>   Careers   >   CE Approval Program   >   Apply

Preparing to Apply to the NASW CE Approval Program

Please note the following submission requirements:

  • Submit one application per email to CEU@Socialworkers.org.
  • Organizations may submit up to five (5) CE program applications per week.
  • All application materials must be submitted as email attachments.
  • Links to application documents are not accepted.
  • Handwritten documents are not accepted

Reminders

  • Applications must be received no later than 30 business days prior to the program’s scheduled start date. 
  • Each program submitted for CEU approval, regardless of format, must be reviewed and approved.
  • Organizations are prohibited from marketing or offering continuing education credit before their program is approved to provide continuing education (CE) credit.
  • Applications must be complete and accurate to be eligible for review. An application is considered complete only when the CE Approval Team has received all required documentation and payment.
NASW reserves the right to deny CE approval

Frequently Asked Questions:

Yes. All organizations applying to the CEU Approval program for the first time are subject to a one-time $125 new provider fee.

Applications submitted less than 30 business days before the start date of the CEU program can be prioritized for review; however, this benefit incurs a $300.00 expedited review charge.

Yes, the CEU Approval Program Application, including forms and documents, must be accurate and fully completed. Forms and documents requiring a signature must be signed.

Note:
Failure to submit an accurate and complete application for the CEU Approval Program, including forms and documents, could delay, pause, and/or result in a denial of your application.

Yes, the social worker involved in the planning and evaluation of your program is required to have a degree in social work (BSW, MSW, DSW, and/or PhD)

Note: Please ensure that when providing information about the social workers included in the application, their social work degree and credentials are specified. For example, Nicole Taylor, BSW, MSW, DSW.

No, the social worker documented as planning and evaluating your CEU Program cannot also serve as the speaker and/or presenter of your program.

Yes. The total number of requested CEUs must be in whole or half-hour increments. For example: 1.0 hours, 1.5 hours

Yes. Programs submitted to the CEU Approval Program must be at least 1 hour. For example: 1.0 hours

  • The program agenda must consist of a detailed outline
  • The program agenda must indicate how you are distributing the requested continuing education units for your program.

Note: The total number of continuing education units noted on your program agenda must match the number of continuing education units requested on your submitted CE Program Information Form.

Yes. Programs must have at least 3 learning objectives.

Yes. Conferences and symposia must have 3 learning objectives.

Conference and symposia submissions must also include 3 learning objectives for each session held at the conference or symposia.

No. Promotional materials cannot include language that suggests or indicates your program is “pending approval” or “under review.”

You may indicate that a program is approved by NASW once NASW provides an official approval notice.

No. Organizations cannot indicate an organization is approved for CEU approval by NASW. The organization’s CEU approval pertains to the actual program submitted for consideration and was approved on your organization’s official NASW Approval notice.

NASW does not provide or approve organization-wide CEU approval, and it may not be promoted or marketed by any organization.

Changes to NASW CEU-approved programs are not permitted and must be submitted as a new Application.

Yes. Programs with 4 or fewer presenters are required to submit an individual resume for each presenter. The file name of each resume should include the presenter's last name and first name. For example, Resume_Taylor_Nicole.

Please do not combine resumes into a single document.

If a program submitted to the NASW CEU Approval Program has 5 or more presenters, you are required to use the CE Multiple Presenter Form, which can be accessed here.

All CE Certificates must include NASW’s boilerplate language. “This program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # xxxxxxxxx-xxxx) for (xx) continuing education contact hours.”

Note: Please do not fill in the blank spaces on the sample certificate. Your approval number and the number of CEUs approved will be included in your official approval notice. Upon CEU approval and upon receipt of your official approval notice, you can fill in the blank information on the final certificate you provide to participants in your program.

The participant evaluation must include at least one question that measures the stated learning objectives for your program. It is recommended that a Likert rating scale be used for evaluation questions.

  1. Yes. For programs with written materials, 1 CEU = 10,000 words (not including references, graphics, headers, and subheaders).
  2. Yes. The reference list and/or citations associated with the program must be published within the last 10 years.

Yes. Please view the items below carefully:

  1. Post tests must include at least 10 multiple-choice questions in the first credit hour.
  2. 5 multiple-choice test questions are required for each additional credit hour and/or half hour after the first credit hour.
  3. Each question must contain 4 answer choices (A, B, C, D), with only 1 correct answer.
  4. No more than 10% of the total number of post-test questions can contain a true/false, none of the above/all the above/most of the above/most of the above/most of the above answer.
  5. Providers are responsible for developing a program policy that outlines the number of permitted attempts and the retesting process. It is recommended that this be communicated to all participants in advance of the training.
  6. The correct answers for the post-test must be highlighted in your post-test to indicate correct answers.

Note: Participant must pass the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher