Pursuing LCSW after 10 years in a part-time capacity

Employment / Workplace Advice

Hi all, I graduated with my MSW in 2015. During my program, I interned in inpatient psychiatry and Chicago Public Schools. Afterwards, I worked for a year with an alternative option school in Chicago. I decided to pull a career change in 2016 and became a software engineer, which is what I've been doing full time since 2019.

I always wanted to work towards my LCSW at some point after getting situated in my current career, mainly to become a private therapist in some capacity. Given the way artificial intelligence is disrupting several fields within tech, I think it would be wise to dust off my MSW and start working towards my LCSW.

I'd only be able to work towards my clinical hours in a part-time capacity (around 15-20 hours a week), and I was wondering if anyone else has done this before while working full-time in a role separate from mental health practice, and how long it took. I know it would take me longer to receive my required hours. I was thinking that finding a position in a private practice might be the most flexible, but I haven't ruled out working in more of a hospital or outpatient setting.

Any feedback would be appreciated, thank you!

Posted Apr 8, 2026, 2:35 AM UTC

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