Accreditation FAQs

No. The accrediting authority of CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (BOA) extends only to the United States and its territories. If you attended a social work program overseas and wish to work in the United States, it is advisable to have your degree evaluated by CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES).

CSWE served as the accrediting body for all Canadian master's of social work degree programs until 1970, then continued to accredit Canadian master's of social work programs by special request until 1983. While CSWE does not currently accredit social work programs in Canada, graduates of Canadian programs accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) (formerly CASSW) are recognized through a memorandum of understanding as having earned a degree equivalent to graduates from a CSWE-BOA-accredited program. For information about accredited programs in Canada, please contact the  Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).
 

Below are the formerly BOA-accredited Canadian master's of social work programs:

Carleton University - Accredited 1951–1974
Dalhousie University - Accredited 1952–1975
Laval University - Accredited 1952–1969
McGill University - Accredited 1939–1973
Université de Montréal - Accredited 1951–1969
University of British Columbia - Accredited 1945–1969
University of Calgary - Accredited 1971–1972
University of Manitoba - Accredited 1949–1969
University of Ottawa - Accredited 1951–1966
University of Toronto - Accredited 1939–1974
Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier University) - Accredited 1968–1983

No. CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES) evaluates individually earned degrees, not the social work programs from which the degree was earned. Thus, there are no pre-approved international social work programs. Each applicant is reviewed individually and independently after earning their degree. 

The only exception is graduates covered by the memorandum of understanding with CASWE (formerly CASSW), the Canadian social work accrediting agency, are automatically recognized as having earned a degree equivalent to graduates from a CSWE-BOA-accredited program.

The Department of Social Work Accreditation (DOSWA) has outlined their scope, services, resources, and boundaries and posted it publicly to our accreditation webpage.

The Board of Accreditation (BOA) of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit baccalaureate, master’s, and practice doctorate social work degree programs in the United States and its territories. In addition, BOA also accredits practice-based post-master’s social work fellowship programs.

CSWE does not accredit Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, associate degree programs, or minors in social work.

CSWE-BOA limits its accreditation function to programs that prepare students for professional social work practice (i.e., baccalaureate, master’s, practice doctorate, and post-master’s fellowship programs). In general, associate degree programs prepare students for paraprofessional-level positions in social service agencies.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs are typically research-oriented and primarily prepare students for academic, research, or administrative positions. Additionally, zero health profession accreditors regulate PhD programs. Minors prepare students for exploration of professional social work pathways.

CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation (DOSWA) is the only trusted, verified, and accurate source of accreditation information. The accreditation team has worked diligently to clarify and provide disclaimers that accreditation-related information not published or provided directly by the accreditation team or CSWE-BOA is not vetted by nor officially endorsed.

This includes any information shared by CSWE members, faculty, administrators, consultants, and vendors in shared academic spaces, such as CSWE's Annual Conference

If the information is shared directly by member(s) of the accreditation team, then yes, it is accurate. The only endorsed services, content, trainings, workshops, publications, presentations, templates, tools, sample matrices, resources, etc. are those that CSWE-BOA or the accreditation team create and publish on the CSWE accreditation website. If the information is shared by any other party external to the CSWE's accreditation team, then no, the information may be inaccurate. Other parties may include CSWE members, faculty, administrators, consultants, vendors, etc. Always verify the source of your information and contact the accreditation team to ensure you are receiving the most accurate and current information.

Companies are welcome to exhibit at CSWE's Annual Conference, however, that does not mean that CSWE, the accreditation team, nor BOA is endorsing their product. The exhibit hall is outside of the purview of the accrediting agency. Finally, it is not a function of the BOA to evaluate external accreditation-related information or products for compliance with the accreditation standards. Rather programs are solely responsible for implementing, demonstrating, and maintaining compliance with the accreditation standards. Programs are then independently reviewed for compliance via the peer-reviewed accreditation processes. Programs are empowered to review the variety of rich resources available on the CSWE accreditation website and/or contact their program's accreditation specialist as questions arise.

