by Madeleine L. Dale, M.A., M.P.H., LCSW, Director of Career Development, Columbia University School of Social Work

(October 1999)

Conversationally the terms, "licensing," "certification," and "credentialing" are often used interchangeably. Technically, however, they are not the same.

In the United States, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands legally regulate the social work profession, using the terms "licensing" and/or "certification." Being awarded a certificate for completing the course of study of a training institute, for attending a professional conference, for earning continuing education credits, or for taking a life-saving course is not the same as a state's legal certification of a profession.

State regulations

State laws for licensing and/or certification are either Practice Acts or Title Protection Acts. A Practice Act sets forth the minimum requirements for licensure or certification including education, experience, supervision, and the necessity for successfully completing a minimum competence exam. 41 states have Practice Acts.

A Title Protection Act controls the use of the term "social worker." Only 12 states have Title Protection Acts. That means that in 38 states, anyone can call himself or herself a social worker without having completed a course of study and been awarded a baccalaureate degree or a master's degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

There are four levels of social work practice that states legally regulate, and states may regulate any one or more of these: Baccalaureate social work degree upon graduation (33 states.); Master's degree in social work upon graduation (37 states. In New York, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania, this is the only level licensed.); Master's degree with two years of post-graduate supervised experience (49 states.); and Master's degree with two years of post-master's direct clinical social work experience (33 states). These levels of licensure have resulted in at least 24 variations of those letters that appear after licensee's names. The District of Columbia, for example, awards the LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker), the LCSW (Licensed Independent Social Worker), the LGSW (Licensed Graduate Social Worker), and the LSWA (Licensed Social Work Associate). In D.C. the LCSW is the second highest level of certification while in California the LCSW is the highest level of certification.

There is only one level in New York State, the CSW (Certified Social Worker). New York State also offers a Three Year "P" Credential under which the practitioner is allowed "entry onto a list of practitioners whose clients may receive insurance reimbursement for providing mental health services under the 1977 (NYS) law. In New York, with a Six Year "R" Credential "insurance plans which cover mental health services must reimburse clients of qualified social work practitioners (i.e. those who have the "R").

Because the requirements for licensure or certification differ from state to state it stands to reason that a social work license is not transferable from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A social worker licensed in one state seeking licensure in another state must apply to the appropriate licensing board in each additional state.

Record keeping

For this reason, it is very important that social work students and graduates keep very good records of their academic courses of study (syllabi, evaluations, school bulletins/catalogues), of continuing education programs completed (brochures, C.E.U, and of supervision (number of hours; kinds of cases; license, certification; and/or credentials of supervisor). Through reciprocity agreements a few states accept each other's verification of education, experience, and supervision for reciprocating social work licensure applicants. If you know you wish to seek licensure in a particular state, make sure that the type of employment and/or supervision you accept meet(s) that state's requirements. Once you are licensed, be sure to hold on to documentation of satisfying whatever on-going requirements there are for maintaining your license. Be advised that increasingly states are requiring continuing education with very specific standards.

In 1970, the American Association of State Social Work Boards (AASSWB) was created to assist state boards in their efforts to protect the public through legal regulation of the social work profession.

AASSWB developed and maintains the social work licensing examinations used in every jurisdiction except Michigan, Puerto Rico, and California. The exams were changed in 1998 to reflect more current content, including ethics (All exam candidates should familiarize themselves with the NASW Code of Ethics that was adopted in August, 1996) and multiculturalism. For purposes of the examination requirement, all participating jurisdictions honor or endorse a passing score on the AASSWB licensing examination, provided that the examination passed is at the same level required by the honoring state.

In addition to states' licensing and certification of social workers for social work practice, some states offer licensing and certification for particular practice areas, among these are: Domestic Violence, School Social Work, Long-Term Care, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse. Again, once licensed you will want to be sure you meet whatever on-going requirements there are for maintaining your license.

"Credentialing" refers to a designation given by a national professional organization. Here again the terminology is problematic because in colloquial speech we refer to academic degrees or one's knowledge or background as his or her "credentials." Complicating the legal distinction in terminology is the exception to the rule, the fact that in New York State the "P" and the "R" is referred to as a "credential." Technically, however, "credentialing" is understood to refer to a designation given by a national professional organization. The credentials awarded by professional organizations are usually for advanced practitioners and certify competence above the minimal level necessary for public protection. They have no bearing on licensing decisions.

Among the national professional organizations that offer credentials, some are non-profit and some are for profit and these credentials may be social work specific or not. One non-profit professional organization we are all familiar with, of course, is The National Association of Social Workers. NASW offers several professional credentials that are highly regarded. These are the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), qualified Clinical Social Worker, Diplomate in Clinical Social Worker, and the School social Work Specialist.

There are other professional organizations that offer credentials in such practice areas as Case Management, Domestic Violence, Forensic Counseling, Employee Assistance, Fund-Raising, Long-Term Care, Health Care Management, Marriage and Family Therapy, Mental Retardation, School Social Work, and Substance Abuse.

Around the world, requirements for social work practice vary country by country. If you are planning to work in another country, you should contact the appropriate national social work association to get the information you need. You should also seek information from the local consulate or the embassy of the country in question as to work papers and other legal requirements.

There is legal regulation by states and there is assertion of requirements met conferred by professional organizations. Know which is which, assess the value each bears, the costs involved, maintenance, and most of all the implication for your professional practice. For the individual, choosing to pursue a license, certification, or credential may be a personal matter related to desire for associated prestige or authority, or a practical matter related to job security or salary increase. For social workers as a group, it is a matter of public protection as well as promotion of an academically accredited, discipline-specific set of competencies.