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MSW Student Guide

Section 3.03.02: Field Instructor Criteria and Credentials

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) mandates that all field instructors must possess a CSWE-accredited master of social work degree, and have completed at least two or more years of post-degree experience. In addition, the State of Michigan mandates that all field instructors be licensed as a LMSW (licensed master social worker) in good standing in the State of Michigan. This applies to all practice method concentrations and pathways because the State of Michigan requires a license for micro and macro social work practice. Field instructors with a LLMSW license will be considered as long as they are post-MSW by 2 years and on track to complete the requirements for the full LMSW license. Qualified field instructors should possess a commitment to equity-based teaching practices, sound social work practice skills, ability to work with a secondary field instructor (if indicated), and a strong interest and ability to develop competence in teaching.

When students are placed in other states, the field instructor must meet the CSWE standard and be licensed according to state requirements. When students are placed globally, they need to meet the CSWE requirement or the equivalencies established by the SSW Office of Global Activities which were created in concert with the Office of Field Education.

In cases where an MSW social worker is not available, the goal is to identify a human service professional that possesses the requisite skills and experiences and desires to function as the student's task supervisor (task assignments, daily involvement, etc.) based on the student's pathway. In settings where there is not an MSW/LMSW, the task supervisor, or non-LMSW field instructor, provides the day-to-day assignment of projects and oversight/direction for students in addition to mentoring and supporting the student throughout their placement.

In these situations, the field site and the Office of Field Education will work together to identify an LMSW field instructor who provides an hour per week supervision for the student to discuss the field placement experiences and assignments, and how their experience working in the placement relates to social work and the social work competencies. The duties of the LMSW field instructor include providing the student with regular educational supervision, completing the student's Educational Agreement along with the task supervisor, participation in the evaluation process and being available to meet with the field faculty, task supervisor, and student during site visits and/or during problem solving. In field sites with more than one student, the LMSW may meet with the students in a group as well as provide individual supervision. This arrangement does meet the School's credentialing requirements.