Counselor vs Social Worker
Counseling Schools Search
When you click on a sponsoring school or program advertised on our site, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
Counseling and social work are meaningful careers that help those in need, yet there is a distinct difference between the two occupations. While both roles can involve providing mental health services to create positive change for their clients or patients, nuances associated with each profession make them unique in their own right.
While both social workers and counselors provide mental health support, their roles and responsibilities can differ significantly. Counselors typically focus on assisting individuals and families with specific mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, through counseling and therapy.
On the other hand, social workers have a more extensive range of responsibilities. In some circumstances, they may provide direct counseling services; in others, they may offer support accessing social services such as healthcare, education, and financial assistance. Social workers may also work with communities, advocacy groups, and policymakers to address social justice issues.
Use the chart below to understand better the differences and similarities between these two people-centric careers.
| Counselor | Social Worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The American Counseling Association defines professional counseling as “a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.” Counselors can work with various populations, including children, adults, inmates, professionals, and abuse victims. Titles are state-regulated. | Social workers are professionals who help individuals, groups, and families to prevent and cope with problems in their daily lives. Clinical social workers are additionally trained to diagnose and treat emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. In their work, social workers identify people and communities that require assistance, assess their needs, situations, strengths, and support networks to determine their goals and assist them in adjusting to changes and challenges such as illness, divorce, or unemployment. They also research, refer, and advocate for community resources, respond to crises, such as child abuse and mental health emergencies, monitor clients’ progress, and maintain case files and records. |
| Types |
|
|
| How Long Does It Take? | Becoming a counselor typically takes four years of undergraduate studies and two to three years of graduate school. Students must complete a master’s of arts or science in counseling, a practicum, an internship, and supervised practice. The timeline for supervised practice will vary by state. | The time it takes to become a social worker varies based on the level and type of services provided and state regulations. In some states, social workers only need a four-year undergraduate degree to work as a case manager or foster care coordinator. However, most clinical social workers who provide mental health therapy must have a master’s of social work degree, which takes two to three years to complete. |
| Educational Accreditation | The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the primary accreditation authority for counseling programs. Marriage and family therapist programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). | Bachelor’s of social work and master’s of social work programs should have accreditation from a regional agency recognized by the Department of Education’s Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) at a minimum. Besides regional accreditation, students should seek out programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). |
| Degree Programs |
|
|
| Supervised Hour Requirements | Supervised work hours for counselors will vary by state. In some states, it is as little as 2,000, whereas in others, it may be up to 4,000. Required hours will also vary based on the official licensing pursued. | The hours of supervised work experience needed to become a social worker vary between 1,500 to 4,000. In some states, it is a minimum number of months employed post-graduation instead of hours. |
| Licensing & Certification | Counselors must be licensed by the state licensing board where they practice. The requirements will vary by state but will include a relevant master’s degree and a required number of supervised work hours. The requirements to become a licensed mental health counselor are detailed on the career page. Counselors can obtain additional certification as it may be pertinent to their line of work. These may include:
| Depending on the job duties performed, social workers are not required to be licensed in every state. Clinical social workers must be licensed by their state board to provide mental health therapy. Social workers who work in a specific field can obtain voluntary certification. These can include:
|
| Typical Responsibilities | Typical responsibilities for mental health counselors will include:
| Job duties for social workers can vary widely based on the level of education completed, licensing obtained, and population served. Some typical responsibilities will include:
|
| Salary | According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2022), substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earn an average of $56,230 per year. The top 10 percent can expect to earn $82,710 or more per year, while the bottom 10 percent earn $34,580 or less per year. | Social workers earn an average of $64,360 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2022). The bottom 10 percent of social workers earn $37,500 or less annually, while the top 10 percent earn $95,560 or more. |
| The Bottom Line | Counselors provide mental health care services to various populations. | Social workers are the ultimate community problem solvers. They work in various fields and can provide clinical mental health care services with additional training and licensing. |
Kimmy Gustafson
WriterAt CounselingSchools.com, Kimmy Gustafson’s expertly crafted articles delve into the world of counseling and mental health, providing valuable insights and guidance to readers since 2020. In addition to feature pieces and interviews, she keeps the state licensing tables current. Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.