Certification Categories
Certification in Practice with Children and Their Families
In this specialty area - the one for which Clinical Social Workers are best known but not always well rewarded – national board-certification will help you to achieve the recognition you deserve.
Criteria to qualify:
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500 hours or more of specialty practice in the past year
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4500 hours of specialty practice in the past ten years
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24 hours of specialty practice under supervision/consultation, at any time
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20 hours of specialty-related CEs in the past three years
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Two colleague attestations of your specialty practice
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Payment of certification fee good for a full year.
For annual recertification requirements, click here.
For those with a BCD wishing to achieve Board Certification in Practice with Children and Their Families, click here.
If you do not have a BCD, click here.
Certification in Clinical Supervision
If you practice as a Clinical Supervisor and wish to be recognized for your abilities, you have come to the right place. Clinical Supervision board-certification will help you to achieve the recognition you have earned.
In order to qualify, you must meet these criteria:
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Currently providing clinical supervision
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In the past 3 years, provided a total of 100 hours or more of clinical supervision
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Over any time span, post-master’s, amassed 15 clock hours of continuing education related to clinical supervision
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Currently receiving consultation, or participating in a peer supervision group, on issues related to clinical supervision
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Have two colleagues who will attest to your specialty practice
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Payment of certification fee good for a full year.
For annual recertification requirements, click here (pop up with recert requirements listed)
For members with a BCD wishing to achieve Board Certification for your attainments as a Clinical Supervisor, click here.
If you do not have a BCD, click here.
Certification in Psychoanalysis
This specialty credential offers a means for expert clinical social workers to be recognized for proficiency in Psychoanalysis. Those interested in obtaining this specialty credential need to meet the ABE criteria for board certification as an advanced clinical social worker. In addition, there are two variations to the application process: one for a clinical social worker who is a graduate of a psychoanalytic institute and the other for a non-institute graduate. The following are the eligibility criteria for both application offerings:
Institute graduate criteria:
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Training: Graduate of a psychoanalytic institute training program
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Personal analysis: By a training analyst or equivalent (PDF) (at least 5-years of post-graduate experience as a psychoanalyst), in-person, for a minimum of 40 weeks/300 hours during a year (at a frequency of 3-5 sessions per week on separate days)
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Supervision:
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Supervised in practice for a minimum of 150-200 hours by a training analyst or equivalent (PDF)
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Supervised in conducting two adult psychoanalysis cases, at least one supervised to completion—lasting at least two years in one instance and at least one year in the other
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Specialty Practice Experience:
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Within the past year a minimum of 300 hours of clinical social work practice informed by psychoanalytic theory and formal psychoanalysis (PDF) with at least two analyst
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Within three years or more, 4,500 hours of post-master’s clinical social work practice informed by psychoanalytic theory
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Continuing Education: Within the past three years, 40 clock hours of clinical continuing education, of which 50% can be identified as psychoanalytically oriented
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Evaluation of Practice: Two successful evaluations by colleagues/supervisors/ consultants who are clinical social worker psychoanalysts or analysts who are clinical psychologists or psychiatrists
Non-institute graduate criteria:
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Training: In lieu of institute training, achieved equivalency of knowledge through other means in each of the following areas of study: history of psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic theory, psychoanalytic technique, normal and abnormal growth and development within the context of psychoanalytic models, and socio-cultural factors and gender issues
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Personal Analysis: By a training analyst or equivalent (PDF) (at least 5-years of post-graduate experience as a psychoanalyst), in-person, for a minimum of 450 hours, meeting at least twice a week
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Supervision:
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Supervised in practice for at least 150 hours by an analyst(s) whose qualifications are equivalent to those of a training analyst (PDF) and who, at the time of supervision, had five years post-graduate experience as a psychoanalyst
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Supervised in conducting two in-person adult psychoanalysis cases—at least one supervised to completion—lasting at least two years in one instance, and at least one year in the other
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Clinical Consultation: In the past two years, a minimum of 20 hours as a consultee or consultant, in a formal or informal setting, in the clinical practice of psychoanalysis
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Continuing Education: Within the past three years, 40 clock hours of clinical continuing education, of which 50% can be identified as psychoanalytically oriented
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Specialty Practice Experience:
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Within the past year, a minimum of 300 hours of clinical social work practice informed by psychoanalytic theory and formal psychoanalysis (PDF) with at least two analysts
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Within three years or more, 4,500 hours of post-master’s clinical social work practice informed by psychoanalytic theory
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Evaluation of Practice:
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Two successful evaluations by colleagues/supervisors/ consultants who are clinical social work psychoanalysts or analysts who are clinical psychologists or psychiatrists
and
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Provide information on two colleagues who consulted/supervised you, while you were obtaining your practice knowledge, one of whom submits a letter of assessment
To learn more about the standards for the credential, please refer to
The Practice of Psychoanalysis: A Specialty of Clinical Social Work (PDF).
To apply for the Clinical Social Worker Psychoanalyst Board Certification, email ABE, or call 1-800-694-5285 ext. 16.
Annual Recertification Requirements for Psychoanalysis Specialty
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Currency of practice (minimum of 300 practice hours required) and active practice of psychoanalysis with at least one analyst
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20 hours of clinical continuing education, of which at least 25% must be identified as applying to this specialty practice area
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Highest clinical-level state licensure in good standing and adherence to ABE’s Code of Ethics
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