Certification Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the ABCSW? The American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW), founded in 1987, is a national education, advocacy and credentialing organization created by and for the profession of Clinical Social Work. The ABCSW’s main purposes are to issue advanced credentials to Clinical Social Workers based on uniform national standards of practice, and to educate the public and various audiences about the value of these certifications and the services of those who hold them. What are the ABCSW's certifications? Board certification at a high level of practice is essential to every healthcare profession - without it, it is impossible to establish the standards by which competent practitioners may be identified. The ABCSW offers certifications for advanced practice, all of which may be achieved by a process relying on clinical experience and evaluations by professional peers. Certifications are offered in the following categories of Clinical Social Work:
What is the BCD certification? The Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD) is an advanced practice certification embodying the highest standards of clinical education, training, and experience. Its standards are at the core of the ABCSW’s three other certifications. Clinical social workers must meet the following criteria (summarized) to be eligible for the BCD:
BCD clinicians recertify annually on the basis of currency of direct practice, 20 hours of continuing clinical education, maintenance of state licensure (where applicable) in good standing and adherence to ABCSW’s Code of Ethics. What does the BCD do for clinical social workers? The BCD permits an advanced practitioner to stand apart from other licensees - to be identified with a national mark of excellence in clinical social work practice. Beyond professional recognition, those who hold the BCD qualify for referrals and other reimbursable opportunities, discount benefits (including HPSO liability insurance), distinction in court and university settings and recognition as meeting national standards for quality-of-care set by the healthcare industry. The ABCSW’s annual recertification of all its certificants gives them preferred status in the marketplace. Why does a state-licensed clinician need the BCD? The BCD is a national certification issued by the profession as a mark of prestige and competence rather than by the state (as with licenses) as a way to protect the public. The BCD crosses all state lines with a uniform set of advanced criteria - any user-system with a national or regional scope will have a keen interest in the BCD. Licensure criteria are variable and pitched at the entry level of practice; by contrast, the BCD embodies uniform standards and is a means of distinguishing high levels of practice competence. Few state regulatory agencies publish their databases and none markets them. The ABCSW publishes profiles of all BCD clinicians in the online BCD Directory. What are the ABCSW's online information services? The ABCSW maintains the following internet-based services:
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