No. Per Policy 1.8 Use of Consultants in the Accreditation Policies, CSWE does not recommend the use of external paid consultants. External consultants hired by programs to assist in their reaffirmation of accreditation or progression through candidacy status are not employees or agents of CSWE. CSWE is in no way responsible for the services provided by such consultants, and in no way does CSWE guarantee, recommend, or endorse the services of any consultant.

It is recommended that your program review the scope of accreditation services offered and collaborate with your program's accreditation specialist, as the accreditation team is the only trusted, verified, and accurate source of accreditation information.

Social work practice doctorate programs prepare practitioner-scholars to advance practice and innovate at the micro, mezzo, and/or macro levels as well as in higher education and/or professional leadership. Individual programs determine their own degree designation but most of these programs designate “DSW” as the degree awarded.
 
Practice doctorate programs educate master’s-level social work practitioners who are graduates of CSWE-accredited programs  as practitioner-scholars who will use and evaluate research-informed practice critically to translate and innovate social work practice; engage in systematic inquiry; and apply and disseminate research-informed knowledge, values, ethics, and skills in social work through practice, professional leadership, and/or teaching.

See Memo to the Social Work Profession Regarding Practice Doctorate Program Accreditation
See Social Work Education Continuum

The accreditation of practice doctorate programs has just been piloted and it will be quite some time before accreditation of these programs is the norm. Piloting accreditation processes is standard practice among accreditors and is required by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. All stakeholders, including licensing boards, are aware of and understand that this is a standard and intentionally incremental process.
 
Students should be aware that, until accreditation of practice doctorate programs is fully implemented, and all existing practice doctorate programs have had a chance to seek accreditation, a practice doctorate program’s CSWE-accredited status should not be a determining factor in selecting which professional practice doctorate program to apply to. Prospective students should select a program that matches their professional and personal goals. Please review the CSWE/GADE Report on the Current Landscape of Doctoral Education in Social Work for examples of employment opportunities obtained by recent practice doctorate program graduates. Prospective programs may be able to provide more detailed information on the specific types of employment opportunities obtained by their graduates. 

See Memo to the Social Work Profession Regarding Practice Doctorate Program Accreditation

Piloting accreditation processes is standard practice among accreditors and is required by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Stakeholders, including licensing boards, are aware of, and understand, that this is a standard and intentionally incremental process.
 
Only degrees earned after accreditation of practice doctorate programs is fully implemented and all existing practice doctorate programs have had a chance to seek accreditation, can a non-accredited status carry any significance. Any potential barriers to practice due to doctorate program accreditation status are not anticipated until well into the future.
 
Once practice doctorate programs receive initial accreditation, their accreditation status cannot retroactively cover or grandfather previous students. The accreditation status obtained at initial accreditation covers the components that were reviewed during the accreditation review process. Therefore, the accredited status applies to those students who started the program in the academic year during which candidacy is granted and beyond. For example, if a program is granted candidacy in Spring 2023, students who started the program in Fall 2022 or later will have graduated from an accredited program, if/when the program receives initial accreditation. See policy 1.6 in the Accreditation Policy Handbook for more details. Accreditation status will not be retroactively effective to previous students and curricula. 

See Memo to the Social Work Profession Regarding Practice Doctorate Program Accreditation

From 2021-2025 the BOA piloted the accreditation process for practice doctorate programs in social work. Individual programs determine their own degree designation but most of these programs designate “DSW” as the degree awarded.

Piloting is an intentionally incremental process. Only once accreditation of practice doctorate programs is fully implemented, and all existing practice doctorate programs have had a chance to seek accreditation, should a practice doctorate program’s CSWE- accredited status be considered when evaluating the qualifications of future practice doctorate program graduates. The CSWE-accredited status of practice doctorate programs for graduates that complete these programs before accreditation is readily available to programs should not be considered.
 
