2026 Annual Conference

#CSWE26 is the place where social work educators, students, administrators, and practitioners will gather in Atlanta on October 22-25, 2026, to collaborate, learn, teach, and grow. Take advantage of early bird pricing and save $250 on the cost of registration. We encourage you to arrive early and deepen your conference experience with a CE-eligible pre-conference institutes, which you can add for a separate cost when you register.  

Are you a CSWE member? Be sure to make sure you have activated your membership by connecting to your social work education program before registering for the Annual Conference. You will need to be logged into our membership portal to register as a member.

On-Site Registration: On-site registration will be available to those who do not preregister. Those who wish to register but cannot send in their fees before the start of the conference should register on site. Those registering on site will be required to pay the regular registration fee and will be eligible for enrollment in the Summits and Institutes only if space remains. Students registering on site must show documentation of their student status.

This year, CSWE will offer six pre-conference Institutes. Attendance at each event requires a separate registration and fee as outlined below. Attedees can opt in to these events as part of the main conference registration. 

Any non-CSWE planned activity, event, or meeting to be held in conjunction with the CSWE’s 2026 Annual Conference is considered to be an External event and must be approved in advance by the CSWE Meetings & Operations team.

Organizations (exhibitors, schools, sponsors, government agencies, etc.) that wish to hold meetings of any size or nature during the CSWE’s 2026 Annual Conference must complete the external events form and submit it no later than July 25. One (1) Request for External Meeting/Event Form must be completed for each meeting/event. Forms with more than one meeting/event listed will not be accepted and may delay the approval process. 

Request for External Meeting/Event Form submitted without payment will not be processed. Once the Meeting/Event has been approved, the organization must work directly with the hotel/convention center on all planning aspects for the proposed meeting. All costs associated with the function (e.g., signage, room rental, food, beverage, audiovisual equipment, and labor, etc.) are the responsibility of the Meeting/Event organizer/company. 

Deadlines and Cancelation Policy

» July 25, 2026: Deadline to submit a Request for External Meeting/Event

» August 3, 2026: Deadline for confirmations and hotel information emailed to requestors

» August 21, 2026: Deadline for confirmations and hotel information emailed to requestors

» September 25 , 2026: Deadline for cancelation requests to be received via email at annualconference@cswe.org

Cancellation and Refund Policy: Submit External Meeting/Event cancellations via e-mail by September 25, 2026. No requests for refunds will be honored if they are e-mailed after this date. Refunds will be less a $75 administrative fee and must specify the payee. Refunds will be based on the original form of payment and processed within 30 days after the completion of the meeting. 

Questions? Contact our CSWE’s Meetings & Operations at annualconference@cswe.org.

CSWE negotiates reduced rate rooms at nearby Atlanta hotels and uses a reservation booking site powered by CMR Housing. We encourage you to book early to ensure you get your first choice hotel and access. Staying in the official hotel block offers convenience, amenities, and close proximity to the conference. Reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For housing information and changes, please contact the CSWE 2026 Annual Conference Housing Contractor, Convention Management Resources:

Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–9:00 PM (ET) / 6:00 AM–6:00 PM (PT)
800.716.7732 (toll-free within the United States and Canada)
+1.415.979.2284 (outside the United States and Canada)
CSWE Housing Support Center

Note: To avoid scams, housing should only be accessed through links  provided on cswe.org or through CSWE’s official housing provider: Convention ManagementResources (CMR). Should you be contacted by any other agency other than CMR, send us a message through the CSWE Housing Support Center.

Method of Payment: Credit cards, cash, checks, and money orders can all be used to pay conference and membership fees. Please make all checks or money orders payable to the Council on Social Work Education. Cash, checks, and money orders are payable in U.S. currency only and must be drawn on a U.S. bank. A $30 processing fee will be charged on all returned checks. This additional charge applies to checks written at any time for the Annual Conference or publications.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: Submit registration cancellations via email by Friday, October 2, 2026. No requests for refunds will be honored if they are e-mailed after this date. Registrants who do not cancel by Friday, October 2, 2026, and fail to attend the conference will be charged the full registration fee. Note: Institutes and Summit session fees are nonrefundable.

Refunds will be less a $75 administrative fee and must specify the payee. Refunds will be based on the original form of payment and processed within 30 days after the completion of the meeting. Refunds will not be processed after Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Please cancel housing reservations directly with your hotel.

CSWE is not liable for cancellation fees charged by hotels, airlines, or other means of transportation. By submitting a completed registration form, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the cancellation policy.

Substitution Policy: Substitution of registrations is permitted prior to the Annual Conference and on site. Submit substitutions via email by Friday, October 2, 2026. After this date, please make any substitutions at the Annual Conference Registration Desk on site. Only one substitution is permitted per original registrant. The individual submitting the substitution request is responsible for all financial obligations (any balance due) associated with that substitution as well as updating any contact information.

Each year at Annual Conference, CSWE bestows its annual Professional Awards, Location Awards, and Commissions and Councils Awards. The conference also features four lectures and plenaries featuring renowned experts in social work and social work education. More information on these awards and lectures can be found here. 

This year's speakers are:

This year's award winners include:

As you prepare for the 2026 CSWE Annual Conference in Atlanta, explore helpful resources to plan your visit and make the most of your time in the city. This guide includes travel resources, tips for getting around, local dining recommendations, special offers, and curated ideas for things to see and do while you are in Atlanta. Whether this is your first visit or a return trip, use these resources to experience all that Atlanta has to offer during your stay.
  
Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is not only the busiest airport in the world, but there are more than 150 cities with daily direct, non-stop flights to Atlanta. If you’re coming to the capitol of the South, chances are, there is the perfect flight to fit your schedule.

Visa Application Process for International Travelers: If you would like to request an invitation letter from CSWE for a visa application, you must first register and pay in full for the meeting. To obtain a visa invitation letter, provide your registration confirmation number and email us the request. International travelers are encouraged to apply for their visas as early as possible. Please note: The Council on Social Work Education cannot intervene with either U.S. embassies abroad or with the U.S. Department of State.  

» How to Apply for a Visa

» Apply Online

» Find a U.S. Embassy

The International Visitors Office (IVO) of The National Academies recommends applying at least three to four months before the meeting, as consulates may have backlogs in scheduling visa interviews. Applicants should first consult the U.S. Department of State’s visa appointment and processing wait times website. 

Further information on business visas can be found at the U.S. Department of State Business Visa Center website and the IVO website.
 

CSWE will offer continuing education credits (CEs) for selected preconference and post-conference events and for panels and workshops during the 2026 Annual Conference. CE eligible sessions will be posted to the conference website. The sessions are appropriate for generalist or clinical social work practice, and the degree of difficulty is intermediate. The target audience is social work educators, field directors, and field instructors.

» Full conference registrations includes 3 free CEUs. If you purchase a full conference package and wish to earn more CEs, you can purchase an additional CE package (details below)

» One day conference registrations do not include free CEs.

» For many of CSWE’s Pre-Conference Institutes, complimentary CEUs for eligible sessions during the pre-conference will be included in the registration price. For example, if a pre-conference has 3 CE eligible sessions, you will receive a CE certificate at the end of the pre-conference at no additional charge.

CEs can be added to a new or existing annual conference registration for an additional fee leading up to the Annual Conference.                     

» 3 for $75 ($25.00/credit)

» 6 for $140 ($23.33/credit)  

» 9 for $200 ($22.22/credit)  

Participants can earn up to 12 CEs from the conference. Please note that the total number of CEs may change. Check this page for weekly updates.

Please note: That CE packages are additive. So, if you have full conference registration, you will have 3 free CE credits and if you purchase the 6 CE package, you will be able to earn a total of 9 CEUs at the annual conference.

If you would like to earn the maximum number of CEUs offered at the annual conference (12 CEUs), and you are a full conference registrant, please purchase the 9 CE package for a total of 12 CEs.

How to Claim CEs at Annual Conference

During the Annual Conference, CEs can be claimed through survey magnet on both the conference app and website. Information on the CE claiming process is available below.

» You can only claim CEs if you have purchased a CE package

» You can only claim CEs based on the CE package you bought. i.e. if you bought a 3 CE package, you can only claim 3 CEs.

The CE Evaluation unlock code will be provided by the presenter at the end of the session. If you do not stay until the end of the session, you will not be able to obtain the CE code to unlock the evaluation. CSWE staff is unable to provide evaluation unlock codes to attendees

Evaluations must be completed by the end of the day on the day you attended the session.

2026 Annual Conference Survey Magnet (CEs and Evaluations)

Survey Magnet will be available to all conference attendees on October 22, 2026. Attendees will find the "Launch Survey Magnet" link within the conference website and app. 

Survey Magnet is the platform utilized by CSWE to gather feedback on the Annual Conference through session evaluations and attendee surveys. Additionally, Survey Magnet facilitates the collection of continuing education evaluations and the distribution of certificates.

Attendees will use Survey Magnet to:

» Submit session evaluations

» Submit CE session evaluations

» Provide feedback on pre-conference events

» Provide feedback on their conference experience

» Receive CE Certificate and Certificate of Attendance

Please read the Survey Magnet Manual for information on how to complete session evaluations, submit CE evaluations, and frequently asked questions.

Survey Magnet will open on October 22, 2026 and will remain open until November 26, 2026. After closing, attendees will not be able to submit additional evaluations or claim additional CEs. 

ASWB ACE Approval

The Council on Social Work Education (ACE Approval #1163) s approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit.  ACE provider approval period: 1/23/2024–1/23/2027. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 12 continuing education credits.

Even when a social work board accepts courses offering ASWB ACE credit, licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their jurisdictions. States and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether any individual course may be accepted for credit.

New York does not accept ASWB ACE provider or course/conference approval.

West Virginia accepts ACE providers and courses for programs offered outside the state or through distance learning.

Grievances

Please follow these procedures to submit a complaint or grievance regarding any matter related to CSWE's continuing education program: Complaints or grievances must be submitted either in writing to CSWE via postal mail (333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314) or via email to education@cswe.org. 

Complaints will be reviewed by the CE program manager and responded to in writing within 30 days of receipt of the written complaint. Individuals who submit a complaint/grievance may request to have a phone hearing with the CE program manager if they disagree with CSWE's written response. A record of all written complaints/grievances and CSWE's written responses is kept on file and reported to the ASWB's ACE program. Summary information is shared with the CSWE conference staff to improve future events and services.
 
Accommodations for a Disability

If you require accommodations to complete this course due to a disability, please email education@cswe.org and provide a written explanation of the type of accommodation you require.