Social Work Continuing Education - Keeping Your Knowledge Current

Within social work, continuing education simply comes with the territory. Unlike many other jobs, the field of psychology and sociology is one that is constantly shifting and growing. In all mental health fields, we are really at the infancy of our understanding. This means that the knowledge you gained in college may be out of date in many ways. This is why learning as you move through your career is not only important, but often a requirement of staying licensed and employed. Don't look at amassing credits as a chore, however. Look at it for what it was designed to be- a way to keep your knowledge current and relevant.

Even if you are fortunate enough to live in a state with little to no social work continuing education requirements, you should make every effort to take all the classes you can. Why? Because you never know what the future may bring. The more knowledge you can amass, the more valuable you will be to future employers. Even in states that don't have specific licensing requirements for CEUs, many employers do. If you slack in this area, you may find it difficult to move beyond your current employment situation. Then there is the possibility of moving in the future. If you move to a state with stringent requirements, you may be shut out of a job.

The latter situation is one you should pay particularly close attention to. It is part of the reason why you should look for social work continuing education classes that have a broad acceptance. While there are too many states to try and fit the requirements of each one, you can opt to take credits that are widely accepted. This will put you in the best possible situation should a move appear in your future. By all means, make sure you meet whatever specific requirements you need to for your own license renewal. But try to do that by taking credits that will be accepted in many states across the country.

Social work continuing education isn't only about taking those classes recommended by the state. There are other opportunities out there to expand your understanding of the field and help you to be better at your job. Taking second language classes will put you in high demand and will help you communicate more easily with those who don't speak English well. Don't overlook the opportunity to take various cultural understanding classes, either. In your career you will deal with many people from a vastly different background than your own. Having some knowledge of their customs and heritage will allow you to understand where they are coming from.