.png?lang=en-US&ext=.png){kind=logo}
.png?lang=en-US&ext=.png){kind=logo}
News
Further below, you will find a space dedicated to questions and answers.
Social work education has been and will continue to be grounded in fairness, access, and the creation of environments where all individuals and groups are respected, valued, and supported. This guidance provides support to educational programs actively facing challenging and evolving legal requirements, while ensuring that students continue to learn how to practice and lead with knowledge, skill, fairness, and integrity.
CSWE remains committed to upholding the highest professional standard in social work education and values continued collaboration with accredited programs. This collaboration is vitally important, especially during periods of uncertainty. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to ongoing engagement through communication, consultation, and shared resources that prepare the next generation of social workers.
The CSWE Board of Accreditation (BOA) remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that social work graduates across the country are educated at the highest professional standard, including prioritization of fair treatment and access, and the creation of environments where all individuals and groups are engaged, respected, valued and supported. Graduates from all accredited social work programs must understand how systems, policies, and practices influence individual and community outcomes and be prepared to lead with social work knowledge, skill, and integrity.
Given the legislative changes, programs in states with enacted legislation prohibiting ADEI-related content will have the opportunity to adapt competency language in accreditation documentation to align with state legislation, while maintaining the integrity of the nine 2022 EPAS social work competencies. Programs in states with enacted legislative changes are expected to demonstrate continued compliance with existing accreditation standards and show how they prepare students to engage in professional practice using language that is permissible within their state context. Specifically, programs will be required to:
We have not and will not ask any programs or individuals to break any laws, nor will we lessen the significance of the accreditation standards. Instead, we will work with programs to determine how they can align with the former while still meeting the requirements of the latter.
More information on accreditation guidance and templates (e.g., self-study, benchmark, etc.) are coming soon. Please reach out to [email protected] or contact your CSWE accreditation specialist if you have questions.
Published on : January 23, 2026
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is closely monitoring federal and state legislation that is impacting, and may further impact, accreditation in social work education. In response to legislative changes, the CSWE Board of Accreditation (BOA) developed the guidance below to support programs while ensuring continued alignment with the 2022 EPAS.Further below, you will find a space dedicated to questions and answers.
Social work education has been and will continue to be grounded in fairness, access, and the creation of environments where all individuals and groups are respected, valued, and supported. This guidance provides support to educational programs actively facing challenging and evolving legal requirements, while ensuring that students continue to learn how to practice and lead with knowledge, skill, fairness, and integrity.
CSWE remains committed to upholding the highest professional standard in social work education and values continued collaboration with accredited programs. This collaboration is vitally important, especially during periods of uncertainty. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to ongoing engagement through communication, consultation, and shared resources that prepare the next generation of social workers.
Guidance on Language Pertaining to 2022 EPAS
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is closely monitoring federal and state-level legislation that is impacting and may further impact accreditation in social work education. Several states have enacted or proposed legislation that limits or prohibits content related to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in both implicit and explicit curricula.The CSWE Board of Accreditation (BOA) remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that social work graduates across the country are educated at the highest professional standard, including prioritization of fair treatment and access, and the creation of environments where all individuals and groups are engaged, respected, valued and supported. Graduates from all accredited social work programs must understand how systems, policies, and practices influence individual and community outcomes and be prepared to lead with social work knowledge, skill, and integrity.
Given the legislative changes, programs in states with enacted legislation prohibiting ADEI-related content will have the opportunity to adapt competency language in accreditation documentation to align with state legislation, while maintaining the integrity of the nine 2022 EPAS social work competencies. Programs in states with enacted legislative changes are expected to demonstrate continued compliance with existing accreditation standards and show how they prepare students to engage in professional practice using language that is permissible within their state context. Specifically, programs will be required to:
- Identify the applicable state legislation that prohibits or restricts ADEI-related content
- Identify the specific competency language and corresponding behaviors that must be adapted in response to state legislation, while maintaining alignment with the nine 2022 EPAS social work competencies
- Explain how their curricula align with the nine 2022 EPAS competencies and associated behaviors for both generalist and specialized practice
- for AS 2.0.1, programs may discuss how they prepare students to work across system levels with a variety of individuals, families, communities, group, and organizations;
- for AS 2.0.2, programs may discuss how they create a learning environment that is welcoming to students from a variety of backgrounds;
- for AS 3.1.2, M3.2.1, and M3.2.4, programs may use language permissible in their state to respond to accreditation standards in ways that demonstrate adequate preparation of students for practice in the competency area;
- for AS 5.0.1, programs may describe how they are assessing student competence around areas described in AS 3.1.2, M3.2.1, and M3.2.4, as applicable to the program level;
- and for AS 5.0.2, programs may describe how they are assessing their student learning environment around areas described in AS 2.0.2.
We have not and will not ask any programs or individuals to break any laws, nor will we lessen the significance of the accreditation standards. Instead, we will work with programs to determine how they can align with the former while still meeting the requirements of the latter.
More information on accreditation guidance and templates (e.g., self-study, benchmark, etc.) are coming soon. Please reach out to [email protected] or contact your CSWE accreditation specialist if you have questions.
Questions & Answers
If you have a question that is not listed below, please let us know by emailing [email protected].- Is CSWE eliminating any of the standards and/or competencies established in the 2022 EPAS? No, CSWE remains steadfast in its commitment to the current standards and competencies contained within the 2022 EPAS. All programs accredited by CSWE must continue to meet and demonstrate compliance with each of those standards and competencies.
- What programs are eligible to use alternative language to describe compliance with CSWE’s 2022 EPAS and its competencies? This option is only available to programs in states with enacted legislation restricting ADEI efforts.
- What about programs in states where legislation has been proposed but not yet passed into law? In states where legislation has not been signed into law, programs must demonstrate compliance with the 2022 EPAS as written.
- What if my state does not currently have legislation prohibiting ADEI-related content, but passes a law in the future? In states where legislation has not been passed, programs must demonstrate compliance with the 2022 EPAS as written. This option is only available to programs in states with enacted legislation restricting ADEI efforts.
- How do I determine what alternative language to use? Alternative language must align with what is permissible under state law. Programs are responsible for identifying and using language that complies with enacted state legislation surrounding ADEI while maintaining alignment with the nine 2022 EPAS social work competencies and accreditation standards. Where can I get more information?