Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM)
Specialty Certification for the experienced BSW Social Work Case Manager

Summary of Eligibility Criteria
 Applicants must meet ALL criteria to qualify for certification

1. MEMBERSHIP:
Current “regular” NASW membership in good standing.  Associate members are not eligible for NASW Specialty Certifications.  NASW “regular” membership must be established before an application for the C-SWCM is submitted.

2. EDUCATION:
BSW -- Bachelor’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program must have been accredited by CSWE at the time the degree was received.

An original transcript is required and must be sent in a sealed envelope directly to NASW. If you have the NASW ACBSW (Academy of Certified Baccalaureate Social Workers) Credential (1991-95), you do not have to submit an original transcript. Otherwise, there are NO exceptions.  

3. EXPERIENCE:
One year (1,500 hours -- not counting administrative duties of approximately 30 hours per week of direct client-level case management tasks) post-BSW degree full-time, paid, appropriately supervised (see SUPERVISION) work experience as a case manager in an agency or institutional setting.

Case management functions as described in the information and application booklet must constitute the primary job responsibilities.  Experience must be completed at the time of application and must have been completed in no less than 12 months and no more than five years prior to application.  

4. SUPERVISION and SUPERVISORY EVALUATION:
Completed supervisory evaluation(s) must correspond in time to the qualifying experience that is submitted.  Supervision must cover a minimum of one year (1,500 hours -- not counting administrative duties, of approximately 30 hours per week of direct client-level case management tasks) post-BSW degree full-time, paid work experience as a case manager in an agency or institutional setting.  The supervisor(s) must be able to evaluate the applicant’s case management skills, knowledge, and abilities across the seven core functions of case management described in this booklet.

Hours of Supervision
For the first two years of post-BSW practice, regularly scheduled face-to-face supervision meetings should occur at a rate of one hour for every 15 hours of direct client-level case management tasks (minimum of 100 hours per year) . For the subsequent two years, the rate should be one hour for every 30 hours of direct case management tasks (minimum of 50 hours per year). Thereafter, supervision and consultation may occur on an as-needed basis.

Social Work Supervision is Preferred

  • BSW supervisors must have at least five years post-BSW social work experience.

  • MSW supervisors must have at least two years post-MSW social work experience.

  • Social work references will not be accepted from non -- social work-degreed individuals who have been granted social work licenses by individual states. At least one of the two references (supervisor or colleague) must be from a BSW or MSW social worker.

Alternate Supervisors
While it is preferred that the supervisory reference comes from a BSW or an MSW, if such supervision as described above has not been available, the supervisory evaluation form will be accepted from one of the following alternate supervisors:

  • Licensed MD psychiatrist

  • Licensed PhD clinical psychologist

  • LMHP (specific license) – licensed mental health practitioner

  • Licensed RN or higher

  • LPC (specific license) - licensed professional counselor

If you are submitting a supervisory evaluation from a non -- social worker, your social work colleague reference must be from a BSW or MSW social worker.  

5. BSW or MSW SOCIAL WORK COLLEAGUE REFERENCE:
Confidential reference from a BSW or an MSW social work colleague. This reference cannot be from someone you supervise. The colleague  reference cannot be completed by the same person who completed the supervisory evaluation.

If the supervisory evaluation reference is submitted by a BSW or an MSW and there is no BSW or MSW social worker available to complete the social work colleague reference form, it may be completed by a person on the list of alternate supervisors. At least one of the two references (supervisor or social work colleague) must be from a BSW or MSW social worker.  

6. LICENSE/CREDENTIALS: (Only ONE of the following is required)

  • NASW’s exam-based ACBSW (Academy of Certified Baccalaureate Social Workers) offered by NASW 1991-95.

  • Current exam-based state BSW-level license or certification. (Current copy with expiration date required.) Please note that exam-based licensure at the BSW level is available only in certain states.

  • Passing score on the ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) basic level exam. This option is intended for more recent BSW graduates who are in the process of applying for licensure and have completed the exam requirement but who have not yet received the actual social work license. A copy of the passing score document received at the exam site will be accepted.

To apply, you MUST have one of the above items. If your state does not have the ASWB basic exam-based BSW-level social work license, and you do not have one of the items listed above, you will not meet the eligibility criteria for the C-SWCM Certification. The ASWB basic exam is available only in states where BSW-level social work licenses are offered.   

CERTIFICATES

Applicants who meet all eligibility criteria and successfully qualify for the C-SWCM will receive a certificate suitable for wall display.  Each renewal period, those who successfully renew (see RENEWAL) will receive an updated seal to place on the original certificate.  (If necessary, replacement certificates can be provided at a cost of $10.)

RENEWAL:

  • Renewal occurs every two years at a fee of $50.  

  • 20 contact hours of continuing education relevant to case management are required. Applicant must state to which case management core functions the training applies.

  • The ACBSW or current BSW-level state social work licensure is required. The certification holder must comply with NASW’s Standards of Continuing Education, supplied at the back of the application booklet.

For complete information or to request an application packet, call: (800) 638-8799, ext. 409 or write: credentialing@naswdc.org