Your Exclusive Advanced Standing MSW Programs Database – Helping Secure Future Social Work Professionals
An advanced standing Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed for individuals who have already obtained a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited institution. This program allows BSW graduates to complete their MSW degree faster than the traditional two-year program.
Find Advanced Standing MSW Schools By State & City
Each state may have different requirements, to find out specific requirements, click on your state.
- AL Alabama
- AK Alaska
- AZ Arizona
- AR Arkansas
- CA California
- CO Colorado
- CT Connecticut
- DE Delaware
- FL Florida
- GA Georgia
- HI Hawaii
- ID Idaho
- IL Illinois
- IN Indiana
- IA Iowa
- KS Kansas
- KY Kentucky
- LA Louisiana
- ME Maine
- MD Maryland
- MA Massachusetts
- MI Michigan
- MN Minnesota
- MS Mississippi
- MO Missouri
- MT Montana
- NE Nebraska
- NV Nevada
- NH New Hampshire
- NJ New Jersey
- NM New Mexico
- NY New York
- NC North Carolina
- ND North Dakota
- OH Ohio
- OK Oklahoma
- OR Oregon
- PA Pennsylvania
- RI Rhode Island
- SC South Carolina
- SD South Dakota
- TN Tennessee
- TX Texas
- UT Utah
- VT Vermont
- VA Virginia
- WA Washington
- WV West Virginia
- WI Wisconsin
- WY Wyoming
How to Qualify for Enrollment in an Advanced Standing MSW Program: Admissions Requirements
To qualify for enrollment in an advanced-standing MSW program, prospective students must meet specific criteria. These criteria may vary slightly depending on the particular program and institution but typically include the following:
- Submission of completed application
- CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program
- Fieldwork evaluation from the BSW program
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Applicants below a 3.0 GPA reviewed individually for provisional admission
- An interview and additional writing sample may be required for temporary admission
- One academic or professional letter of recommendation
- One personal essay describing why you want to work in the field
- Optional second essay allowed for additional admissions information for reasons such as:
- Explain gaps in academic or employment history
- Explain the context around GPA, etc
- Official transcript(s) from all previous colleges attended:
- Degrees awarded outside the US evaluated by a Foreign Credential Evaluation Service
- NACES transcript evaluation for degrees from international institutions
- Confirming equivalence to US standards
- All transcripts required unless accumulating less than 12 credits
- Specified and potentially non-refundable application fee
What Are the Prominent Professional Social Work Organizations
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
The CSWE is the accrediting body for social work education programs in the United States. It sets the standards and guidelines for social work education and ensures that programs meet the necessary quality benchmarks. CSWE promotes research, scholarship, and innovation in social work education and practice.
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
The NASW is the largest professional organization for social workers in the United States. It represents and advocates for social workers’ interests at all practice levels. NASW provides resources, continuing education opportunities, and publications to support professional growth and development. It also sets the Code of Ethics for social workers, which guides ethical practice.
Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA)
The CSWA is an organization dedicated to advancing the clinical social work profession. It represents clinical social workers and advocates for their professional interests. CSWA provides resources and support for clinical social workers, including information on practice guidelines, reimbursement issues, and professional networking opportunities.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
The ASWB is responsible for developing and administering licensing examinations for social workers in the United States. It works closely with state regulatory boards to ensure that social workers meet the necessary competency standards for practice. ASWB also provides resources for exam preparation and continuing education requirements.
Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
The SSWR is a professional organization dedicated to promoting research and scholarship in social work. It brings together researchers, practitioners, and educators to exchange knowledge, collaborate on research projects, and advance evidence-based practice in social work careers. SSWR hosts an annual conference and publishes a scholarly journal, Social Work Research, to disseminate research findings.
