Remote LCSW & LMFT Jobs in Massachusetts

How To Become an LCSW or LMFT in Massachusetts

How to Become an LCSW in Massachusetts

There are four social work licenses available in Massachusetts, and those who are Licensed Certified Social Workers (LCSW) can provide non-clinical social work services. They can also offer clinical social work duties if a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) supervises them.

The first step toward a license as a certified social worker is to graduate with a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Once an LCSW candidate has earned that degree, they need to pursue the following:

• Education and additional coursework: Candidates must have at least a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited school.

• Experience: There is no experience requirement for licensure.

• Exams: Candidates must submit an application for licensure. Once it is approved, you can take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam, which features 170 questions. The exam covers an array of relevant topics including assessment, diagnosis, treatment and interventions. It also covers ethics and values.

• Fees: Massachusetts requires a $173 fee for LCSW licensure application and a $230 fee for the ASWB clinical exam. Additional fees are required for specialized certification.

How to Become an LMFT in Massachusetts

A bachelor’s degree in a behavioral science topic from an accredited four-year college or university is the first step toward LMFT licensure. After you obtain that degree, you must take the following steps toward becoming licenses:

• Education and additional coursework: Prospective LMFT candidates must earn a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field. Your education must include a clinical internship or practicum. For information about these and other courses, you can refer to the National Association of Social Workers.

• Experience: LMFT candidates must have supervised clinical experience in a hospital or clinic setting. It must encompass two years of full-time or equivalent part-time (3,360 hours) of post-degree supervised clinical experience in a hospital or clinic setting. Specifically, that time must include at least 200 hours of direct supervision, 100 of which must be individual. The time must also include 1,000 hours of face-to-face contact hours, as well as 500 hours of face-to-face contact hours with couples or families.

• Exams: Candidates must submit an application for licensure to the state’s Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals. Once approved, you are eligible to take the Marital and Family Therapy Exam developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).

• Fees: Massachusetts requires a $155 fee for LMFT licensure and a $365 fee for the AMFTRB exam.

Requirements for Remote Mental Health Workers (LCSWs & LMFTs) in Massachusetts

Once you earn your license as an LCSW or LMFT in Massachusetts, you can decide which type of position suits you best whether you live in Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Yarmouth, or anywhere else in the state.

If you want to become a remote LCSW or remote LMFT, there are plenty of full-time and part-time virtual work opportunities available in Massachusetts.

Here’s what you should know before applying for a position as a remote mental health therapist:

• Work-from-home therapist: Both remote and on-site therapists have the same duties, but the key difference is that remote therapists conduct virtual sessions with clients. You’ll use a computer, smartphone, web platform, virtual testing, and other technology to work with clients. Also, as a licensed remote social worker or therapist in Massachusetts, you can only accept clients for virtual mental health therapy from that state.
  Skills of successful remote therapists: Therapists must know how to efficiently use technology so that they communicate clearly with clients. This is why many remote therapists begin their careers working with clients in person before they offer teletherapy services.

• Necessary documentation: All social workers and therapists should keep their resumes and provide professional documentation up to date and readily available.
  Additional training: Telemedicine companies often provide training to educate clinicians on how to use relevant technology and platforms, as well as best practices for good webside manner.

Companies hiring remote LCSWs and LMFTs in Massachusetts often post open positions on job posting sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn, so this is a great place to start looking for virtual therapy work opportunities.