Social work practice educator
Also known as: practice placement facilitator, practice-based educator, practice educator, practice placement coordinator, social work field instructor, practice placement worker
About this occupation
Social work practice educators teach, supervise and assess social work students prior, during and after they have obtained their degree. They contribute to their placement and have the authority to recommend students on the basis of appropriate evidence.
Essential skills and knowledge
- company policies
- maintain records of work with service users
- protect vulnerable social service users
- handle conflicts
- develop professional network
- work within communities
- apply problem solving in social service
- conduct field work
- supervision of persons
- negotiate with social service users
- pedagogy
- negotiate with social service stakeholders
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary (O*NET 25-1113.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, or handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as family behavior, child and adolescent mental health, or social intervention evaluation.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Typical education (US)
- Doctoral Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Artistic
Top skills: Instructing, Speaking, Learning Strategies, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing
US median pay: US$77,570 a year (2025), 12,610 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyVery important (4.5)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (4.1)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.6)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.6)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.3)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Doctoral Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
- School Psychologists
- Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
- Sociologists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.