Additionally, once practice doctorate programs receive initial accreditation, a program’s accreditation status cannot retroactively cover or grandfather previous students. The accreditation status obtained at initial accreditation covers the components that were reviewed during the accreditation review process. See policy 1.6 in the Accreditation Policy Handbook for more details. Accreditation status will not be retroactively effective to previous students and curricula. 

See Memo to the Social Work Profession Regarding Practice Doctorate Program Accreditation

The number of practice doctorate programs has grown in recent years. In response to questions in the field about how practice doctorate program graduates fit within the education continuum, BOA partnered with programs, social work educators and leaders, doctorate students, and other constituents to conduct an environmental scan, gather data and feedback, and create accreditation standards. Accreditation standards set a minimum threshold for recognizing practice doctorate programs as having a level of performance, integrity, and quality expected by the educational community and the constituents the programs serve.
 
Baccalaureate social work programs (accredited by CSWE’s BOA since 1974) and master’s social work programs (accredited by CSWE’s BOA since 1952, and its predecessor since 1919) maintain their significant and vital place in the continuum of social work education in preparing students for competent social work practice across all system levels (micro, mezzo, and macro) and with diverse clients and constituencies. Bachelor’s programs prepare students for generalist practice while master’s programs prepare students for generalist and specialized practice. Practice doctorate programs prepare graduates to advance practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels as well as in higher education and/or professional leadership. You can learn more about the landscape of doctorate education in social work here. 
 
Neither CSWE, nor its Board of Accreditation (BOA), address / designate a terminal degree for social work education or practice. For information regarding faculty preparation or regional accreditation requirements for faculty qualifications / credentials, please contact the program’s accreditation specialist for your currently accredited baccalaureate and master’s social work program. The BOA and EPAS clearly continue to emphasize the value of master’s level social work preparation for faculty in accredited social work programs as well as for post-degree social work practice.
 
Professional social work licensure post-degree is under the authority of a designated board within each individual state government. Your state government is responsible for regulating licensure and setting criteria required to become a licensed professional social worker. Requirements may differ by state. Contact information for individual state licensing boards can be found on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) website or through an internet search for a licensing board for a particular state. Questions regarding licensure and professional practice should be directed to the board in your state. Questions regarding the national social work licensing exams should be directed to the ASWB, the body that publishes and administers the exams.

See Memo to the Social Work Profession Regarding Practice Doctorate Program Accreditation
See Social Work Education Continuum

A comprehensive list of accredited, candidate, and pre-candidate programs is housed in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

Changes in accreditation status are posted publicly 30-days following each CSWE-BOA meeting on the CSWE website.

i. February BOA meeting decisions are posted mid-March.
ii. June BOA meeting decisions are posted mid-July.
iii. October BOA meeting decision are posted mid-November.
 

Per Policy 3.13 Decision Letters in the Accreditation Policies, official decision letters are sent electronically to programs 30 days after each CSWE-BOA meeting

i. February BOA meeting decision letters are sent mid-late March.
ii. June BOA meeting decision letters are sent mid-late July.
iii. October BOA meeting decision letters are sent mid-late November.

Our directory is searchable by all institutional names, program names, and former names. If you are unable to locate a record of your social work program on the CSWE website, then it may not be accredited. Contact accreditation@cswe.org to verify the status of your social work program.

CSWE’ Board of Accreditation piloted the accreditation of practice doctorate programs (i.e., DSW programs) from 2021-2025. The programs that participated in the pilot are listed on the directory of accredited programs. CSWE began accepting practice doctorate accreditation applications from additional practice doctorate programs beginning August 2025.

PhD programs are not accredited by CSWE-BOA.

Candidacy status indicates that it has made progress toward meeting standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. A program that has attained candidacy status has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the accreditation standards but has not yet demonstrated full compliance.

