Is it okay to get MSW out of state?

[LincolnLover]

Hello everyone,

 

I am currently finishing up my first year in a BSW program in NYC (Staten Island.) 

I have my heart set on using animal-assisted therapy in my social work practice, and I think the program that University of Denver offers would be perfect.

 

My question is this:  Since I would obviously be doing my internship in Denver, does this hurt my chances of getting a job in NY when my Master's is finished?  I love NY and want to stay here, not move to Denver permanently.  Do social workers usually get their first job from their internship?

 

What about licensing?  Would it hurt me when taking the NY licensing test that I got my Master's in Denver?

 

I'm also worried about money.  The school I go to now is a CUNY, and tuition to get my MSW would be very affordable, while Denver would be very expensive.  Do you think it's worth it? 

 

Any advice would be great.  And if anyone attends University of Denver, please let me know how you like it.  Thank you!

[MSDubbs]

Most everyone I talked to during my application process recommended going to school somewhere you'd like to stay for a bit afterwards. It is not necessarily that your first job comes from your internship but that the connections you make during the program will help you find a job in that particular location. It might be harder to find a job in another state, but probably not impossible, especially in NY I imagine. You might end up competing with people who got their education in NY and have those connections through the schools there or through their internships and being a part of communities there. However, if you went to University of Denver and got a job there, this doesn't tie you to Denver forever either. Having more experience under your belt could help you when you end up applying to jobs in NY. However, if you know you want to be in NY, it might make more sense to stay there for school. I think money is definitely an important factor to consider.

It sounds like you might want to be asking yourself how important the animal assisted program is to you. It is a unique program that you cannot really find elsewhere, which makes the decision a bit trickier for you.

 

As far as I understand regarding licensing, that process starts once you are done with school. If you were looking to be licensed in NY, you'd want to move back before starting the process and working in Denver...because most states have their own requirements and want you to be working there.