National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Credentials

The NASW offers social workers two credential types and nine specialty credentials. NASW social work credentials indicate that individuals possess additional professional training and experience and that they follow the NASW Code of Conduct. NASW credentials cannot replace state licenses, which register and authorize individuals to work as professional social workers.

Fees and information for the NASW Credentials below have been updated as of January 2026. For most up-to-date fees, be sure to check with the appropriate NASW page.

Depending on where a social worker is in their career, NASW membership begins at $74 for retired members to $236 for master’s in social work (MSW), doctorate in social work (DSW or PhD) and PhD full membership annual dues.

Learn more about the following type of social worker credentials and certifications offered by the NASW:

• Professional Social Work Credentials
• Advanced Practice Specialty Credentials – Master of Social Work
• Advanced Practice Specialty Credentials – Bachelor of Social Work

Professional Social Work Credentials

Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW)

• Education Requirement: Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (schools in candidacy are not accepted) and verification of 20 hours of relevant continuing education within the past two years (with 3 hours in ethics).
• Field Requirement: Documented two years of postgraduate, supervised social work experience after the MSW in an agency/organizational setting (at least 3,000 hours over no fewer than 24 months), with professional supervision by an MSW supervisor.
• Additional Requirements: Current NASW membership; three professional references/evaluations (one from a current or former supervisor familiar with your work, plus two social work colleagues); and agreement to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics and NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education (subject to the NASW adjudication process).
• Fees: $140 for application
• Benefits: Identification and recognition by the public, employers, and colleagues as having demonstrated knowledge and experience beyond the entry level into the profession, acceptance by many insurance companies as eligible for third-party reimbursement, and satisfaction of one criterion for being listed in the NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers

Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW)

• Education Requirement: MSW from a CSWE-accredited program, with official transcript(s) showing successful completion of 20 credit hours of formal MSW-level clinical social work coursework.
• Field Requirement: 4,500 hours (three years full-time equivalent) of additional postgraduate clinical social work experience, beyond the experience used to qualify for the prerequisite clinical credential; no more than 1,500 hours per year may be counted; and at least two years of this experience must have occurred within the past 10 years (private practice may be used).
• Additional Requirements: Current NASW membership in good standing; active certification as a Qualified Clinical Social Worker (QCSW) or another clinical credential that substantially meets/exceeds QCSW requirements, maintained in good standing for at least three consecutive years prior to applying; an active MSW- or doctoral-level clinical state social work license; 30 contact hours of post-degree continuing professional education specific to clinical social work within the past two years; two satisfactory colleague references completed by an MSW or PhD level social worker; and agreement to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics, NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education, and NASW Standards for the Practice of Clinical Social Work (and required NASW statements).
• Fees: $450
• Benefits: Recognition for as an advanced practitioner, having met national standards of social work, possible employer incentive, and reimbursement eligibility by insurers.

Advanced Practice Specialty Credentials – Master of Social Work

Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (ACHP-SW)

• Education Requirement: MSW (degree must be in social work) from a CSWE-accredited program (programs in candidacy aren’t accepted), plus evidence of at least 20 hours of continuing education specific to hospice and palliative care completed within the past 2 years.
• Field Requirement: A minimum of two years of supervised post-MSW professional practice in hospice or palliative care (paid experience totaling at least 3,000 hours) completed in an agency/organizational setting within the 5 years prior to application.
• Additional Requirements: Current master’s-level social work license; submission of performance evaluations from at least one social work supervisor and two social work colleagues; and attestation/adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics and NASW Standards for Palliative and End of Life Care.
• Fees: $165 for NASW or National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals (NCHPP) members; $450 for non-members
• Benefits: Identification and recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in hospice and palliative care, recognition by peers and employers

Clinical Social Worker in Gerontology (CSW-G) and Advanced Social Worker in Gerontology (ASW-G)

• Education Requirement: MSW from a CSWE-accredited school and:
  • CSW-G: Thirty (30) contact hours of post-degree continuing professional education on bio-psychosocial issues, interventions, or the dynamics of working with older adults and their families/caregivers (completed within the 2 years immediately preceding application).
  • ASW-G: Twenty (20) contact hours of professional continuing education relevant to work with older adults (completed within the 2 years immediately preceding application).
• Field Requirement:
  • CSW-G: At least two (2) years (equivalent of 3,000 hours) of paid, supervised, post-MSW clinical social work employment in an agency/organization that provides mental health assessment and treatment to the aging population; experience must be current (within the 5 years preceding application).
  • ASW-G: At least two (2) years (equivalent of 3,000 hours) of paid, post-MSW experience working with older adults under social work supervision (or qualifying supervision); experience must be current (within the 5 years preceding application).
• Additional Requirements: Agreement to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics, the NASW Standards for Social Work Services in Long-Term Care Facilities, and the NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education.
  • CSW-G: Current exam-based state clinical-level license/certification OR a passing score on the ASWB Clinical-level exam (with a copy of the master’s-level license also submitted).
  • ASW-G: Current exam-based state master’s-level or Advanced Generalist license/certification OR a passing score on the ASWB Master or Advanced Generalist licensing exam.
• Fees: $165 for NASW members; $450 for non-members
• Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in gerontology

Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC)

• Education Requirement: A master’s degree in social work from a graduate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) (the program must have been accredited at the time the degree was awarded).
• Field Requirement: Documentation of at least two (2) years (equivalent of 3,000 hours) of paid, supervised, post-MSW social work employment in an agency or organization that provides treatment to individuals and families whose lives are adversely affected by medical conditions or physical limitations.
• Additional Requirements: Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics and the NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education; a Supervisory Evaluation Form; a confidential reference from an MSW social work colleague; and ONE of the following: a current exam-based state-issued MSW-level license OR a passing score on the ASWB MSW-level exam. (ACSW/DCSW may only be used by active-duty military personnel and social workers residing in foreign countries.)
• Fees: $165 for members; $450 for non-members
• Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in health care

Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM)

• Education Requirement: A master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (the program must have been accredited at the time the degree was awarded).
• Field Requirement: Documentation of at least two (2) years (equivalent of 3,000 hours) of post-MSW, full-time paid, appropriately supervised case management work experience as a case manager in an agency or institutional setting. Case management must be your primary job responsibility; experience must be completed in no less than 24 months and be current within the 5 years preceding application.
• Additional Requirements: Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics and Standards, the NASW Standards for Social Work Case Management, and the NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education; supervisory evaluation(s) tied to the qualifying experience; one confidential reference from an MSW social work colleague; and ONE of the following: a current exam-based state-issued MSW-level license (include copy with expiration date) OR a passing score on the ASWB master’s, clinical, or advanced generalist exam (include copy).
• Fees: Fees (C-ASWCM credential only): $165 (NASW member) or $210 (non-member). If applying for the NASW credential + the CCM exam package: $335 (NASW member) or $410 (non-member).
• Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social worker case managers

Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS)

• Education Requirement: MSW from a CSWE-accredited school
• Field Requirement: Two years of supervised, paid, post-MSW experience as a school social worker in a school setting
• Additional Requirements: Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics, the NASW Standards for School Social Work Services, and the NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education,, evaluation from an approved supervisor, a reference from an MSW colleague, one of the following: current ACSW or DCSW for current active-duty military personnel residing in foreign countries, current state-issued, exam-based MSW-level license, passing clinical ASWB exam score, state-issued school social work license or certification
• License/Credentials (ONLY ONE required): NASW ACSW or DCSW (may only be used by active-duty military personnel and social workers residing in foreign countries); OR a current exam-based state-issued MSW-level social work license; OR a passing score on the ASWB clinical-level exam; OR a state-issued exam-based school social work license; OR a state-issued exam-based school social work certification.
• Fees: $165 for NASW members; $450 for non-members
• Benefits: Recognition for the unique skills and abilities of social workers in school settings

Qualified Clinical Social Worker (QCSW)

• Education Requirement: MSW from a CSWE-accredited graduate program, with a minimum of 20 hours of coursework specific to clinical social work; and 30 contact hours of post-degree continuing professional education obtained within the past two years (including at least 20 hours specific to clinical social work and 3 hours on ethics/boundary issues).
• Field Requirement: Documentation of at least three (3) years (equivalent of 4,500 hours) of paid, supervised, post-MSW clinical social work employment in an agency or organization that provides mental health assessment and treatment; at least two years (~3,000 hours) must include clinical supervision in a group practice or agency/organizational setting by a clinically licensed supervisor with 3+ years of post-graduate direct practice clinical experience; private practice may be used for only the final year; and the clinical experience must have occurred within the past five years.
• Additional Requirements: A current exam-based state clinical social work license; adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics, the NASW Standards for the Practice of Clinical Social Work, and the NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education; and submission of three reference evaluation forms (one from the clinical supervisor and two from MSW-level social work colleagues).
• Benefits: NASW credentials are viewed as ‘license plus,’ can signal advanced practice to the public and support leadership opportunities; indicate you’ve met national practice standards; employers may prefer or incentivize credentialed candidates; and third-party payers may consider reimbursement eligibility or rate differentials for credentialed social workers.

Advanced Practice Specialty Credentials – Bachelor of Social Work

Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (CHP-SW)

• Education Requirement: A bachelor’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and twenty (20) or more CEUs related specifically to hospice and palliative care.
• Field Requirement: No less than three (3) years (4,500 hours equivalent) of paid professional experience in hospice or palliative care that occurred within the five (5) years preceding the application; four (4) years (6,000 hours equivalent) if no BSW social work license is available in your state.
• Additional Requirements: Current state license to practice as a professional social worker, and agreement to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics and NASW Standards for Palliative and End of Life Care (along with NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education, as reflected in the application attestations).
• Fees: $140 for NASW or NCHPP members; $350 for non-members

Social Worker in Gerontology (SW-G)

• Education Requirement: BSW from a CSWE accredited school and 20 contact hours of continuing education related to working with older adults, or proof of an aging/gerontology concentration through transcript or certification
• Field Requirement: No less than three (3) years (equivalent of 4,500 hours) of paid, post-BSW experience working with older adults under social work supervision (individual or group supervision allowed); the experience must be current within the five (5) years preceding application.
• Additional Requirements: Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics, Standards for Social Work Services in Long-Term Care Facilities and Standards for Continuing Professional Education, ACBSW, current BSW-level license, ASWB BSW-level passing exam score, or one (1) additional year of experience and twenty (20) additional CEUs if no bachelor’s-level license is available in your state.
• Fees: $140 for NASW for members; $350 for non-members

Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM)

• Education Requirement: BSW from a CSWE accredited school
• Field Requirement: Three (3) years / 4,500 hours of paid, professionally supervised, post-BSW case management experience in an agency or institutional setting, where case management functions are the primary job responsibilities. Experience must be completed within the past 5 years, must be current, and must include at least 4,500 hours of direct client-level case management tasks (not administrative duties).
• Additional Requirements: Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics and the NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education, plus submission of a supervisory evaluation that corresponds to the qualifying experience and a confidential BSW/MSW colleague reference. The colleague reference cannot be completed by the same person who completed the supervisory evaluation, and at least one of the two references (supervisor or colleague) must be from a BSW or MSW social worker.
• Fees: $165 for NASW members; $210 for non-members