Students who enter programs that attain Candidacy in or before the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program as long as the program attains Initial Accreditation. Candidacy is typically a three (3) year process and attaining Candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain Initial Accreditation. Candidacy applies to all program sites (i.e., locations) and delivery methods of the program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

Once a program is granted initial accreditation, it is issued a retroactive accreditation date to reflect the academic year in which the program was granted candidacy. For example, if a program was granted candidacy status in the academic year of 2025-2026, any student entering the program in the fall of 2025 and beyond will be considered to have graduated from an accredited social work program so long as the program receives its eventual Initial Accreditation. Read more about the Candidacy process in Section 5: Candidacy & Initial Accreditation of the Accreditation Policies housed on the CSWE website.

To understand how candidacy status will affect you as a student, contact your social work program director and/or accreditation@cswe.org. Contact information for social work programs is located in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

Pre-candidacy status indicates that it submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE Accreditation Staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the accreditation standards.

Students who enter the program while it is still in Pre-Candidacy will not be recognized as attending a program in Candidacy unless the program attains Candidacy in the academic year in which those students enter.

The Candidacy Process is typically a three (3)-year process and there is no guarantee that a program in Pre-Candidacy will eventually attain Candidacy or Initial Accreditation. Students who enter programs that attain Candidacy in or before the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program as long as the program attains Initial Accreditation.

If a student enters a program prior to the academic year in which the program received Candidacy, that student’s degree will not be covered by the program’s retroactive accreditation status and will not be recognized as a graduate from a CSWE-accredited program.

Pre-Candidacy applies to all program options (i.e., location and delivery methods) of the program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. Read more about the Pre-Candidacy process in Section 5: Candidacy & Initial Accreditation of the Accreditation Policies housed on the CSWE website.

To understand how candidacy status will affect you as a student, contact your social work program director and/or accreditation@cswe.org. Contact information for social work programs is located in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

Students who graduate from programs on Conditional Accredited Status will still be recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program.

Changes in accreditation status are posted publicly 30-days following each CSWE-BOA meeting on the CSWE website.

i. February BOA meeting decisions are posted mid-March.
ii. June BOA meeting decisions are posted mid-July.
iii. October BOA meeting decision are posted mid-November.

Conditional accreditation of a social work program indicates that it has not demonstrated compliance with one (1) or accreditation standards. Programs placed on conditional accredited status must demonstrate compliance with all standards within 1-year of the BOA’s decision. If a program is unable to demonstrate compliance within 1-year, the BOA may withdraw accredited status. Students that graduate from conditionally accredited social work programs will be recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program.

Students are encouraged to select a program that meets both your professional and personal goals. Ask practical questions, such as:

1. Can I live here for the next two (2) or four (4) years?
2. Is the program delivered in a way that supports my learning style and lifestyle needs (i.e., online, hybrid, location-based, evening and weekend options, campus experience, etc.)?
3.  Is it affordable?
4.  Is the institution too large or too small?
5. Will I need to commute?
6. Does the program offer the specialization or concentration I want?

7. Does the program appear to have a faculty and staff with whom I can collaborate?
8. Are there ample field placement opportunities in my area of interest?

You can access CSWE’s online Directory of Accredited Programs to review a listing of accredited and candidate social work programs. The Directory is sortable by several features, attributes, and options to assist you in narrowing your search. Once you have located programs that interest you, you are encouraged to use the contact information in the directory to contact those programs directly.

CSWE-BOA accredits social work education programs; it does not provide qualitative information, subjective judgments, nor opinions about programs. Nor do we compare or "rank" them. Accreditation is meant to provide assurance that a program has met the profession’s minimum standards for professional social work education.

No, providing enrollment guidance or career advice is not a service CSWE provides as we do not rank, recommend, nor comment on the quality of accredited and candidate programs. All accredited and candidate programs must meet the current set of standards. As an accrediting body, CSWE-BOA maintains ethical boundaries and impartiality.

