CE-Content-Development-Guidelines - NASW CE Content Development Guidelines for Social Work Continuing Education Programs

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

NASW CE Content Development Guidelines for Social Work Continuing Education Programs define the requirements for developing and delivering social work continuing education. Programs must align with social work education foundations, fit within the scope of practice, and connect to theory and practice areas such as human behavior, practice skills, research, policy, generalist or clinical practice, diversity, and ethics. Content should reflect peer-reviewed, evidence-based theory and be designed to meet licensed social workers’ needs, while embedding cultural competence, using measurable learning objectives, assigning a qualified social work consultant, and avoiding commercial bias, inappropriate audiences, and noncompliant content areas.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Program Topic Scope

Educational Areas in Social Work

Evidence-Based Program Content

Cultural Competence and Inclusion Requirements

Social Work Consultant Role

Eligibility and Conflict Avoidance

Monitoring and Evaluation

Learning Objectives

Measurability and Replicability

Multidisciplinary Program Restrictions

Avoiding Commercial Bias

Instructional Materials and IP/Privacy

Rights and Compliance

Unacceptable CE Content Areas

NASW CE Content Development Guidelines for Social Work Continuing Education Programs Program topics must build on the foundations of social work education and must clearly fall within the scope of practice for social workers and be directly applicable to social work theory and practice, relating to one or more of the following social work educational areas: o Theories and concepts of human behavior in the social environment o Social work practice, knowledge, and skills ⬛ Social work research, programs, or practice evaluations ⬛ Development, evaluation, and implementation of social policy ⬛ Social work generalist practice ⬛ Social work clinical practice o Diversity and social justice o Social work ethics • Program content should be based on peer-reviewed research as demonstrated in the social work professional literature, cover widely recognized evidence-based theory and practice, and apply specifically to the needs and the scope of practice of licensed social workers. • CE providers must ensure that their continuing education programs promote cultural awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion as defined in the NASW Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice. CE providers must assign a social work consultant to participate in and monitor the planning and implementation of the program. This person’s role is to: • Comply with NASW’s Guidelines • Assess the educational needs of social workers to inform course development. • Review or develop learning objectives. • Work closely with the provider and staff to stay current on the CE requirements set forth by NASWand in all jurisdictions for which CE credit is offered. • Ensure that the provider infuses cultural awareness and diversity into courses and their educational program. • Resolve grievances and or serve as an advisor to providers when grievances occur. • Evaluate program effectiveness and ensure that post program requirements (Summary Evaluations) are met. In addition, the social work consultant: • Should not also serve as speaker/presenter of the program because they need to be able to provide an objective content review. • Must hold a degree in social work (BSW, MSW, DSW/PhD) . • Must currently practice privately or within an institutional setting. • If the program content is clinical, the social work consultant must be in good standing with the appropriate regulatory body during the duration of the program. Learning Objectives: Learning objectives (and the program content associated with the learning objectives) should clearly demonstrate how the program builds on a foundation of academic preparation for social work practice, knowledge, and skills. Continuing education programs must include written educational goals and specific, measurable learning objectives as the basis for evaluation of program effectiveness. Each learning objective must be precise and replicable, giving participants the same understanding of the desired outcome. Learning objectives provide direction in the planning of a learning activity for professional social work. They help to (1) focus on learners’ behavior that is to be changed; (2) serve as guidelines for program content, instruction, and evaluation; (3) identify specifically what should be learned; and (4) convey to learners exactly what is to be accomplished. Learning Objectives must have the following characteristics: (1) the specified action by the learners must be observable; (2) the specified action by the learners must be measurable; and (3) the specified action must be done by the learners. The ultimate test when writing a learning objective is whether or not the action taken by the participant can be assessed. If not, the outcome does not meet all three of these characteristics. Multidisciplinary Programs: CE providers must not offer a program for social work CE that is created for another profession/discipline and includes learnin

FAQs

What educational areas must a social work CE program address?

Program topics must build on social work education foundations and directly apply to social work theory and practice, relating to areas such as human behavior in the social environment, practice knowledge and skills, research or evaluations, social policy, generalist or clinical practice, diversity and social justice, and ethics.

What is the required role of the social work consultant?

The consultant must participate in and monitor planning and implementation. Responsibilities include complying with NASW guidelines, assessing educational needs, reviewing or developing learning objectives, ensuring cultural awareness and diversity are infused, addressing grievances, and evaluating effectiveness while confirming post-program summary evaluation requirements are met.

What makes a learning objective acceptable for CE evaluation?

Learning objectives must be precise and replicable, with actions that are observable and measurable, and performed by participants. The ultimate test is whether the participant’s action can be assessed; otherwise the outcome does not meet all required characteristics.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver