Clinical Assessment and Evaluation

This credential enables clinical social workers to be publicly recognized for proficiency in Clinical Assessment and Evaluation in their Social Work practice. It is offered by the American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW), which has set a standard for competency in this specialty and will promote your expertise.

The ABCSW markets this certification through social media and other methods, and supports this credential and practice with couples and families through the online resources of the organization. The fee for applying for this certification is $275.

Description. Clinical assessment is a specialty in clinical social work that involves clinical social work practice, supervision, consultation, education, or research relevant to the delivery of testing, assessment, and evaluation services. Clinical social workers have advanced clinical skills in assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis. Clinical social workers who offer testing, assessment, and evaluation services have the appropriate coursework and supervised experience including instrument selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation; and only practice within their level of competence. Testing, assessment, and evaluation services are typically offered for the purposes of determining a client’s strengths and weaknesses, mental status, emotional stability, behavioral responses, intellectual ability, interests, aptitudes, achievement level, values, personality characteristics, and other characteristics for diagnosing mental health disorders.

Specific Criteria: 

  1. To have practiced in the specialty area for five (5) or more years, and have accumulated at least 2,250 clinical hours of practice experience during the five (5) or more years’ time frame; 300 of which must have been in the past year. 

  1. To have obtained and documented 24 clock hours of supervision or consultation relating to the practice specialty since earning the master’s or doctoral degree. The supervisor or consultant must have held the highest clinical licensure in their state for their respective profession for at least five years. 

  1. To have obtained at least 20 clock hours of continuing education in the last year relating to the specialty area. 

  2. To provide two Colleague Evaluations of your current Assessment and Evaluation practice.

This credential may be attained online at this website by those who are or become Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD). 

Unsuccessful applicants who wish to re-apply should promptly inform the ABCSW in writing of your intention and submit the re-application fee of $125. You will provide two new Evaluators who will be sent a new set of Evaluation Packages. The ABCSW will retain the rest of your application information. As before, your Evaluators would be of your own choosing.

RECERTIFICATION

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

  • Maintain BCD certification.
  • Have at least 150 hours of practice with couples or families.
  • Have at least 20 hours of clinical continuing education relating to the specialty area.
  • Pay renewal fees for BCD ($135 at present) and specialty credential ($100 at present).
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