We do offer a variety of resources to assist in selecting an accredited program. CSWE houses the Directory of Accredited Programs. You are encouraged to utilize the Directory, which is sortable by a number of features, as you reflect on your career goals and make an informed decision about your educational journey.

No, this is not a service provided by CSWE as tuition, fees, and other expenses associated with educational programs is governed by each individual institution. Review the social work program's website for information regarding cost of attendance or contact the program directly. Contact information for all accredited, candidate, and pre-candidate social work programs is housed in the Directory of Accredited Programs on CSWE website.

Learn more about CSWE offerings and external funding opportunities by clicking here.

Yes, the Directory of Accredited Programs includes online program options and all locations covered by the program’s accreditation status. All accredited programs are subject to the same accreditation standards and review criteria by CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (BOA), regardless of the curriculum delivery methods used.

Many accredited social work programs utilize distance education for some or all of their courses and curriculum. Many offer part-time, extended-day, or evening courses at their main, satellite, or branch campuses.

Each program design is different, and each may have specific admissions requirements for its distance-education programs. Please contact your program of interest directly to inquire! Contact information for all accredited and candidate social work programs is housed in the Directory of Accredited Programs on CSWE website.

Programs planning to permanently offer an online program option must complete the substantive change process prior to implementation which is detailed in Policy 4.9 Program Changes in the Accreditation Policies.

No. The criteria for admission to a master’s social work program must include an earned baccalaureate degree in any discipline from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association. This includes individuals whose degree was recognized as equivalent through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES) and graduates from Canadian social work programs accredited by CASWE covered by the memorandum of understanding between CSWE and CASWE.

Students may also contact the regional accrediting body that accredits institution they are interested in attending to inquire if there is a process for determining equivalency or recognizing the degree(s) previously received as comparable to a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree. As long as the regional accrediting body recognizes the degree as comparable, program may admit those students.

Please note that while the CSWE-BOA accrediting body sets the minimum standards, it is completely within the purview of each accredited social work program to institute their own admission criteria and requirements. Most master's social work programs admit students with a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree in any field of study. An accredited baccalaureate social work degree is not a CSWE-BOA requirement for admission to a master's social work program. However, students are encouraged to contact their program of interest directly to ensure they meet all admission criteria/requirements.

Baccalaureate students must complete a minimum of 400 field education hours and master's students must complete a minimum of 900 field education hours. Advanced standing students must complete a minimum of 900 hours between their baccalaureate and master’s social work programs. While the CSWE-BOA accrediting body determines the minimum standards, individual programs may elect to require hours above the minimum.

Neither the CSWE-BOA accrediting body nor the current set of standards prohibit a student from completing a paid field education placement.

It is within the purview of each social work program to develop policies regarding field placements at the same organization at which a student is employed. We advise arranging a conversation with your program’s field director as they may assist you in understanding your program's specific field education policies and procedures. Contact information for social work programs is located in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

CSWE-BOA codified the following interpretation in the 2015 EPAS Interpretation Guide under Accreditation Standard (AS) 2.2.11: Student field assignments and employment tasks may be the same and counted toward required field hours if the tasks have clear links to the social work competencies, including any competencies added by the program, and their related behaviors.

The field instructor and employment supervisor of a student may be the same person. In such cases, supervision time for field education learning must be separate from supervision time for employment. While these options are permissible, each program has the autonomy, authority, and discretion to develop its own policies regarding field placements in an organization in which the student is also employed. These interpretations present options, not requirements.

Field instructors for baccalaureate students hold a baccalaureate or master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program and have 2 years post-social work degree practice experience in social work. Field instructors for master’s students hold a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program and have 2 years post-master’s social work practice experience (defined in the 2015 EPAS Glossary 2015 EPAS Glossary; 2022 EPAS Interpretation Guide Glossary)

While these are minimum required credentials, each accredited social work program may institute additional requirements. For cases in which a field instructor does not have the minimum required credentials, the social work program is responsible for developing and implementing a process to reinforce the social work perspective with students. This allows programs to work flexibly in rural settings, in cases where a credentialed field instructor leaves, with large agencies that have limited social workers onsite, or settings that are high quality yet do not have a social worker onsite.

