International Degree Review

The screening form is used to determine if you have a social work degree. You MUST fill out the screening form. Only submit one screening form per applicant. Please do not fill out the screening form until you have completed your social work degree. The screening form will not be processed until you have paid the $35 screening form fee. Important: Any unpaid screening form you created will be deleted after five business days. 

The $35 non-refundable screening form fee may be paid by credit card, cashier's check, or money order.

NOTE: If your credit card payment fails, it is likely due to recently increased security with credit card companies regarding international payments. Unfortunately, ISWDRES/CSWE has no control over failed credit card payments. Please do not continue and repeat to try to pay by credit card if the first payment attempt fails. Repeated attempts to pay by credit card will also fail.

Cashier’s Check payments: If you wish to pay with a cashier's check, it must be issued in U.S. dollars.

Make the check payable to ISWDRES/CSWE. If you wish to pay by money order, be sure your name is written on the money order and make it payable to ISWDRES/CSWE. Enclose a photocopy of the money order along with the original money order. The screening form will not be processed until the $35 screening fee has been received. 

Cashier's checks and money orders should be sent to: 

International Social Work Degree Recognition & Evaluation Service

℅ CSWE

333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 400

Alexandria, VA, 22314 USA

If the applicant is found to have a social work degree/major, the applicant will receive an e-mail stating that the screening form was approved along with directions to fill out the Recognition Application form and pay the Recognition Application Fee. 

You may not access the recognition application form until you have received an e-mail from this Service. Applicants may expect to receive screening results within 2 weeks of posting.

Click here to complete the ISWDRES Recognition Application Form.

Then, pay the ISWDRES Recognition Application Form Fee. Recognition Application Form will not be processed and supporting documents will not be reviewed until the recognition application fee has been received. 

The ISWDRES fee is based on the country where the degree was awarded; please see the ISWDRES fee schedule below for a list of countries. This Recognition Application Fee may be paid by credit card or money order. If you wish to pay by credit card, please use this link.

If you wish to pay by money order, please pay it to the order of ISWDRES/CSWE. Be sure your name is written on the money order and include a photocopy of the money order. Please note that we do not accept checks of any kind. Please mail your money order (with your name on it) and a photocopy of the money order to:

International Social Work Degree Recognition & Evaluation Service

℅ CSWE

333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 400

Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

After you submit the Recognition Application Form and pay the Recognition Application Form Fee, contact your social work program and/or institution, and ask it to send two Official Supporting Documents listed below to ISWDRES.

1. Official Transcript: Official transcript or mark list must be sent directly to CSWE by the social work program

2. Proof of Graduation Letter: An official letter from your university stating that you attended the social work program, received a baccalaureate or master's level degree, and graduated in good standing, including the date. The letter must be on the official university letterhead stating that diploma was granted to you with the date when degree was conferred. The Department Director or Chair can sign it.

These two items should be mailed or emailed (via postal service or via email to: iswdres@cswe.org in PDF format each document) directly from the social work program to:

International Social Work Degree Recognition & Evaluation Service

℅ CSWE

333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 400

Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

Submission of one document from the applicant: ISWDRES EPAS 2022 Competencies Form (will be provided to applicant via email). This is a required form completed and submitted by the applicant and signed by the social work program's current chief administrator or other official representative of the social work program. Competencies/expected outcomes mapping is an essential component of the evaluation process for international social work degree equivalency.

Source: 2022 Educational and Policy Standards (EPAS)

New EPAS 2022 Competencies Form must reflect three components to cover each competency: course number and title, course description, relevant course content to each competency and field education tasks (field work).

The following 2022 EPAS competencies must be met/demonstrated via field education practice* and classroom-based learning:

*Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

*Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice

*Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice

*Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice

*Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice

*Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

*Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

*Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

*Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

*Field education (i.e., internship or practicum within a social work setting with clients, constituents, and communities) is the signature pedagogy for social work in the United States and without any field experience, degree equivalency cannot be granted. Field education must occur while enrolled in the social work education program. Pre- or post-degree field experience will not be accepted. The degree framework must include applying classroom-based theories and concepts in a real practice setting.

All items (if applicable) must be officially translated into English in order to be considered for review. Photocopies of transcripts and diplomas MUST be affixed with a university/program seal or notary public to be considered for evaluation. "Officially translated" means that translation can be done at your social work program (it MUST be affixed with a university/program seal) or through an outside service (as long as it is notarized by a notary public and accompanied by the originals).

Once all three required items are received by this service, the application will be reviewed. Assuming we do not require additional items or information, applicants may expect to receive determination letters to the specified address(es) in four weeks.

PLEASE NOTE: The Service does not serve as a legal representative of an applicant's institution.

When all of the determination application documentation is received, the application will be reviewed. The ISWDRES determination is communicated to the applicant in a formal letter. If the degree is recognized, each applicant is entitled to two copies of the letter. The applicant has the option to have both letters mailed to the mailing address listed on the application form or have one letter mailed to the mailing address on the application form and the other to a second address of his or her choosing in the determination letter section of the application form. If the applicant's degree is not recognized, the applicant will receive an email notification.

The applicant can generally expect to receive the formal determination letter informing them of the degree recognized within 45 days of ISWDRES receiving all of the documentation listed in steps 2 and 3.

We will send additional copies of the formal determination letter to the address of the applicant's choice for a $55 fee per letter. To request additional formal determination letters, please fill out the request form.

The $55 fee may be paid by credit card, cashier's check, or money order.

Credit Card payments: If you wish to pay by credit card, please use this link.

If your credit card payment fails, it is likely due to recently increased security with credit card companies regarding international payments. Unfortunately, ISWDRES/CSWE has no control over failed credit card payments. Please do not continue and repeat to try to pay by credit card if the first payment attempt fails. Repeated attempts to pay by credit card will also fail.

Cashier’s Check payments: If you wish to pay with a cashier's check, it must be issued in U.S. dollars. 

Make the check payable to ISWDRES/CSWE. If you wish to pay by money order, be sure your name is written on the money order and make it payable to ISWDRES/CSWE. Enclose a photocopy of the money order along with the original money order. Cashier's checks and money orders should be sent to: 

International Social Work Degree Recognition & Evaluation Service

℅ CSWE

333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 400

Alexandria, VA, 22314  USA

Requests for additional letters will not be processed until the $55 fee has been received.

Application fees are determined by the country from which the applicant received his or her degree. To determine your application fee, find the name of the country from which your degree was received in group A, B, or C in the table below. Fees are effective 2025–2026 and may be changed July 1, 2026.

Application forms will not be processed until the application fee is received. The Application fee is based on the ISWDRES fee schedule above.

Please choose one below to pay the application fee online:

GROUP A - $170 (USD)

GROUP B - $380 (USD)

GROUP C - $610 (USD)

If you have further questions you may call at 1-703-683-8080 (extension: 2005) or e-mail iswdres@cswe.org (preferred).