Millions of Americans suffer from mental health disorders but lack access to the care they need. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that only 52.1% of adults and 50.6% of youth with mental health issues receive treatment. The average lag between the first signs of illness and treatment is 11 years due to staff shortages and stigmas around mental health.

You can serve your community and advance discussions about mental health with your next career step. It’s possible to work in clinical settings with a graduate degree in social work or counseling. These degrees overlap in serving patients of all ages, but there are clear distinctions to understand before investing your time, energy, and money.

Differences between Counseling and Clinical Social Work

Clinical social workers and counseling professionals are trained to help patients of all ages through difficult times. Their degrees and scope of practice differ from graduate school through their careers. Understanding the basic differences between social work and counseling is a good start in your decision-making process.

Counseling

Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) and licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs) work with clients through mental health issues and interpersonal conflicts. The American Counseling Association (ACA) notes that a professional counselor helps clients “gain personal insights, develop strategies and come up with real-life solutions.” Their work primarily focuses on the individual or group without trying to navigate community or social obstacles. 

Master’s degree programs in counseling focus on the diagnostic and treatment skills necessary for effective therapy. Aspiring counselors dive deep into lifespan development, counseling theories, and treatment planning. Graduate students in counseling focus less on public policy and social determinants of health than their social work peers. 

Clinical Social Work

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) are equipped to provide counseling and psychotherapy services while also taking a broader approach to client care. Like LPCs and LMHCs, LCSWs assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. What distinguishes clinical social work is its person-in-environment perspective, which considers how factors such as finances, housing, family systems, healthcare access, and social conditions influence well-being and treatment outcomes. 

 The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) notes, “focusing on a person in their environment is central to the clinical social work practice.” LCSWs consider client finances, living situations, social inequalities, and other factors during diagnosis and treatment. 

A Master of Social Work (MSW) is the required education for LCSW licensure across the United States. MSW programs with a clinical focus combine advanced content in psychopathology and therapeutic techniques with coursework on policy, trauma-informed care, and macro-level considerations. Supervised practice hours in MSW programs train aspiring LCSWs to treat clients within their day-to-day lives.

Career Paths for Social Work vs. Counseling Graduates

MSW graduates typically start as licensed master social workers (LMSWs) or certified master social workers (CMSWs) under the supervision of experienced LCSWs. This step allows you to complete the required post-graduate supervised clinical hours and learn how to implement graduate school lessons. A survey of new MSW graduates found that 82% worked in clinical work, with the most common settings including: 

• Private, non-profit, or charitable organization (33%)
• Outpatient healthcare services (17.3%)
• Government agencies (15.1%)
• Hospital inpatient facilities (9.6%) 

While many MSW graduates pursue clinical careers, the degree's breadth creates opportunities across a wide range of settings. Social workers are employed in hospitals and integrated healthcare systems, schools, child welfare agencies, hospice and aging services, justice and correctional settings, military and veteran services, nonprofit organizations, community leadership, program administration, and policy or advocacy roles. This versatility allows graduates to move between direct clinical practice and broader organizational or systems-level work throughout their careers.  

Graduate-trained counselors provide therapeutic services under various names in similar settings after completing their required post-graduate supervised practice. A counselor’s job title depends on where they are licensed. For example, Florida requires counseling professionals to earn post-graduate experience as a Licensed Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern before qualifying for LMHC status. Similar roles in other states go by the following names, according to the ACA: 

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)

Licensure Requirements

Licensure requirements for LCSWs and LMHCs or their equivalents vary from state to state. We’ll use Florida’s requirements for both roles to compare rights for social work and counseling professionals. LCSW applicants in Florida need the following to obtain licensure: 

• Transcript for an MSW with practicum from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited school
• Two years of post-MSW internship experience totaling 1,500 hours
• A passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam
• Completion of courses on laws and rules, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence 

LMHC licensure in Florida significantly overlaps with the requirements for LCSWs. LMHCs complete 1,500 hours of post-graduate supervised experiences and the state-required courses. The LMHC licensure process differs from the LCSW process in the following ways: 

• Transcript for a master’s in counseling degree from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• A passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Job and Salary Outlooks

The return on your investment in an MSW or a master’s in counseling depends on long-term job and salary growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides some insights into how you can choose between social work and counseling degrees. The table below compares the data you need to make this important choice:

Both career options offer job growth and compensation exceeding the averages for all positions in the same year. Mental health counselor roles will grow more than social work roles by 2034, but social work professionals typically earn more than their counselor counterparts. BLS notes that social work roles specializing in mental health and substance abuse are expected to grow 10%, staying competitive with increases in counseling employment.

Which Degree Is Right for You: Social Work or Counseling?

The choice between an MSW and a master’s in counseling is challenging because both degrees can lead to rewarding careers providing mental health services. A 2023 survey of behavioral health professionals also found similar job satisfaction rates for counselors (91.5%) and social workers (89.9%). The decisive factor in your degree choice may be the scope of impact in each profession.

Both degrees can lead to clinical counseling and psychotherapy roles. The MSW is often considered the more flexible pathway because it combines clinical training with preparation for systems-level practice. Students interested in both direct client care and broader social impact may find the MSW's versatility especially appealing.

Counselors make significant impacts on the lives of clients through individual treatment plans. LCSWs provide therapeutic services and are equipped to connect clients with resources, advocate within complex systems, and collaborate with other professionals to address barriers that affect well-being.

Maximizing your impact as a social work professional starts with an MSW from an innovative university. The growing market of online MSW options means that you can find a program that fits your schedule and professional goals. Saint Leo University offers accessible and purpose-driven MSW education that stands apart from the competition.

Take the Next Step with Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University’s CSWE-accredited online MSW prepares you to make positive impacts on your community. You can find a degree option that matches your educational background and schedule. It’s possible to complete your online MSW in as little as 15 months or as much as three years, depending on your chosen pathway. 

The Traditional MSW option is designed for students who earned bachelor’s degrees in fields other than social work. BSW graduates can advance their careers with the Advanced Standing MSW. The only residency requirement for candidates is a virtual seminar. The following table explains the differences between the part-time and full-time options for both MSW paths:

No matter the degree option, Saint Leo’s faculty draw on their field experience to guide students toward impactful careers. Advanced courses in Psychopathology and Trauma-Informed Care build a strong foundation for clinical success. Elective courses, including the following, can customize your online MSW experience: 

• Children’s Services
• Short-Term Clinical Interventions
• Suicide and Crisis Intervention
• Social Work with Deployed and Re-Deployed Military and their Families 

Saint Leo University graduates are competitive in the job market thanks to the university’s national ranking by U.S. News & World Report. They carry university values like integrity, respect, and responsible stewardship into their communities. There is also a growing alumni network committed to making the world a better place. 

Learn more about how Saint Leo University’s Online MSW can help you help others.