The frequency and format of field education supervision is within the purview of each accredited social work program. The program develops their expectations regarding field education supervision. We advise arranging a conversation with your program’s field director as they may assist you in understanding your program's specific field education policies and procedures. Contact information for social work programs is located in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

No, it is within each program’s purview to determine a limit (if any) on virtual in-person contact hours. Placements can be completely virtual as long as there are clear links to the social work competencies, including any competencies added by the program, and their related behaviors.

No. Roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for social work practice differ per field agency site. CSWE employs a competency-based education model where students learn the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive & effective processes necessary for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities and/or specialized practice within a certain area of specialization. Please refer to the social work competencies in the EPAS for more information regarding expected student learning outcomes in classroom and field settings.

Each accredited master’s social work program selects and implements their own criteria for issuing advanced standing status. At minimum advanced standing is awarded only to graduates holding degrees from baccalaureate social work programs accredited by CSWE-BOA, recognized through its International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Services, or covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors (Canada).

No. An accredited baccalaureate social work degree is required to qualify for advanced standing status. Check your program’s accredited status is the Directory of Accredited Programs.

CSWE-BOA accredits social work programs with a variety of plans of study that meet the needs of their students. Due to the unique structure, administration, governance, and regional accreditation of each program, programs are empowered to innovate, and consult with their program’s accreditation specialist to be sure the plan of study aligns with EPAS requirements.

The accreditation process respects each institution’s policies and procedures concerning the transfer of credits. Thus, each accredited program may determine which (if any) courses may be transferred/waived from your previous studies.

Formal complaints to the CSWE Board of Accreditation (BOA) must pertain to matters related to program compliance with accreditation standards. Persons, groups, or organizations related to the program are considered recognized complainants and may file a complaint.

The BOA is not authorized to adjudicate, arbitrate, or mediate individual faculty or student grievances against a program. Complainants must use all appropriate institutional and professional channels of appeal before filing a formal complaint with CSWE-BOA. The institutions in which programs are housed assume responsibility for implementing and enforcing their own policies in these areas. When alleged violations cannot be resolved within the institution, appellate procedures within state systems of higher education or state judicial courts shall be used to assess and enforce institutional compliance with policies.

Please refer to complaint policies and procedures in Policy 4.11 Complaints Regarding Program Compliance in the Accreditation Policies for filing a complaint.

However, a more accurate framing is to consider the self-study as a rolling snapshot of where the program currently is; not reflecting back on previous or outdated operations and information.

While the document may capture the year prior to submission of the self-study, the program should be cognizant to update their documents regarding any changes that strengthen compliance. The most frequent changes include composition of faculty, students, staff, other personnel, adding / removing program options, updated assessment data, updates to policies or procedures, or enhancements made to program operations to strengthen compliance with the accreditation standards. This list is not exhaustive, so it is important to ensure that all information, personnel, operations, program options, and data are captured in the self-study is current, accurate, and aligned with the accreditation standards.

With regard to program personnel, the program should capture the most up-to-date information in the self-study to the best of their ability. This ensures the site visitor has access to current faculty and personnel information reflecting those with whom they will meet on campus during their site visit.

In the self-study, programs should capture all components they wish to have reaffirmed for compliance with the accreditation standards. Remember that programs are requesting the CSWE-BOA to affirm these operations for the next 8-years. So, the self-study should capture the program’s best compliance plan that reflects current operations now and moving forward for the next 8-years. Note: review Policy 4.9 Program Changes in the Accreditation Policies for information on changes between review cycles.

Submitting outdated information in the self-study, benchmark, or other accreditation documents may result in a citation or other action by the CSWE-BOA in order to request the most current and accurate program materials.

