Post-Master's Fellowship Accreditation

Fellowship programs are hosted by sites offering social work services in the United States, its territories, or on U.S. military installations. They advance the knowledge and skills of a social work practitioner in a focused area of practice.

Unlike the academic programs accredited by the Board of Accreditation (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.

The Fellowship Review Committee (FRC) serves as the primary review body for fellowship programs seeking initial or continued accreditation and is responsible for making accreditation decision recommendations to the BOA.

The Post-Master's Social Work Fellowship Accreditation Standards serve as the primary guiding document for fellowship accreditation.

If you have not done so already, please complete the Post-Master's Social Work Fellowship Program Database Record Form. This will allow CSWE to have accurate details regarding social work fellowship programs and up-to-date records so we may communicate important updates.

Admissions
Each program selects and implements their own admissions criteria. At a minimum, the Post-Master's Social Work Fellowship Accreditation Standards, requires that the fellowship program only admit trainees that have earned a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. 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.

Any questions regarding a specific fellowship program's admission criterion should be directed at the fellowship program, directly. For a directory of accredited fellowship programs, please click here.

Accreditation Status
The accreditation status obtained at initial accreditation is based upon the components that were reviewed during the accreditation review process. Therefore, the accredited status only applies to the cohort that was enrolled at the time the program's self-study was reviewed and site visit was approved and not past trainees.

Accreditation status is not retroactively effective to previous trainees and curricula.

Licensure
Some fellowship programs may provide supervision hours that can be counted towards licensure. Any questions regarding a specific fellowship program's offerings should be directed at the fellowship program, directly.

CSWE does not oversee social work licensure. Professional social work licensure 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.

Questions and Communication
Questions about the accreditation of social work fellowship accreditation may be directed to fellowshipaccred@cswe.org. Existing or developing fellowship programs are asked to complete the Post-Master's Social Work Fellowship Program Database Record Form. This allows CSWE to have accurate details regarding social work fellowship programs and up-to-date records so we may communicate important updates.

Fellowship programs accredited by the CSWE Board of Accreditation provide training and supervision to master's-level social work practitioners within one or more defined areas of social work practice.

The Fellowship Review Committee (FRC) serves as the primary review body for fellowship programs seeking initial or continued accreditation and is responsible for making accreditation decision recommendations to the BOA.

Interested in accrediting your post-master's social work fellowship program?
Please reach out to fellowshipaccred@cswe.org with questions or to schedule a consultation. In addition, existing or developing fellowship programs are asked to complete the Post-Master's Social Work Fellowship Program Database Record Form. This will allow CSWE to have accurate details regarding social work fellowship programs and up-to-date records so we may communicate important updates.

The following process is followed by fellowship programs seeking initial accreditation:

The Post-Master's Social Work Fellowship Accreditation Handbook was developed to supplement the Accreditation Policy Handbook used for baccalaureate, master's, and practice doctorate social work program accreditation. The fellowship handbook identifies the accreditation policies and procedures that apply to post-master's social work fellowship programs, specifically.

The Current Fellowship Accreditation Fees and Related Expenses includes the explanation of fees related to the accreditation of post-master's social work fellowship programs.

Please follow the payment instructions for Fellowship Accreditation Eligibility Fees and payment instructions for all other Fellowship Accreditation Fees. Refer to the Post-Master's Social Work Fellowship Accreditation Handbook for more information.

Questions regarding accreditation fees? Email feesaccred@cswe.org.

Fellowship programs accredited by CSWE’s Board of Accreditation provide those that hold a master’s degree in social work with training and supervision within one or more defined areas of social work practice. The Post-Master’s Social Work Fellowship Accreditation Standards provide a framework for host sites developing fellowship programs and outline the standards for a quality program. 

Approved and adopted in October 2021, the Post-Master’s Social Work Fellowship Accreditation Standards serves as the primary guiding document for fellowship accreditation.

The Fellowship Review Committee (FRC) serves as the primary review body for fellowship programs seeking initial or continued accreditation and is responsible for making accreditation decision recommendations to the Board of Accreditation (BOA). The BOA considers FRC recommendations and ratifies accreditation decisions. 

For information on volunteering as an FRC member, click here.