Certification Eligibility Criteria
Education
Applicants must hold either a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) or a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or equivalent accreditation for degrees earned outside of the United States.
We are not able to allow experience to substitute for these educational degrees.
Experience
- For BSWs: Applicants must have at least three (3) years of regular post-degree supervised experience in hospice and palliative social work within the previous five (5) years. Supervision must be provided by a MSW or licensed professional experienced in hospice and/or palliative care.
- For MSWs: Applicants must have at least two (2) years of post-degree experience in hospice and/or palliative social work within the previous five (5) years.
- One year of experience is defined as working 2,000 hours. For instance, your job may not involve 100% work in palliative care, but you estimate that 50% of your clinical work is related to palliative or end of life care – you would then calculate the hours you work related to the field to ascertain your total equaling 4,000 hours (or two years).
Ethics
Applicants must attest to practicing in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
Licensure
If the applicant’s state requires licensure to practice based upon the applicant’s educational level and type of practice, licensure in good standing is required.
