Understanding Credentials
When social work was developing as a profession, licensure was not established in all states in the U.S. Credentialing for the field of social work grew out of the need to regulate practice and provide social workers with a means to identify their level of expertise. Now all 50 states regulate licensure, however, many social workers still take advantage of the NASW credentials as a means of professional identification. The National Association of Social Workers (the largest professional organization of social workers) has provided social workers with credentialing services for over 40 years. Some of the credentials that you will see their members obtain are Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), Qualified Clinical Social Worker (QCSW), and Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW).