National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
The NASW offers 3 different types of credentials, and 7 specialty certifications. NASW credentials indicate that individuals possess additional professional training and experience, and that they follow the NASW Code of Conduct; however, NASW credentials cannot take the place of state licenses, which register and authorize individuals to work as LCSWs. In order to become a full member of the NASW, an individual must pay $190 per year, hold at least an MSW degree, and agree to follow the NASW Code of Ethics. An individual with at least a BSW may become an Associate Member for $125 per year.
Learn more about the following type of social worker credentials and certifications offered by the NASW:
- Social Work Credentials
- Certifications for Master of Social Work Graduates
- Certifications for Bachelor of Social Work Graduates
Social Work Credentials
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Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW)
- Education Requirement: MSW, 20 hours of relevant continuing education
- Field Requirement: Documented two years of postgraduate social work employment and professional supervision by an MSW credentialed supervisor
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, professional evaluations that validate knowledge, understanding, and application of social work principles and values from an MSW supervisor and two social work colleagues
- Fees: $140
- Benefits: Recognition by social work colleagues as having demonstrated knowledge and experience beyond the entry level into the profession, acceptance by many insurance companies as being eligible for third-party reimbursement, and satisfaction of one criterion for being listed in the NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers
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Qualified Clinical Social Worker (QCSW)
- Education Requirement: MSW
- Field Requirement: 2 years (3,000 hours) of postgraduate supervised clinical experience in an agency or organized setting, supervised by an experienced clinical social worker
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, and either a current state social work license or certification based on an examination that requires a MSW or DSW/Ph.D. in social work and demonstrates a body of knowledge that qualifies them to practice social work, or ACSW membership
- Fees: $165
- Benefits: Recognition for possessing national standards of knowledge, skill and experience in clinical social work practice and for having agreed to abide by the NASW Code of Ethics, the NASW Standards for the Practice of Clinical Social Work, and the NASW Continuing Education Standards.
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Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW)
- Education Requirement: MSW, 20 hours of additional coursework
- Field Requirement: five years of postgraduate clinical social work experience
- Additional Requirements: NASW Membership, ACSW membership or the highest level of state licensure, QCSW certification, professional evaluations that validate knowledge, understanding, and application of social work principles and values from an MSW supervisor and two social work colleagues
- Fees: $285
- Benefits: Social workers who hold the NASW Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW) are recognized by the social work profession as providers of behavioral health care. The NASW Diplomate in Clinical Social Work is the highest distinction bestowed on clinical social workers. NASW Diplomates are listed in the NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers, both in the CD-ROM version and online version
Master of Social Work Certifications
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Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (ACHP-SW)
- Education Requirement: MSW
- Field Requirement: At least two years of supervised social work experience in hospice and palliative care, 20 or more contact hours of continuing education related specifically to the specialty practice
- Additional Requirements: State license, or an additional 4 years experience and 40 contact hours of continuing education for individuals in states that do not require licensure, professional affiliations with both the National Association of Social Workers and the National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals, a division of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NCHPP)
- Fees: $140
- Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in hospice and palliative care
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Clinical Social Worker in Gerontology (CSW-G) and Advanced Social Worker in Gerontology (ASW-G)
- Education Requirement: MSW, 20 contact hours of continuing education relevant to work with older adults, or provided proof of an aging/gerontology concentration via transcripts or certificate
- Field Requirement: At least 2 years or 3,000 hours of experience working with the elderly
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, a reference from either a supervisor or social work colleague, ACSW or current exam-based state clinical-level license or certification; current state master’s-level or advanced generalist-level license, or passing score on the ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) master’s-level or advanced generalist-level exam for ASW-G
- Fees: $165
- Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in gerontology
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Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-ACYFSW)
- Education Requirement: MSW, 20 contact hours of population-specific continuing education
- Field Requirement: 1 year and 1,500 hours of paid, supervised, post-MSW children, youth, and family social work experience
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, an evaluation from an approved supervisor, a reference from an MSW colleague, one of the following: ACSW, DCSW, and/or current state MSW-level license or an ASWB MSW-level exam passing score
- Fees: $165
- Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers focused on children, youth, and families
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Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC)
- Education Requirement: MSW
- Field Requirement: 2 years and 3,000 hours of paid, supervised, post-MSW health care social work experience
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, an evaluation from an approved supervisor, a reference from an MSW colleague, one of the following: ACSW, DCSW, and/or current state MSW-level license or an ASWB MSW-level exam passing score
- Fees: $165
- Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in health care
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Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Social Worker (C-CATODSW)
- Education Requirement: MSW, 180 contact hours of ATOD-specific continuing education
- Field Requirement: 2 years and 3,000 hours of paid, supervised, post-MSW health care social work experience, 3,000 hours of paid, supervised, post-MSW ATOD-specific counseling experience
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, an evaluation from an approved supervisor, a reference from an MSW colleague, one of the following: current ACSW, DCSW, and/or current highest-level state clinical social work license
- Fees: $165
- Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers focused on ATOD
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Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM)
- Education Requirement: MSW
- Field Requirement: 1 year and 1,500 hours of paid, supervised, post-MSW work experience
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, an evaluation from an approved supervisor, a reference from an MSW colleague, one of the following: One of the following: current ACSW, DCSW, and/or a current state exam-based social work license or a passing score on the ASWB exam
- Fees: $165
- Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social worker case managers
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Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS)
- Education Requirement: MSW
- Field Requirement: 2 academic years of paid, supervised, post-MSW experience as a school social worker in a school setting
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, an evaluation from an approved supervisor, a reference from an MSW colleague, one of the following: current ACSW, DCSW, current state exam-based social work license, current state exam-based school social work license/certification, or passing score on ASWB exam
- Fees: $165
- Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in school settings
Bachelor of Social Work Certifications
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Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (CHP-SW)
- Education Requirement: BSW
- Field Requirement: At least two years of supervised social work experience in hospice and palliative care, 20 or more contact hours of continuing education related specifically to the specialty practice
- Additional Requirements: State license, or an additional 4 years experience and 40 contact hours of continuing education for individuals in states that do not require licensure, professional affiliations with both the National Association of Social Workers and the National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals, a division of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NCHPP)
- Fees: $140
- Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in hospice and palliative care
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Social Worker in Gerontology (SW-G)
- Education Requirement: BSW, 20 hours of relevant continuing education
- Field Requirement: Documented no less than two (2) years (equivalent of 3,000 hours) of experience working with older adults under social work supervision
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, Completed twenty (20) contact hours of continuing education relevant to work with older adults, or provided proof of an aging/gerontology concentration via transcripts or certificate; Provided approved documentation of social work supervision; Provided a reference from a social work colleague; One of the following: ACBSW, current state BSW-level license, ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) BSW-level exam passing score, or one (1) additional year of experience and ten (10) additional contact hours of continuing education;
- Fees: $140
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Certified Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-CYFSW)
- Education Requirement: BSW, 20 hours of relevant continuing education
- Field Requirement:Twenty (20) contact hours of population-specific education; Documented one (1) year and 1,500 hours of paid, supervised, post-BSW children, youth, and family social work experience
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, Provided an evaluation from an approved supervisor; Provided a reference from a BSW or MSW colleague One of the following: current NASW ACBSW credential, current state BSW-level license, or an ASWB Basic exam passing score
- Fees: $140
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Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM)
- Education Requirement: BSW, 20 hours of relevant continuing education
- Field Requirement:One (1) year and 1,500 hours of paid, supervised, post-BSW work experience
- Additional Requirements: NASW membership, Provided an evaluation from an approved supervisor; Provided a reference from a BSW or MSW colleague and one of the following: NASW ACBSW credential, current state BSW-level license, or a passing score on the ASWB Basic exam
- Fees: $140
