What does the Council on Social Work Education do?

• A. agency that accredits schools or programs of social work
• B. provides licensing exams
• C. funds social services
• D. advocates for social workers' salaries

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is accreditation of social work education programs. The Council on Social Work Education is the national body that develops standards and evaluates social work degree programs to ensure they meet quality requirements for preparing students to become professionals. Through its accreditation process for bachelor’s and master’s programs, CSWE checks aspects like the curriculum, field education experiences, faculty qualifications, and student outcomes so graduates have the competencies needed for practice.

It doesn’t issue licensing exams—licensing tests are run by state boards (often with a national exam administered by another organization). It also isn’t a funder of services or focused on salaries for social workers. Its main role is to uphold and improve the quality of social work education, which in turn supports competent practice and recognized professional standards.