2022 EPAS

The current edition of our accreditation standards was finalized and approved by BOA in 2022.

2015 EPAS

The previous version of the EPAS that was finalized and approved by the CSWE Board of Accreditation in 2015, before being updated in 2022.

Historical Accreditation Standards

Review accreditation standards dating back to 1928—the earliest days of social work education.

Practice Doctorate, Fellowship Standards

CSWE's BOA also accredits Practice Doctorate Social Work programs, as well as Fellowship programs that hold a master’s degree in social work with training and supervision within one or more defined areas of social work practice.

2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards

CSWE's Board of Accreditation (BOA) and Commission on Educational Policy (COEP) are responsible for developing the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) for baccalaureate and master's social work education. The current edition of our accreditation standards was finalized and approved by BOA in 2022.

The 2022 EPAS Toolkit

This toolkit encompasses the accreditation materials for the 2022 EPAS for baccalaureate and master's programs.

For Accredited Programs

For New Applicant, Pre-Candidate, Candidate Programs

Required & Sample Forms

Program Response & Report Templates

2022 EPAS Implementation Timeline

Accredited Programs

Before August 1, 2024: Programs submitting self-studies before August 1, 2024, will have the option to use the 2015 or the 2022 EPAS.

On/After August 1, 2024: Programs submitting self-studies on or after August 1, 2024 (June 2025 agenda for reaffirmation) will use the 2022 EPAS.

As of July 1, 2025: All accredited programs are expected to operate under the 2022 EPAS by July 1, 2025. 

Programs granted initial accreditation or reaffirmed (without a report issued) under the 2015 EPAS after July 1, 2024, will have 1 year from their initial accreditation/reaffirmation date to transition to the 2022 EPAS.

Programs issued a report under the 2015 EPAS must continue operating under the 2015 EPAS until the report is accepted. Once the report is accepted, the program will have 1 year from their report acceptance date to transition to the 2022 EPAS.

Candidacy Programs

On/before December 31, 2022: All programs that have submitted Benchmark 1 documents for staff review on or before December 31, 2022, will operate under the 2015 EPAS for the duration of the candidacy process.

On/After January 1, 2023: Programs submitting Benchmark 1 documents for staff review on or after January 1, 2023, will use the 2022 EPAS for the duration of the candidacy process.

After July 1, 2024: Programs granted initial accreditation (without a report issued) under the 2015 EPAS after July 1, 2024, will have 1 year from their initial accreditation date to transition to the 2022 EPAS.

Programs issued a report under the 2015 EPAS must continue operating under the 2015 EPAS until the report is accepted. Once the report is accepted, the program will have 1 year from their report acceptance date to transition to the 2022 EPAS.

Substantive Change Process

Before August 1, 2024: Programs submitting substantive changes proposals before August 1, 2024, will have an option to use the 2015 or the 2022 EPAS.

On/After August 1, 2024: Programs submitting substantive change proposals on or after August 1, 2024, will use the 2022 EPAS.

Temporary Waiver Available for AS M3.2.4 in the 2015 EPAS

As of October 2022, the BOA offers an optional temporary waiver to the accreditation standard pertaining to the minimum number of full-time faculty required for master’s social work programs (Accreditation Standard M3.2.4). This temporary waiver permits master's programs with accreditation reviews under the 2015 EPAS to operate with a minimum of four (4) full-time faculty, as permitted in the 2022 EPAS.

Complete and submit the Temporary Waiver Request Form to Katie Gibson-Ledl, Director of Accreditation Services, at kgibson@cswe.org.

2022 EPAS Revision

CSWE’s Commission on Educational Policy (COEP) is charged with preparing, at periodic intervals not to exceed 7 years, a statement of social work curriculum policy to encourage excellence in educational programs and to be used by the BOA in formulating and revising accreditation standards. The educational policy and the accreditation standards are conceptually linked to each other, so a 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) Joint Committee was formed with members from each commission.

The Joint Committee members included:

COEP representatives: Shirley Gatenio-Gabel, chair (Fordham University); Antoinette Farmer (Rutgers University); Brian Anderson (Jackson State University); Cynthia Franklin (University of Texas at Austin); Melissa Reitmeier, chair, Council on Field Education (University of South Carolina)

COA representatives: Deana Morrow, chair (West Virginia University); Michele Hanna (University of Denver); Shelly Wiechelt (University of Maryland Baltimore); Thomas Walsh (Boston College); Francis Origanti (Sacred Heart University)

The 2022 EPAS revision timeline documents the process from December 2017 to June 2022. 

2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards

CSWE's Board of Accreditation (BOA) and Commission on Educational Policy (COEP) are responsible for developing the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) for baccalaureate and master's social work education.

The 2015 EPAS Toolkit

This toolkit encompasses the accreditation materials for the 2015 EPAS for baccalaureate and master's programs. Resources for the newer set of standards, the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), can be found above. All programs are encouraged to review the 2022 EPAS Implementation Timeline to determine when the program must operate using the 2022 EPAS.

Helpful Resources

For Accredited Programs

For Candidacy Programs

Required Forms & Samples