BCD Certification & the Veterans Administration 

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The Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD),  the gold standard for advanced-generalist practitioners, is the only clinical social work certification recognized by the Veterans Administration (VA) as a Tier One credential for extra
pay under the VA Special Advancement for Achievement (SAA) program.

Eligibility criteria for BCD certification are summarized below:

  • Master’s degree in social work
  • State licensure in clinical social work (defined by VA as “advanced practice level”)
  • Five years / 7,500 hours’ post-graduate clinical social work practice, including 3,000 hours under clinical supervision - post-graduate, pre-licensure (at least 1,500 hours supervised by an advanced clinical social worker)
  • Currency of direct practice: 3,000 hours of direct clinical social work practice in the past 10 years, including 300 hours in the 12 months prior to applying
  • 40 hours of clinical continuing education in the past three years (standard is waived if licensed in a state not requiring CE by law)

Apply for the BCD certification to establish your clinical expertise and to help qualify for the VA’s SAA pay awards (not available at all VA sites.  Please check with your local HR office before applying).

Click Here to Apply