A School Social Work Certification or one-year waiver + Master in Social Work are required to practice school social work in a public or private school in the State of Michigan. GVSU School of Social Work offers pathways for current students and graduates to obtain a certification.

Current Students

1. Meet with your Academic Advisor (Melanie Rabine Johnson or Laura Kastler) to discuss the pros and cons of completing the requirements of the School Social Work Certification while obtaining your MSW.
   1. Full-time advanced standing students should apply upon admission to the MSW program and no later than when Field Applications are due.
   2. Full-time regular standing students should apply in your first semester and no later than by the time Field Applications are due.
   3. Part-time advanced standing and part-time regular standing students should apply by the time Field Applications are due.
   4. Students who are past the deadlines listed above may consider returning after obtaining their degree and securing a position as a school social worker. See “Returning/Waiver Students” below.
2. If you determine that the certificate makes sense for you, your advisor will submit an official request to the MSW Program Director, Dr. Robin Smith-Colton [email protected], during your appointment.
3. With your advisor, develop a plan for completing the required schools courses, practicum dates, and additional MSW program requirements.
4. Within two weeks, you will receive an email with the decision of the MSW Program Director and the next steps.

 Returning/Waiver Students

GVSU students who did not complete the courses and/or required post-graduate professional work history may obtain school social work certification after graduation but must complete the required courses (SW 661, SW 663, and SW 664) to do so along with a possible internship.  Be advised that you must meet all requirements for school certification.

1. If you have an MSW degree from GVSU or another institution, please complete the application form for MSW graduates and send it with your official transcript and resume to Dr. Robin Smith-Colton at [email protected].
2. Within two weeks, you will receive an email with the decision and next steps.  

Frequently Asked Questions About School Social Work

1. What is School Social Work?

School social work is a specialized area of practice within the social work profession. School social workers act as liaisons between the school, home, and the community to aid in student success. Social workers in this field work directly with school administrators to provide leadership in forming discipline policies, assisting in mental health intervention, crisis management, and support services.

2. What are the State of Michigan requirements to become a School Social Worker?

• Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE accredited institution.
• Obtainment of Limited Licensure (LLMSW) or Full Licensure (LMSW)
• 500 hours of field education working with children and adolescents or 500 hours post-graduation working with children and adolescents.
• 3 classes (9-credit) School Social Work courses: SW 661, SW 663, SW 664

3. What courses are required for School Certification at GVSU?

• SW 661 (offered Spring/Summer) is required and counts as a Macro Core.
• SW 663 (offered Fall) is required and counts as an Elective.
• SW 664 (offered Winter) is required above the 38/60 credits for an MSW degree.

A “B” grade or better in each course must be earned, NO SUBSTITUTES OR EXCEPTIONS!

These courses are offered in-person. Graduate classes typically meet 3:00-5:50pm and 6:00-8:50pm Mondays- Thursdays.

4. What are the prerequisites for the required courses?

• Prerequisites for SW 661 are 600, 601, 603, 610, and 620.
• Prerequisites from SW 663 are 600, 601, 603, 610, 620, and 622.
• Prerequisites from SW 664 are 600, 601, 603, 610, and 620.

5. What are the requirements for how I complete my Field Education Internship?

• Field Placement Internships are in the school setting and occur during GVSU fall and winter semesters during the school year and school day. Placements align with the K-12 school calendar.
• Regular standing MSW students will complete 900 hours, and Advanced standing MSW students will complete 600 hours in a school social work role.
• Internships for the School Certification may not be employment-based.

6. How do I obtain my certificate after completing all the requirements?

• Students actually receive an SSW-310 or temporary approval.
• This is issued by Dr. Robin Smith-Colton [email protected]
• After graduation, once degrees are conferred; students who meet the B or better requirement in the school’s courses and have successfully completed their internship placement will receive their SSW-310.
• Students should expect the SSW-310 to be issued the second week of May.
• Students will receive the SSW-310 in the mail.
• Students are expected to hold on to their SSW-310. Copies are not held in the School of Social Work.

4. What are the steps to become a fully approved School Social Worker?

1) TEMPORARY APPROVAL POLICY & CRITERIA

1. The candidate must possess a master's degree from a graduate school of social work program approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). This includes a minimum 500-clock-hour supervised social work practicum.
2. The candidate must have received a recommendation for temporary approval from a Michigan school of social work training program by obtaining an SSW-310 form.
3. Temporary approval is granted to the requesting school district or intermediate school district (ISD) for a time period of not more than one school year.
4. A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
5. Temporary approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the candidate’s date of employment as a school social worker, whichever is later. Approval is granted any time throughout the school year for which the approval is effective, but no later than June 30.
6. A previously approved school social worker who has not been employed by a public school in Michigan for five or more consecutive years shall seek recommendation from a Michigan institution of higher education to obtain re-approval from the MDE, OSE as a condition of reemployment.
7. Temporary approval is transferable from one school district to the next.

2) CONTINUING TEMPORARY APPROVAL POLICY & CRITERIA

1. A candidate for continuing temporary approval must have received temporary or continuing temporary approval as a school social worker in the previous school year.
2. Continuing temporary approval is granted to the requesting school district or intermediate school district (ISD) for a time period of not more than one school year.
3. The employer must request continuing temporary approval for each consecutive year the candidate continues to be employed as a school social worker but has not completed the required one school year of full time successful employment under the direction of a fully approved school social worker.
4. A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
5. A previously approved school social worker who has not been employed by a public school in Michigan for five or more consecutive years shall seek recommendation from a Michigan institution of higher education to obtain re-approval from the MDE, OSE as a condition of reemployment.
6. Continuing temporary approval is transferable from one school district to the next.

3) FULL APPROVAL POLICY & CRITERIA

1. The candidate must have a master's degree from a graduate school of social work program approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
2. The candidate must have received school social worker temporary and continuing approval prior to applying for full approval. The required one year of full time successful employment must be completed while working as a school social worker under temporary or continuing approval.
3. A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
4. Full approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or from the date that the candidate completed one school year of full time successful employment under the direction of a fully approved school social worker, whichever is later.
5. Full approval does not expire as long as the candidate remains employed as a school social worker. A previously approved school social worker who has not been employed by a public school in Michigan for five or more consecutive years shall seek recommendation from a Michigan institution of higher education to obtain re-approval from the MDE, OSE as a condition of reemployment.
6. Full approval is transferable from one school district to the next.

6. What do I need to know about School Social Work Certification?

Note: Changes are being made by the Michigan Department of Education in obtaining School Social Work Certification after graduation. Grand Valley State University will post updates on the process as changes are confirmed.

**School Social Work Certification expires five (5) years from initial date of approval and can be renewed for an additional five years via completion of a GVSU refresher course offered by GVSU School of Social Work.

After ten (10) years, course work (SW 664 – School Social Work Practice in Schools) MUST be repeated to again obtain temporary school social work approval.