BCD Criteria

The Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD) is the profession’s premier advanced-generalist practice certification. It embodies the highest standards in the areas of clinical education, training, and experience. The eligibility criteria for national board-certification are summarized as follows:

• Master's (or doctoral) degree in social work with coursework and fieldwork focused on direct practice
• State licensure at the highest clinical level available in the state(s) where the clinician practices unless exempted by law or terms of government employment
• Five years/7,500 hours' post-graduate clinical social work practice, including 3,000 hours under supervision (1,500 hours supervised by an advanced clinical social worker)
• 40 hours of clinical continuing education in the past three years, (standard is waived if licensed in a state not requiring CE by law)
• Successful completion of an application process with clinical peer evaluations.

BCD clinicians recertify annually on the basis of currency of direct practice, 20 hours of continuing clinical education, maintenance of licensure in good standing (if applicable), and adherence to ABE's Code of Ethics.

To visit application page click here.