CSWE Accreditation Explained

CSWE accreditation is the single credential that determines whether a social work degree qualifies you to sit for a licensing exam in the United States. Every state board requires graduation from a CSWE-accredited program as a condition of licensure. Understanding what that accreditation means, how programs earn it, and how to verify a program's current status is the first step in evaluating any MSW.

What Is CSWE?

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1952 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. It is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the sole accrediting body for social work education in the United States. No other organization holds this recognition.

CSWE operates through a Commission on Accreditation (COA), which is the body that reviews programs, grants accreditation status, and conducts reaffirmation reviews. The COA operates independently from CSWE's other educational and research functions.

As of the current CSWE directory, approximately 398 MSW programs and more than 500 BSW programs hold accreditation across the United States. Source: cswe.org/accreditation/about/directory/.

Why Accreditation Is Required for Licensure

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require graduation from a CSWE-accredited program as a prerequisite for social work licensure. The connection runs through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), which administers the licensing examinations used nationwide. ASWB eligibility requires a degree from a CSWE-accredited program; a degree from an unaccredited program does not qualify, regardless of the institution's other credentials.

The major license titles that require CSWE-accredited degrees include:

• LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) — the entry-level MSW license, available in most states after passing the ASWB Master's exam
• LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) — requires the LMSW and a supervised clinical experience period (typically 2 to 3 years post-degree), followed by the ASWB Clinical exam
• LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) — used in some states in place of or in addition to LCSW

Specific license titles and requirements vary by state. The ASWB publishes a licensure map at aswb.org for state-by-state requirements.

Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS)

CSWE sets program requirements through the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). The current edition, the 2022 EPAS, took effect in 2022 and applies to all programs seeking initial accreditation or reaffirmation under the new cycle. Programs accredited under the 2015 EPAS have a transition period to align with the 2022 version.

The 2022 EPAS is built around nine core competencies that define what all graduating social workers must be able to demonstrate. Programs must show their curriculum and field education requirements develop students across each competency.

The Nine Core Competencies (2022 EPAS)

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
4. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
5. Engage in Policy Practice
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Source: CSWE 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, cswe.org.

Field Education Requirements Under EPAS

The EPAS mandates minimum field education (practicum) hours for every accredited program. These are floors, not ceilings. Many programs require more.

Field placements for online MSW programs must still be completed in person at approved sites in the student's community. CSWE's EPAS does not permit field hours to be completed remotely as a general rule, with narrow exceptions for some virtual practice models reviewed on a program-by-program basis.

Accreditation Statuses

CSWE assigns one of several accreditation statuses to each program. Understanding the difference matters when evaluating a program's standing.

• Accredited. The program has met all EPAS requirements and is in good standing. This is the standard status for established programs.
• Candidacy. A new program that has been reviewed and approved to begin enrolling students, but has not yet completed a full accreditation review with graduating cohorts. Degrees from programs in candidacy status are generally accepted for ASWB eligibility, but students should confirm this with the state board in the state where they plan to practice before enrolling.
• Accredited on Probation. The program has been found to have deficiencies. It remains accredited during the remediation period but is under heightened review. Students currently enrolled in a probationary program retain their status; prospective students should monitor the outcome before enrolling.
• Accreditation Withdrawn. The program no longer holds accreditation. Degrees earned after the withdrawal date do not satisfy licensure requirements.

The Reaffirmation Cycle

Accreditation is not permanent. Programs undergo reaffirmation reviews on an approximately 8-year cycle. During reaffirmation, the COA evaluates whether the program continues to meet EPAS requirements, reviews outcome data, and may conduct a site visit. Programs found to be out of compliance may be placed on probation or have accreditation withdrawn.

The date of the most recent reaffirmation and the next scheduled review are not always published publicly, but the accreditation status and the year the program was first accredited are listed in the CSWE directory.

Continuous accreditation history means a program has held accreditation across multiple cycles without interruption or probation. Programs with accreditation dating to the 1920s have completed more than a dozen reaffirmation cycles.

How to Verify a Program's Accreditation Status

The CSWE accreditation directory is the authoritative source for program status. It is searchable by institution name, state, and program type. Each entry lists the program's current status and the year of initial accreditation.

Directory URL: cswe.org/accreditation/about/directory/

When Verifying a Program

1. Search for the institution by name.
2. Confirm the program level (BSW or MSW) matches the degree you are evaluating.
3. Check that the status reads "Accredited," not "Candidacy" or "Accredited on Probation."
4. Note the year of initial accreditation. Programs accredited earlier have passed more reaffirmation cycles, which indicates a longer track record of meeting CSWE standards.

If a program claims accreditation but does not appear in the CSWE directory, the program is not accredited. Regional or national institutional accreditation (such as SACSCOC or HLC) is separate from CSWE programmatic accreditation and does not satisfy licensure requirements.

Online MSW Programs and Accreditation

Online MSW programs must meet the same EPAS standards as on-campus programs. CSWE does not distinguish between delivery formats in its accreditation standards. An online MSW from a CSWE-accredited program is legally equivalent to an on-campus MSW for licensing purposes in all 50 states.

Some universities offer both an on-campus MSW and a separate online MSW track. These may be reviewed as a single accredited program or as distinct programs in the CSWE directory. When verifying, confirm that the specific delivery format you plan to enroll in falls under the accreditation listed.

Related Pages

• Best CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs
• Best Online MSW Programs
• Best Advanced Standing MSW Programs
• Ranking Methodology

Sources: CSWE Accreditation (cswe.org); CSWE Program Directory (cswe.org); ASWB About Licensing (aswb.org). Last reviewed 2026-05-25.