Clinical Social Work with Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families

This specialty certification is designed to publicly recognize clinical social workers for their proficiency in Clinical Social Work with Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families. The ABCSW promotes this certification through social media and other channels, and supports this credential and practice through its online resources. The fee for applying for this certification is $275 and the exam fee, paid to The Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences (AATBS) is $200.

Description: This specialty certification encompasses clinical social work practice, supervision, consultation, education, or research relevant to services with uniformed service members, veterans, and their families. Clinical Social Work with Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families specialty certificants are distinguished by their experience and mastery of a range of competencies in clinical social work practice. This certification is designed to enhance your professional standing and demonstrate your specialized knowledge in this essential field.

Specific Criteria:
  1. Maintain the BCD certification.
  2. Hold state licensure in good standing at the highest clinical level available in the state(s) where you practice.
  3. Have at least 150 hours of practice serving uniformed service members, veterans, or their families.
  4. Pass an online exam ($200), administered by AATBS. AATBS also offers comprehensive exam prep resources ($150) to help you study and pass the exam on your first attempt.
  5. Once ABCSW receives your exam results, (AATBS sends ABCSW results automatically on a fixed schedule) Apply through ABCSW ($275) for your Specialty Certification!

This certification is available online for those who are Board Certified Diplomates in Clinical Social Work (BCD).

Unsuccessful applicants who wish to reapply should promptly inform the ABCSW in writing of their intention to reapply and retake the specialty assessment after the wait period defined by AATBS. The $200 assessment fee may still apply.

Recertification

This certification must be renewed annually based on the following criteria:

Maintain BCD certification.
Accumulate at least 150 hours of practice in practice with serving Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, or Their Families.
Pay renewal fees for BCD ($135) and specialty credential fees ($100 per specialty certification).