Association of Social Work Boards
Approved Continuing Education Program
Application Part 3 Social Work Ethics
Instructions
Initial application to the ACE Program includes the Pre-application Interview and submission of the following
documents: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 2 §C. Course Sample Review. Additionally, complete this document, Part 3
Social Work Ethics, for approval to offer social work ethics courses.
Already approved ACE Providers who want to add social work ethics approval should complete Part 2 §C.
Course Sample Review along with this document.
Social work ethics courses must be developed or co-developed and/or presented or co-presented by a
licensed social worker in good standing.
Social work ethics course development requires oversight by the organization’s social worker consultant.
Review the ACE resource Social Work Ethics Course Development to ensure an understanding of ACE standards
and requirements for the development of social work ethics continuing education courses.
For more information contact ACE staff at ace@aswb.org or 800-829-6880 ext. 3027.
§A. Applicant Information
Organization:
ACE Provider # (if assigned):
§B. Course Information
Social works ethics course title (submitted for Part 2 §C. Course Sample Review):
§C. Course Development
Each of the content areas listed below must be addressed in social work ethics courses, although not in
equal amounts. Describe how each of the following content areas is incorporated into the social work
ethics course sample submitted with this application.
A. History and evolution of values and ethics in social work
B. Ethical theories and applications
C. Professional standards of social work practice
D. Legal and ethical requirements and considerations
E. Professional values and self-awareness about ethical professional behavior
F. Critical thinking skills
G. Ethical decision making processes and ethical dilemmas
H. Diversity and social justice
Using the grid below, indicate the percentage for which each of the following content areas are
represented in the social work ethics course sample submitted with this application.
% of the course that
includes content area
Content area
A. History and evolution of values and ethics in social work
B. Ethical theories and applications
C. Professional standards of social work practice
D. Legal and ethical requirements and considerations
E. Professional values and self-awareness about ethical professional behavior
F. Critical thinking skills
G. Ethical decision making processes and ethical dilemmas
H. Diversity and social justice
Direct Practice is defined as professional activities involving direct services to clients, and/or social work
practice with individuals, families and/or groups. Mark the boxes below to indicate how the content of
social work ethics course relates to the applicable areas of direct practice. Check all that apply
A. ☐Sexual Misconduct
B. ☐Boundary Issues
C. ☐Dual & Multiple Relationships
D. ☐Service Delivery
E. ☐Competency
F. ☐Diversity and discrimination
G. ☐Supervision
H. ☐Other, describe below:
Indirect Practice is defined as professional activities not involving immediate or direct contact with clients
being served, and/or professional activities other than direct practice to individuals, families and/or
groups. Mark the boxes below to indicate how the content of the social work ethics course relates to the
applicable areas of indirect practice.
A. ☐Use of Authority
B. ☐Boundary Issues
C. ☐Representation to the public
D. ☐Sexual misconduct
E. ☐Fiduciary Responsibilities
F. ☐Research
G. ☐Human Subjects Protocols
H. ☐Impaired Professionals
I. ☐Mandatory Reporting
J. ☐Diversity
K. ☐Discrimination
L. ☐Personnel
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Social Work Ethics
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M.
N.
O.
P.
☐Administrative Decisions
☐Supervision
☐Consulting
☐Other, describe below:
ACE requires the participation of a licensed social worker in developing and/or presenting social work
ethics courses. Describe the participation of a licensed social worker in developing and/or presenting this
course.
Indicate if the licensed social worker participated in the course in the following capacities.
Check all that apply
A. ☐Sole developer of the course
B. ☐Presenter of the course
C. ☐Co-presenter of the course
D. ☐Co-developer of the course
E. ☐Other, describe below:
§D. Instructors
All instructors must meet one or more of the following qualifications. Check each item below to indicate
instructors meet these qualifications.
☐Be a faculty member of an undergraduate or graduate school of social work
☐Have received specialized graduate or postgraduate level training in the subject taught in the program
☐Have extensive experience to include no less than five years of practical application or research
involving the subject taught in the course
☐Technology: Presenters (or someone designated by the conference) must possess the technological
expertise to communicate their subject matter effectively (i.e. projector, power point, etc.
Instructor qualifications for social work ethics courses must meet one or more of the following
requirements. Check below to indicate qualifications for the course instructor(s). Include comments after
each item if you have questions about a particular requirement or if the requirement represents a new
area of program administration for the organization.
A. ☐The social work ethics course developer is a licensed social worker in good standing
B. ☐The social work ethics course co-developer is a licensed social worker in good standing
C. ☐The social work ethics course presenter is a licensed social worker in good standing
D. ☐The social work ethics course co-presenter is a licensed social worker in good standing
§E. Certificates of Completion
In addition to ACE certificate of completion requirements described in the Application Part 1, ACE providers
who offer social work ethics course must include the information below in the certificates of completion
presented to attendees of the course.
For social work ethics courses, the certificate must list the following statement:
“Social workers participating in this course will receive (Insert Number) Social Work Ethics
continuing education clock hours.”
ASWB ACE App Part 3
Social Work Ethics
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ASWB ACE Program
Jennifer Ward, ACE Program Coordinator: 800-225-6880 ext. 3027 jward@aswb.org
Donna Edwards, ACE Administrative Assistant: 800-225-6880 ext. 3021
P.O. Box 1508, Culpeper, VA 22701
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Social Work Ethics
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Revised 02/06/2016