Certification at Level C and Level C-Provisional is mandatory, and certification at other levels is voluntary. Through credential review, examination, experience, professional reference, and continuing education requirements, professional competency is affirmed. Certification provides greater standards of protection for the public and enhanced professional standing for practicing social workers. Professional social workers in public and nonprofit settings should seek certification. Social workers in both types of settings are equally responsible to their clients.
Certification is one statement of professional commitment to clients.
Any efforts to enhance the professionalism of social work benefits all practitioners. A large body of certified social workers ensures serious consideration in political, economic, and service delivery issues. Further, an increasing body of third-party insurance companies look to state certification as a determinant of reimbursement eligibility. All states have laws regulating the practice of social work. Most use the same examinations as in North Carolina.