01.13.25 Post-MSW Continuing Education Series | School Social Work | School Social Work Policy

Post-MSW Continuing Education Series | School Social Work Policy January 13, 2025 - April 14, 2025

This is the first of three required courses for those who wish to practice social work in a public-school setting in the State of Michigan. The role of the social worker in elementary and secondary schools and the necessary adaptations to the changes taking place in the educational scene are examined and evaluated. Problem solving approaches are given special attention within the structure and organization of the schools and their relationships with the surrounding community. You must have already obtained an MSW prior to taking this course. This course is asynchronous online and runs for 12 weeks. You can register for these courses at the same time or take them separately. Continuing education available for: SW (30 CE Credits). 

Modality: This entire series takes place on Western Michigan University's preferred learning management system, Elearning. Once your order is fulfilled, a member of the WMUx CE team will reach out to you with login information and completion instructions.

Notice of certification process:
Taken together, the three post-MSW series School Social Work Training courses meet State of Michigan requirements for the educational component to be certified as a School Social Worker. However, this coursework alone is not enough to be a certified school social worker and does not guarantee state approval.

In addition to this coursework, applicants must have already obtained an MSW from a Council on Social Work Education accredited school and have completed 500 hours of social work practice with children and families within the past five years. Students will provide their MSW degree-granting institution with the certificates from this course and verification of their completion of 500 hours practice in order to receive their letter of recommendation for certification.

Students who obtained their 500 hours at WMU through an internship should confirm those hours by emailing swrk_admi@wmich.edu. Students who obtained their MSW at WMU but obtained their hours through employment or volunteer work post-graduation should verify their hours by submitting a letter signed by their supervisor on agency letterhead which includes: start and end date, hours completed, job/role description, and a general statement of job performance. Students who obtained their MSW elsewhere should contact their institution for verification of hours prior to beginning coursework. The WMU School of Social Work will not arrange for post-MSW internships to obtain these hours.

For full rules and certification process, please visit: State of Michigan School Social Worker Certification

For questions about the certification process, please contact swrk_admi@wmich.edu.