As of March 15, 1999, the requirements for taking the CSW exam have changed in New York State.

Up until that date, candidates for the exam registered through the American Association of State Social Work Boards (AASSWB), the association of licensing boards that oversees social work across the country and which administers the test. Now, candidates must first be approved for admission to the exam by the New York State Education Department.

To do so, candidates will file an application to become a Certified Social Worker with the State Board for Social Work at the New York State Department of Education. To file, call (518) 474-4974, leave name and address on the machine, and an application will be sent to you.

When the application is filed, it must be accompanied by a fee of $270 ($115 for the application fee, $155 for the three year registration fee for the CSW itself).

In addition, an official transcript must be sent by the candidate’s MSW program to the Education Department, verifying that the candidate has either received an MSW (or a doctoral degree during which MSW requirements were met) or is in the final semester (the final 15 credits) of a CSWE-approved graduate program is social work.

The State Education Department provides AASSWB with a weekly list of applicants who have been approved to take the examination and will send letters of notification to these applicants. Once approval has been made, candidates may contact the AASSWB Registration Center.

According to a spokesperson at the State Board, the new requirements are designed to preserve the integrity and the security of the exams, which are offered nationwide.