No. Per Policy 4.1 Primary Contact & Accreditation Communications in the Accreditation Policies, accreditation staff do not share program-specific information with other programs for any purpose, including independent scholarly research. Staff do not share program contact information, program lists, accreditation spreadsheets, or other individualized program information not already publicly available on the CSWE website and Directory of Accredited Programs.

The accreditation team has worked diligently and are proud to provide high quality services, content, trainings and workshops, publications, presentations, templates, tools, sample matrices, resources, and more to provide clear, proactive, and transparent support throughout the accreditation process and in-between review cycles. Check out all offerings on the CSWE accreditation webpage.

Programs must utilize the required Self-Study / Initial Accreditation Self-Study Template, Benchmark 1 Template, or Benchmark Template as well as the applicable Interpretation Guide to support your accreditation goals and processes. A variety of trainings are also available to help programs understand, implement, and document compliance with the accreditation standards.

Providing samples is not a common nor advisable practice amongst accreditors as programs are encouraged to implement and document compliance with the accreditation standards creatively according to their program’s unique context. This allows for innovation, experimentation, and continuous quality improvement to thrive.

Since each program is reviewed independently, replicating a program that passed an accreditation review does not guarantee the same outcome for your program. Programs may elect to share sample documents amongst themselves, however, please remember that CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation (DOSWA) is the only trusted, verified, and accurate source of accreditation information.

We do not advise using your program’s previous self-study as the foundation for the next self-study. The program will be writing to a new set of standards with different requirements and interpretations. A fresh canvas, new perspectives, and approaching this as a continuous quality improvement and renewal process is advisable.

A variety of trainings and presentations are also available to help programs understand, implement, and document compliance with the accreditation standards.

CSWE does not rank, recommend, nor comment on the quality of accredited programs. All accredited programs must meet the current set of standards. As an accrediting body, CSWE-BOA maintains ethical boundaries and impartiality. We do offer a variety of resources to assist in selecting an accredited program. CSWE houses the Directory of Accredited Programs. You are encouraged to utilize the Directory, which is sortable by a number of features, as you reflect on your career goals and make an informed decision about your educational journey.

The professional job market is an ever-shifting landscape. CSWE nor the accrediting body compare or rank types of program delivery methods, such as online and in-person. When attending a CSWE-BOA-accredited program, delivery method does not impact educational quality. All accredited programs, regardless of delivery method, are required to demonstrate compliance with the accreditation standards. Thus, if your employer requires a CSWE-BOA-accredited degree, there is no difference between whether the degree was earned on-campus or online, from our perspective. It is CSWE-accredited.

Beginning in 2021, CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (BOA), in partnership with the Fellowship Review Committee (FRC), began accrediting post-master’s social work fellowship programs. Fellowship programs are hosted by sites offering social work services in the United States, its territories, or on U.S. military installations and advance the knowledge and skills of a social work practitioner in a focused area of practice. Through completion of a fellowship program, trainees obtain advanced competencies and/or core expertise and skills beyond those attained through completion of a master’s degree in social work. Unlike the academic programs accredited by CSWE-BOA, fellowship programs are practice-based and not tied to degree programs in colleges and universities.

The purpose of fellowship training is for trainees to obtain advanced competencies and/or core expertise and skills beyond those attained through completion of a master's degree in social work. More information regarding post-master’s social work fellowship accreditation can be found here.

All reaffirmation site visits are conducted onsite. However, visits for online-only* programs are conducted virtually.

For candidacy programs:

i. Benchmark 1: All candidacy visits are conducted onsite. However, visits
for online-only* programs are conducted virtually.
ii. Benchmark 2: All candidacy visits are conducted virtually.
iii. Benchmark 3: All candidacy visits are conducted onsite. However, visits for online-only* programs are conducted virtually.

*Online-only is defined as holding all regular weekly classes online without regular location-based components. Programs with an annual on-campus component are still considered as online-only. Online-only programs may elect to request an in-person visit in lieu of a virtual visit. Expectations are consistent for both in-person and virtual visit formats.

