Board of Accreditation

Board of Accreditation

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Board of Accreditation (CSWE- BOA), formerly the Commission on Accreditation (COA), a Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)-recognized programmatic accrediting body, accredits baccalaureate, master’s, and practice doctorate professional social work education degree programs within the United States and its territories.

Since its inception in July 1952, CSWE has accredited master’s programs. CSWE began accrediting baccalaureate programs in 1974 and practice doctorate programs in 2025. CSWE-BOA also accredits post-master’s social work fellowship programs, which are non-degree granting programs, not recognized by CHEA.

The CSWE-BOA is responsible for both formulating accreditation standards and determining the criteria and process for evaluating these standards. The BOA's accreditation decisions are accompanied by a reasoned opinion, and the accreditation process is conducted in a manner that ensures the continuation of the BOA’s role as the accrediting body for social work education. 

Memorandum Of Agreement Between the Council on Social Work Education Board of Directors and the Accrediting Body

In January 2023, the CSWE Board of Directors and the CSWE accrediting body updated the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with respect to delegation of accreditation authorities of the CSWE accrediting body, as established in the CSWE bylaws Article 3, Section 5.

The completion of the MOA comes from a years-long collaborative process between the CSWE Board of Directors and the CSWE Board of Accreditation to update the previous memorandum of understanding, adopted in 2010.

View the MOA revision and process timeline here.

Chair

Vice Chair

Member