Lesley University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) is in Candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Massachusetts approves students graduating from programs in Candidacy with CSWE to sit for licensure examination for both bachelor and master’s level licenses. Learn more about state licensure.
Students who enter programs that are in Candidacy for accreditation by the CSWE (or who enrolled in the academic year in which Candidacy was granted) will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once the program attains Initial Accreditation. Candidacy is typically a three-year process. Lesley’s BSW program was granted accreditation for eight years in February 2022, and the MSW program is working toward attaining Initial Accreditation in Spring 2023.
Candidacy applies to all program sites and program delivery methods. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.