CSWE staff do not discuss licensing. Professional social work licensure post-degree is under the authority of a designated board within each individual state government. Your state government is responsible for regulating licensure and setting criteria required to become a licensed professional social worker. Requirements may differ by state. Contact information for individual state licensing boards can be found on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) website or through an internet search for a licensing board for a particular state.

Questions regarding licensure and professional practice should be directed to the board in your state. Questions regarding the national social work licensing exams should be directed to the ASWB, the body that publishes and administers the exams.

No. CSWE-BOA accredits social work education programs not individual courses. Questions regarding post-degree licensure requirements and professional practice should be directed to the social work board in your state.

No, this is not a service provided by CSWE as licensing requirements are within the sole jurisdiction of the social work licensing board in your state. You may also consider contacting the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) or the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) state chapter in your area regarding potential supervisors related to licensing requirements.

First, verify your program's accredited status by visiting the Directory of Accredited Programs. Second, note that accreditation and post-degree licensure are completely separate regulations.

When attending a CSWE-BOA-accredited program, delivery method does not impact educational quality. All accredited social work programs must meet the same accreditation standards. Thus, if your state-based social work licensing board requires a CSWE-BOA-accredited degree, there is no difference between whether the degree was earned on-campus or online / in-state or out-of-state, from our perspective. It is CSWE-BOA accredited.

Programs with online options work with their state higher education authority and regional accreditor to set the scope (regional, national, international, etc.) of their operations. CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (BOA) nor the standards determine the program’s scope. It is within each accredited program’s purview to solicit and gain approval to operate within their desired scope. Our directory is not sortable by a “regional, national, or international scope” feature.

Programs may verify their approvals to operate within their desired scope by checking with the following entities / bodies: institution (university or college), institution's accreditation compliance office / officer, any federal / U.S. Department of Education contact, regional accreditor, and / or state-based higher education authority. Continue working with your program to determine if you are able to complete the degree requirements in your state of residence. For example, your licensing board may require certain courses, training, etc. in order to become licensed after graduation. Such requirements are set by your state, not CSWE. Check whether the requirements of your state and your chosen program are compatible by working with your state-based social work licensing board.

CSWE staff do not discuss licensing. Professional social work licensure post-degree is under the authority of a designated board within each individual state government. Your state government is responsible for regulating licensure and setting criteria required to become a licensed professional social worker. Requirements may differ by state. Contact information for individual state licensing boards can be found on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) website or through an internet search for a licensing board for a particular state. Questions regarding licensure and professional practice should be directed to the board in your state. Questions regarding the national social work licensing exams should be directed to the ASWB, the body that publishes and administers the exams.

Yes, upon request, for purposes such as independent scholarly research, CSWE Accreditation Staff may share a spreadsheet of publicly available information in Directory of Accredited Programs. Contact accreditation@cswe.org to request a spreadsheet. The Directory is continuously updated, and each issued spreadsheet will be dated.

However, policy 4.1 Primary Contact & Accreditation Communications in the Accreditation Policies explains that accreditation staff do not share program-specific information or provide accreditation services to any individual not identified in the program’s CSWE database record as the primary contact or a designee. Such services are reserved for authorized personnel only. Accreditation staff do not share program-specific information with other programs.

General and public-facing information may be shared upon request with any stakeholder including administrators, faculty, staff, students, and members of the public.

All social work community members are welcome to create a profile and join CSWE’s SPARK discussion board.

CSWE's Annual Conference is open to all in the social work education community.

Field directors may join CSWE's Council on Field Education SPARK online community.

External opportunities to connect include the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD), National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, and the National Association of Social Work community discussion board.

No. CSWE maintains direct contact with members and accredited programs rather than using opt-in listservs. All accreditation-related news is sent directly to each program’s primary contact’s email address per Policy 4.1 Primary Contact & Accreditation Communications in the Accreditation Policies.