Accreditation

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Accreditation is a systematic and rigorous process centered around CSWE’s vision of a well-educated social work profession that is equipped to promote health, well-being, and justice for all people in a diverse society. The fundamental goal of CSWE accreditation is to ensure quality education and preparation of social workers to carry out that responsibility. 

Our peer-reviewed accreditation process balances requirements of comparable outcomes across programs with a level of flexibility that encourages differentiation based on the program’s context. Accreditation ensures that social work programs have clearly defined missions and objectives that are achievable and consistent with expectations of social work practice.

CSWE-accredited programs are held to higher standards of responsibility for educating students to be respectful and responsible social workers for diverse cultures and communities. Graduates from CSWE-accredited social work education programs are prepared to critically think, problem solve, and advocate for justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity.

 

 

Quick Links

Accreditation Standards

Learn more about the 2022 and 2015 editions of our accreditation standards and download important resources and forms.

Accreditation Processes

How does CSWE accreditation work? How does a program achieve accreditation? Learn more about our processes and procedures here.

Board of Accreditation

Meet the Board of Accreditation (BOA) and read the latest decisions from the most recent BOA meetings.

Forms & Resources

Looking for a specific form, guide, handbook, or other resource? Find them here.

Accreditation FAQ

Read through the most frequently asked questions regarding CSWE accreditation here.

CSWE's Accreditation Team

Meet our team of accreditation leaders and experts!

By the Numbers:

CSWE's Accreditation Newsletter

Catch up on the latest news, information, and trainings details from the CSWE Accreditation team through our semi-annual newsletter!

Commitment to Quality

Recognition

CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA recognition assures the public that CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is competent to engage in quality reviews of social work programs based on the CHEA recognition standards.

Degree and Accreditation Mills

Degree and accreditation mills can mislead students and the public about the quality of a program or institution. Such degrees and accreditation may not be recognized by other institutions, employers, or licensing boards. Learn more about the problem and how to combat on the CHEA website.

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Connect with CSWE's Accreditation Team

Do you have questions or need more information about accreditation at CSWE? Click the button below or send an email to [email protected]!

Accreditation Scope & Services

Whether you are a new program administrator or a seasoned writer of accreditation documents, we invite you to explore our accreditation services.

Scope of the Board of Accreditation

CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (BOA) recognizes social work education programs in the United States and its territories. The BOA accredits: baccalaureate, master’s, practice doctorate degree programs, as well as post-master’s social work fellowship programs.

Consultation

Consultations are offered to social work education programs year-round via e-mail, phone, and videoconferencing. While accreditation staff consult, they do not determine compliance. CSWE’s BOA is the accreditation decision-making authority, and the sole and final arbiter of compliance. For public inquiries, contact CSWE at (703) 683-8080 or [email protected] to locate the staff member who can best respond to your inquiry.

Training

Visit our training site for previous presentation slide decks and upcoming opportunities.

Value & Benefits of CSWE Accreditation

CSWE accreditation speaks to public trust and accountability. At the core of social work education is the responsibility to create and sustain healthy communities and contribute positively to the public good. The fundamental goal of CSWE accreditation is to ensure quality education and preparation of social workers to carry out that responsibility. Social work is a public service field founded on core values of justice, dignity and worth of a person, human relations, integrity, and competence. CSWE accreditation standards are grounded in these core values and engage competent and qualified educators and community partners to ensure student competency in research, policy, theory, and practice of social work.

Students attending a CSWE-accredited social work program can be assured that their program is committed to quality and to educating students on social work competencies necessary to enter practice. Attending a CSWE-accredited program may help graduates qualify for employment or licensure that require completion of a CSWE-accredited degree. CSWE accreditation standards apply to all social work programs and all delivery methods.

CSWE-accredited social work programs engage in continuous quality improvement, ensuring that students are prepared to practice safely, competently, and ethically with all clients, constituents, and the public. Programs are reviewed for reaffirmation of accreditation every 8 years.

Through social work competencies, graduates of CSWE-accredited programs are prepared for holistic professional practice based on scientific inquiry and best practices consistent with social work values. The CSWE Board of Accreditation (BOA) reviews baccalaureate level programs for generalist practice competencies, master's level programs for generalist and specialized practice competencies based on one or more areas of specialized practice, and practice doctorate programs for core expertise and skills within one or more areas of focus from a practitioner-scholar perspective.

Graduating from a CSWE-accredited social work program does not guarantee an individual job placement or licensure, but it may facilitate this process. Most state and U.S. territory requirements stipulate that a social worker pursuing licensure or sitting for a licensing exam be a graduate of a CSWE-accredited program.

A pillar of accreditation is public accountability and transparency. This means the public can trust that CSWE-accredited programs have the resources, administrative structure, and curriculum to ensure graduates are prepared to provide competent and ethical social work services.

Social Work Education Continuum

Learn more about the social work degrees available, and those that are accredited by the CSWE Board of Accreditation (BOA).

Baccalaureate Social Work Degree

Accredited by: CSWE BOA

Practice Level: Generalist Practice

Model: Competency-based 

Description/Focus: Grounded in the liberal arts and the person-in-environment framework. Practitioners use a range of prevention and intervention methods in their practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, based on scientific inquiry and best practices. Practitioner identifies with the social work profession and applies ethical principles and critical thinking in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Engage in research informed practice and are proactive in responding to the impact of context on professional practice.

 

Master's Social Work Degree

Accredited by: CSWE BOA

Practice Level: Specialized Practice

Model: Competency-based 

Description/Focus: Demonstrates an ability to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate across client populations, problem areas, and methods of intervention. Extends and enhances the nine social work competencies that are demonstrated in observable behaviors indicative of competence in specialized areas of professional practice. Synthesizes and uses knowledge and skills necessary for interprofessional collaborations based on scientific inquiry and best practices, consistent with social work values. Engages in both research and advocacy in their commitment to changing structural inequities and to informing and improving practice, policy, and service delivery.

Practice Doctorate Social Work Degree

Accredited by: CSWE BOA

Practice Level: Doctoral Practice

Model: Practitioner-Scholar Perspective 

Description/Focus: Develops, translates, and advances social work practice knowledge. Uses and evaluates research-informed practice critically to translate and innovate social work practice. Engages in systematic inquiry and apply and disseminate research-informed knowledge, values, ethics, and skills in social work through practice, professional leadership, and/or teaching. Demonstrates advance practice through innovative approaches. Uses and critically evaluate research and knowledge, engages in scientific inquiry that reflects doctoral level scholarship. Develops and disseminates practice-relevant research-informed knowledge through a variety of channels, provides leadership in social work practice and/or education, and develops and maintains substantive expertise in one or more areas of social work practice.

Research Doctorate Degree

Accredited by: Institutional Accreditors

Practice Level: Research/Academic*

Model: N/A 

Description/Focus: Per 2023 GADE Quality Guidelines for PhD Programs in Social Work: "Prepares students to be scientists, scholars, and stewards of the discipline. Prepares graduates to develop substantive knowledge in an area of specialization, be able to conduct independent research, and have transferable skills and competencies for productive employability.”

 

*Research doctorate degrees are not programmatically accredited across health professions