welfare, social services, etc. The social work guild is considerabley stronger than any counselor's association I have seen.
No Fast Track! No Fast Track! The folks that are in charge of Social Worker Academic Standards/Requirements are pretty provintial and protective. A local school here (Barry University) will make you take everything again. Social Work schools are territorial and unfortunately would typically make a person retake classes. It is much like traditional Clinical Psych programs that make you take everything again (not an APA requirement but a MONEY thing from the school). Some Clinical Psych. programs are very open and take as much as 30 semester credits. Things are changing in terms of equanimity of LPC's/LMHC's and Social Workers. On the national scene both are able now, from what I have been told, bill Medicare and, at least in Florida, Baker Act patients/Clients. The playing field is leveling off already. I would tell your friend to consider a Ph.D. program (not for licensure) that would accept the most credits possible from his/her Counseling Psych Masters. It would take, roughly the same amount of time, maybe a little more (around 2.5 years at least).
Licensed Mental Health Counselors and their equivalents are quickly gaining a foothold in a realm of practice dominated by social workers, that was a few years back inaccessible to them. More and more insurance companies are allowing these practitioners to be panelists and the public is becoming more aware of these professionals as part of the community of mental health clinicians. The NASW realizes that Licensed Professional Counselors pose significant competition for jobs and private clients and are doing their best to prevent their being treated on par in a number of states, with their social work constituents. However, they have not been very successful, as was recently evident in Florida, in their attempt to block LMHCs from being included in the Bakers Act ( a state legislation that authorizes Psychiatrists, Psychologists and SWs to evaluate and hospitilize psychotic persons).
